Ante the internal affairs of our unions
"REAL SHOWDOWN" FOR HONEST
UNION REFCRM
CONTRARY TO THE IMPRESSION viewed by
the G.E. Schenectady NHIS, last week "for.
enactment of a truly effective union
reform bill this year"..,,Let us give you
the straight facts as to what: will oe
actually happen to you and your union, IF,
the NAM, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and
other business organizations pass the.
labor Bill as it now stands in Congress.
Here's what would happen to you and
our labor organization: ;
S. 1555 will retard members from
accepting union offices, most of them un~
paid, This bill will mean so many det-
alled reports to be made out and filed
under threat of fines or jail sentences,
The work of most union officers, is done
in time after working hours and this
would cut into the time that could be
Spent in union duties that take up most
of the time now,
We urge that you vote against it
because it would put government too much
and it takes away from union menbers the
right to decide in a democratic way how
their union affairs should be conducted,
We urge your. vote against the labor
bill (S.1555) because it would put new
burdens on unions and their efficers and
at the same time be easy in its treatment
of employers,
The time it takes to write your
Congressman opposing this bill will more
than pay you later in better working con=
ditions, higher living standards and job
security. (cont'd in column 7/2)
BILL NEARS
We urge your vote against the labor
bill (8.1555). because it wouldn't stop
or control improper activities by the
labor consultants ‘and employers’ that the
McClellan committce* brought out, while
rat: the same tine t% is harsh on union
officers,
. We ask you to oppose and vote against
the labor bill (S,1555) because the bill.
of rights as it's called, in the bill
would let menbers disturb and break up
union meetings without the officers
being able to stop them and invites any
member who ‘differs with the officers to
go to court and maybe, wreck the union
financially,
This hill (S.1555) is strictly an
anti-labor bill and we urge you to vote
against it, It could prevent your!wmion
from giving help to another union on
strike, because it lets the courts
decide how union funds can be spent,
and they might say no, though the menberg
vote for it.
The labor bi2%:.(S.1555) is unfair
and we ask you tosvote against it, One
reason is that it prevents some kinds of
peaceful picketing now allowed, Not only
that, but it would open the door for
slick employers to pull under the table
or back door deals with racketeers, _end-
ing up with sweetheart contracts giving
the workers nothing and blocking an
honest union from doing a job.
What we REALLY need in this country
is a "MANAGEMENT REFORM BILL" not a..
Labor Reform Bill}
_—
WHAT PRICE ECONOMY ? ?
Recently, GE decided to eliminate the
guards on Saturdays from Bldg, #37, most
likely to save on costs,...
Because of this, people working
there on those days are forced to get to
their place of work via the main gate,This
is a round-about and inconvenient tour
‘for these people, A few weeks ago, approx,
25 employees finding the service elevator
in #37 not available (at the end of the
day) had to march up four flights of
stairs, follow the ramp from Bldgs, 37 to
#5, pass thru #5, and out to the main gate
and to the parking area,
. ONE OF THESE MEN HAD A HEART
CONDITION!
- Upon reaching the parking lot, this
man was very nearly exhausted, .
APPROXIMATELY 8 HOURS LATOR, HE
DIED OF A HEART ATTAGK!
‘We feel that if a guard had been on
duty at. the #37 gate, supposedly servic=
dng that building, at the time..,THIS —
IOCAL WINS BACK PAY
AND SENIORITY CASE
A recent case in the MAC Devt,
concerned a Welder with an R-19 rate who
was reached on lack of work, The best
; Job he was offered was an R-18 welding
Job in the Foundry which he accepted under
protest, The reason for this protest was
because there were shorter service Welders
than him in the Turbine Dept, with the
R-19 rate, At this point a case was
filed against the MAC Dept, charging them
with violation of the contract in not
placing this Welder in St. Turbine, After
some discussion in the MAC Dept, with
Messrs, Christman, Schaffer, Wager and
De Marco negotiating for the Union, the
Company admitted they were wrong and
agreed to send this Welder to the higher
‘rated job in St. Turbine, -After some.
further negotiations, the Company also
agreed to pay this man for the loss of
earnings suffered thru their mistake,
‘DUE TO-THE LEADERSHIP SCHCOL ©
AND HOLIDAY, THERE WILL BE NO
PAPER THE WEEK OF JUNE 29TH.
INCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. ...
ae em ele,
AFL-CIO
Vol. 5 — No. 53
The Voice of GE Workers, Local 301, Schenectady, N. Y.
July 10, 1959
38 Students Graduate From Leadership Course
¥ (Above). Students ‘of the Ist and 2nd shifts participating in
intensive 20 hour Union Leadership Course last weelt. (Below)
members of the. 8rd shift listen to instructions from Ben Segal,
Educational Director of the International IUE, Sessions con-
Sisted of 6 hours a day for 4. consecutive days in addition to
their regular work day. No lost timo was incurred,
Lili & G Employees Call Special Meeting
Several hundred members of &.
the LM&G (Large Motor & Gen-
erator Dept.) met at. Local 801,
IU, headquarters Last week to
discuss the problems confronting
them in the plant,
The mecting, which was the
the first of the larger departments
this year, was called to discuss}.
some existing shop problems and
considersthe future employment
The LM&G employees have been
concerned about their job security
and present wage standards be-
cause of a program under way
in the department which is aimed
at a revaluation of job rates and
price structures,
The ‘LM&G management has
pointed out that the program is
designed to obtain more work by
being more competitive,
® An intensive Union Leadership
Course under the direction of Ben
Segal, Educational Director of the
Tnternational IUE, was success--
fully concluded last week at Un-
jon Hendquarters,
A total of 88 selected students
from all shifts attended the jam-
packed 5 hour, 4 day sessions,
These classes were conducted in
addition to their regular work
schedule and no lost time was
invalved, :
We want to commend those who
participated. They not only put
in 20 hours of grueling work but
also had to forsake their fam-
iliceg and other interests in the
cause of strengthening.their local
for the coming months ahead.
The* Course, prepared by Ben
Segal, International Director of
the LUE, and Leo Jandreau, Husi-
ness Agent of Local 301, will in-
clude intensive training covering
Union Achievements, Union Func-
tions, Why the Union’s Program,
The Union Member, Economic &
Legislative. Program, -Contribu-
tions of Labor to the Community
and Counselor Training.
Certificates will be awarded to
the participants at our next un-
jon membership meeting,
Additional courses will begin in
the fall and will be broadened
to take in a much larger group.
Those attending the course
were,
Mangino, Shambo, Gallagher,
Obercon, Christman, Donahu Ger-
ardi, Vitallo, Scott, Jandreau, Me-
Cuhe, Gebo, Townsend, Masterson,
Parent, Stockheim, Podell, Carey,
Campbell, DeCresee, Donoto, Doig,
Borkowski, Waldron, Etzel, Mar-
tin, Apruzzese, Christensen, Fail-
ing, Witowski, IXoral, Gunn, Kor-
aun, Whete, Munier, Mahar De-
Marco, Martin,
The Union has notified manage-
‘ment that any changes must be
within the terms of our contract,
and shall not impair the wage
and working condition levels,
Several months ago the Tennessee Valley Authority requested bids from the American und
foreign producers on some 16 gauge steam turbine generators. The total capacity of these machines
was a fantastic 16 million kilowatt. This is perhaps the largest proposal for generating equipment
that has ever been made.
5
Sesqui-Belles
‘n Dapper Dans
A new innovation to get into
the spirit of things hag been add-
ed to the Schenectady county ses-
quicentennial celebration with the
formation of “Sesqui Belle” soror-
he and “Dapper Dans” fraterni-
es,
John Shambo, Publicity Divis-
jon, said yesterday that the sor-
oritics and fraternities are expect-
ed to spring up throughout the
county and will provide a new
outlet for fun and competition to
county citizens. ~
Each of the units will be given
a charter and membership cards.
Old-fashioned hats and string
bow ties are necessary for the
“Dapper Dans.” Other earlier
day items such as frock coats,
gaily-colored vests, shirt arm
bands or cven beards, mustaches,
or sideburns could embellish the
pageant attire,
“Sesqui Belles" should wear
long dresses and the official, ses-
quicentennial bonnet and any
other innovation which the ladies
think would brighten their cos-
tumes.
In addition to the fun provided
by the competition, caravans will
be formed to visit surrounding
areas in an effort to publicize the
Bigantic “Sesqui Spectacade”
which will climax the summer
long celebration from August 22
through 29,
EXECUTIVE BOARD
MEETING
July 13th — 7:30 P.M,
“STEWARD MEMBERSHIP
MEETING |
{ July 20th — 1:30 & 7:30 P.M.
The TVA has now opened the bids and they reveal some very
interesting and significant facts as follows:
1. ON THE REQUEST FOR BIDS on four 500,000. steam tur-
bine generators, only European firms bid as shown in the attached.
There were no bids from any American firms, ;
On the bids for 400,000 Kilowatt steam turbine generators, only
General Hlectric bid. There was no bid from Westinghouse.
On the request for bids on four 350,000 kilowatt turbo-generators,
the only American firm that bid was Westinghouse, GE DID NOT
BID ON THESE. : :
The same wags true on the request for bids ori four 275,000
kilowatt steam turbine generators. Westinghouse bid, but GE did
not. In addition, the TVA had asked the companies for whatever
bids they wanted to make on larger machines. On this GE bid
on the 600,000 kilowatt machine and Westinghouse on an 800,000
kilowatt- machine, " =
_ it apppears clear from this and from the fact that the West-
inghouse bids. were so much: higher than the foreign bids that
our American companies are still not interested in making realistic
bids in order to obtain the work and. provide the jobs. In the case
where Westinghouse bid with the foreign companies, its excess
prices were at: least more than equal to the total Inbor Involved.
In other words, if Westinghouse got its labor for nothing it could
not have matched the other orders,
In addition, TVA allowed the American producers a 20 percent
differential over the foreign producers. The foreign producers
must also pay the taxes, insurance and transport and import duties
which, together with the 20 percent differential,” really gives an
advantage to the American firms if thelr bids were on a realistic
basis.
It apppears clear to us that GE and Westinghouse are stil in
collusion by agrecing not to compete with each other. Further-
more, they are deliberately refraining in some cases from bidding,
hoping to bring pressure on TVA to prevent foreign bids.
he TVA on the other hand igs determined to get these foreign
bids in order to prevent the collusion of the American producers
and bring down the extraordinary prices that had been charged.
We think that this information is very important to you and
should be made available to the people in your plant and the com-
munity, .
Following are the bids opened today by TVA in response to invita-
tions for additional steam turbogenerators. ‘The bids are unevaluated.
TVA has 60 (sixty) days in which to evaluate and act on the offers.
SCHEDULE I BIDS RECEIVED
1, One 500-MW cross-compound steam
turbo-generator and two boiler feed
pump turbines for operation Sep- Parsons: $11,541,000
tember 1, 1962 (Only bid)
(Continued on Page 3)
LOCAL 30! NEWS
July 10, 1959
3
—- THE T.V.A. STORY —
(Continued from Page 2): es
2, Same as Item I except for opera- Brown-Bover
tion August 1, 1963 : Parsons: $11
English Elec
(No domestic bids)
3. Option. One additional duplicate "
of Item I for delivery not later. Parsons: $11,541,000
than four months thereafter, (Only bid)
. Option, One additional duplicate Brown-Boveri: $8,350,000:
of Item 2 for delivery not later Parsons: $11,541,000 .
than four months thereafter, English Electric: $11,840,000
(No domestic bid)
‘SCHEDULE II
, One 400MW Tandem-compound
steam turbogenerator and two
boiler feed pump turbines for oper- General Electric: $12,008,880
ation’ September 1, 1962. (Only bid)
. Same as Item 7 except for opera-
tion August 1, 1963,
Option, One additional duplicate
of Item 7 for delivery not later
than four months thereafter.
. Option, One additional duplicate
of Item 8 for delivery not later
than four*months thereafter.
SCHEDULE III
One 350-MW tandem-compound
steam turbogenerator ard two
boiler. feed pump turbines for Westinghouse: $11,900,000
operation September 1, 1962. (Only bid)
. Same as Item 13 except for operas Brown-Boverl: $6,520,000 -
tion August 1, 1963. Westinghouse: $11,900,000
Option, One additional duplicate
of Item 13 for delivery not later Westinghouse: $11,900,000
than four months thereafter. (Only bid)
Option. One additional duplicate’
of Item 14 for delivery not later, Brown-Boveri: $6,400,000
than four months thereafter. Westinghouse: $11,900,000
SCHEDULE IV
. One 275-MW tandem-compound - :
‘steam turbogenerator and two :
boiler feed pump turbines for oper- Parsons: $6,264,000
ation September 1, 1962. Westinghouse: $9,300,000
Same as Item 19 except for oper~ Brown-Boveri: $5,530,000
ation August 1, 1963 + Parsons: $6,264,000
Bnglish Mlectric: $6,480,000
‘Weatinghouse: $9,300,000
(Same as 7)
(Same as 7)
(Same"as 7)
Option.. One additional duplicate
of Item 19 for delivery not later Parsons: $6,264,000
than four months thereafter. Westinghouse: $9,300,000
. Option, One additional duplicate Brown-Boverl: $5,410,000
of Item 20 for delivery not later Parsons: $6,264,000
than four months thereafter. English Blectric: $6,480,000
: Westinghouse: $9,300,000
In addition, General Electric bid on a 600-MW cross-Compound unit:
$18,007,280. And, Westinghouse bid on an 800-MW cross-compound
unit: $24,000,000 (flat).
Allis-Chaimers didn't bid on anything.
All European bidders bid firm prices,
All agreed to liquidated damages.
General Electric and’ Westinghouse bid escalated prices and bid no
liquidated damages, .
TVA has 60 days to make up its mind,
Union Wins Mac Case
A RECENT CASE IN THE
MAC DEPT. charged the Com-
pany with violation of the con-
tract of Article X, Section 2, Part
A, which states that an hourly
rateq day work employee when
permanently transferred to a re-
lated day work job having a lower
or equal job rate will be paid the
job rate of the job to which he
is transferred.
In this case a Toolmaker was
transferred to a lower rated as-
sembier’s job rated at R-22, The
Company started him two steps
below the job rate at R-20, Stew-
ard Sabatello immediately filed
a grievance, At a step two level
meeting with Coordinator Christ-
man.and Board Member Di Cater- .
dno and Shop Steward Sabatello
negotiating for the Union, the
Company agreed to give — this
worker the R-22 rate immediate-
ly. They also agreed to pay this
‘inerease retroactive to the date
of the case. THE WINNING OF
THIS CASE PUT $680 MORK
PER WEEK INTC THIS WORK-
ER'S POCKETS.
0
Another Win
One of the problems that was
eurrently settled in the Large
Steam Turbine Generator Divis-
jon was the case in the shipping
area of Bldg. 278.
This case involved the method
of payment for the unpacking of
materials. The former method
was to: pay .81 a ton, The Com-
pany attempted to institute pay-
ment on an hourly basis instead
of the price, Shop Stewards Capi-
‘tummino and Clark with - their
Board Members White and Harri-
gon and Coordinator Vitallo were
able at the second step of the
grievance procedure to settle the
case satisfactorily with the price
of .8i a ton restored and the .
group was paid retroactive for
all tonnage from the beginning
of the dispute.
This settlement will stay in ef-
fect until such time as the Com-
pany can arrive at a fair and
equitable method of. pricing flat
car shipping as a whole. This
will be a lengthy procedure be-
cause of the problem and in-
equalities that have existed in
the pricing structure over the
years. There are other current
problems such as work load and
work jurisdiction that are cur-
rently under discussion.
