Electrical Union News, 1953 June 26

ec ee . : 2
TIO ee Te eB nas enn MASSON TOA La ILS AT a

June 28 Field Day Will Have Complete ;

‘Wield Day | program of Sports, Stage Acts and Prizes

Program

11 A.M.—Grounds Open

Noon — American Legion
Drum and Bugle
Corps

1 P. M.—Little League
a Baseball

2:30—Acrial Acts

3:30—Trick Horseback
Riding

4 :00—Wrestlin gz
5:00—Boxing
6:00—Giveaway Drawing
7:00—Aerial Acts
8:00—Trick Riding

UE Programs Describe
FEPC and Field Day

UIE Local 801’s daily radio broad-
casts over WTRY this week fen-
tured reports ‘on’ the work of the
local fair employment practices
committee and a preview of the
field day. ae

The UE on the Air program
dealing with FIEPC had as its
guest Wayman Lewis, Bide, 52,
secretary of the 301 anti-diserimin-
ation committee. Lewis described
the current job ‘survey aimed at
uncovering discrimination in the
GE works.

Activities Committee Chairman
Bucky Phillips, 285; told about the
forthcoming field day in a-Tuesday
morning broadcast. Phillips urged
all members to come to the event
and bring their families.

‘UE on the Air is heard from
Monday through Friday at 6:45 in
the morning,

DISCUSSING PACT, Local 301 members discussed the new GE offer to UB

It will be a full day with overtime for those who attend the UE Local 301 Field Day at
Republican Park on Princetown Roada week from Sunday. The schedule for the gala pro-
gram features sports events, stage acts, carnival games, and, of course, the big giveaway

More Testimony of Union
Leaders on Taft-Hartley

In recent testimony before a congressional committee,
President Albert Fitzgerald and Washington Representative
Russ Nixon outlined the UE position in regard to the current

attacks on the labor movement,

Because, we felt that the testi-
mony of the UF leaders, in which
they pointed out that there are
more than 20 anti-labor bills be-
fore Congress, is so important,
the UE News last’ week, began
publishing the text of the hear-
ings, reprinted from a UE lesflet,
“Tatt-Hartleyism Is Depression
Maker.” ;

This week, we continue publica-
tion of. the testimony:

MR. ANDREWS: Mr. Fitager-
ald, answer me this question. Are
you opposed to Communists hold-
ing office in labor unions?

MR... FITZGERALD: I think
that the’ members of a labor union

should have the right to elect to

office whomever they choose. .
The UE. witnesses exposed the

fake of enpl ver claims that Taft-

Hartley proteets*“free speech.”
MR.- NIXON: Every employer
representative that. has been here
has put emphasis on this, and why
is that? Is it because there is a
civil liberty issue here, or is it
because the First’ Amendment of
the Constitution is really at issue?
Do you really believe that?
What is really at issue is a very
understandable thing — bosses do
not like to have unions organize.
They like to have the means to
stop them. The main means of the
boss to stop them is by one device
or another to exercise the intimi-

AS Aue

dation and the influence that he
has by virtue of the fact that he
is the boss. ’

He can shift you from day shift
to night shift, "and he can fire you,
and he can advance you or not
advance you. He has multiple op-
portunities for influence. He is in
a general position of:,overwhelm-
ing economic power. He wants to
preserve hig freedom to-use that,

The idea of the protection of
the. Wagner Act was to say to
the worker: “Never fear, you have
a right to decide free from any
kind of economic fear, subtle or
otherwise, whether or not you wish
to join a union.” And: “You have
a right to work toward this end.”

The employers did not like that,
und they. do not like it now.

Election July 20 -

UE Local 301’s membership
voted Monday to approve the ex-
ecutive board proposal to hold an
election for 10 delegates to the
union’s 18th national convention
at .a combined membership and

‘stewards’ meeting at the union

hall on Monday, July 20.

The meeting will name 8 dele-
gates from the Ist and 38rd shifts,
and 2 from the 2nd shift, The
convention is to be held in Chicago
in September. :

are 2
D

at Monday’s: membership meet-

ing. Union members will have an opportunity to vote on the new pact during shop meetings to be held

during the coming week,

4 ® Friday, June 19, 1953

drawing.

An added attraction will be t.
awarding of a special $125 gat
prize to sume lucky youngster who
is under 12, The kitchen and bar
will be open all day serving _all
sorts of refreshments at moderate
prices. —

One new feature of the field day
will .be boxing matches, which to-
gether with the Little League base-
ball game and the wrestling match-
es will make a full day of sports
events, in

Since tickets to the field day are
selling for 3 for only 50c, every
worker will have an opportunity to
bring his or her entire family. In-
cidentally, volunteer help to make
the day’s operations run smoothly
is still needed. Those interested °

“should contact the union hall.

The giveaway program. drawing
will undoubtedly be one of the high
spots of the day. In all 28 prizes
will be given away to holders of
admission “tickets, : These™ prizes, .
which are listed below, have a com-
bined value of around 33,000.

The entire field day program is
given in the upper left hand con)
of this page. The complete pri
list with the values of each award:

1—Seven cubic foot GE freezer
(3300); 2—GE “Stewardess” clec-
tric range ($260); 3—12 foot alum-
inum boat ($240); 4—GE table
television ($200); 5—Lauson out-
board motor ($125); 6—Revere
motion picture projector ($125);
7—power lawn mower ($110).

8—Wilson golf clubs and bag
($100); 9—Singer portable sewing
machine. ($95); 10—Underwood
portable typewriter ($75); 11—
Westinghouse floor waxer ($70);
12—Hanor ‘eralt’ aluminum. ware
($70); 18—GE floor  cireulator
($67); 14—Red leather easy rocker
($50).

15——Westinghouse electric oven
(350); 16—53-pieee dinner service
for 8 ($50); 17—Aleamatic deep
fryer ($40); .18—Brunswick bowl-
ing ball and bag ($31); 19—Fish-
ing tackle, glass rod and reel
(430); 20—GE radio alarm ($30);
21—Winchell spinning reel ($29).

22—-Arvin portable electric e
er ($22); 28—Double bed spree
($20); 24—Matson 6-piece- vanity. °
set ($20); 25—Revere 7-piece cop-
per bottom starter cooking set
($16); 26--West Bend automatic

electric percolator ($14); 27—Re- -* ~

vere 3-piece mixing bowl set ($10);
28—Detecto white bathroom scale

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

. Taft-Hartley

SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK

Friday, June 26, 1953

Latrobe, Pa.—-UE has. won: its
first contract with the. Newcomer
Products Co, after smashing every

‘company efforts to get out of col-

lective bargaining with the union,
Although Ul won the election at
Newcomer months ago, the com-
pany, with government collusion,
stalled for months before recog-
nizing the workers’ right to select
their union representation, How-
ever, the workers refused to be
intimidated, and the company was
forced to agree on a contract with
a wage increase and many other
improvements,

gk ok UF

Washington—Harold Christoffel,
former CIO autoworkers’ leader,
and one of the first victims in the
frameup. era, this
week won a.reduction. in his “per-

jury” jail sentence from thie orig-

2: 2 to 6 years to 16 months to

“¢ years. Christoffel is now con-

tinuing his fight for complete vin-
dication. ‘
xk * ut

Pownal, Vt.—-UE Local 221 has
negotiated a 6e to 12¢ general
wage increase for workers at the
Warren Wire Co, Information and
assistance was provided the Ver-
mont workers by UE Local 301.

ek ok ok

Coos. Bay, Ore—For the first
time in 51 years, the Oregon AFL
convention had a speaker from the
CIO, He was See. George Brown
of the Oregon Industrial Union
Council. Brown was cheered ene
thusiastically when he made. his

surprise appearance on the speaks -

ers! platform,
x * &

St. Louis—UE has won a Te geo
eval wage increase for workers at
the Johnson Tin Foil Co. An ad-
ditional $e an hour «will be-added
to paychecks in September,

x kk *

: C Jasucalt Ky. — About 10,000

L eonstruction workers return

First Reports Indicate Majority Voting
To Accept 3.26% Plus Proposal on Wages

Early reports on the votes being taken in the shop this week indicated that UE Local
201.members were casting a large majority of ballots for acceptance of GH’s contract pro- |
he votes were held by shop stewards and executive board mem-

posals to the union. Most of t

301 Urges Members —

To Aid Mica Drive.

UI Local 301 shop stewards and
members were urged this week to
aid in the UE drive to organize
the 600 employees of Mica In-
sulator in Schenectady.

In a letter sent by the local to

‘all stewards, it was pointed out

that organization of Mica was im-
portant to protect the rates of GE
workers. Mica employees are now
saddled with a company union
which has kept wages and work-
ing conditions.at sweatshop levels,

It ‘was’ stressed that it is im-
portant for all UE members to
contact the people they know in
Miea and tell them about’ union -
conditions in GE under the UE
contract, The 301 members were
asked to try and get Mica workers ;
who have not already done so, to
sign UE ecards.

UE's organizing drive has met
un excellent response from the
Mica workers, and cnough cards
ure now on hand in the UE office
to petition for ua representation
election. However, the union wants
to get enough cards to insure a
landslide victory against the com-
pany union and TUE-CIO. dis-
rupters.

ed to their jobs on a nearby atomic .

energy plant after the contracting
company backed) down and re-

_scinded 250 firings.

x * *

Trenton, N. J—An. agreement
signed by UF with the General
Plating Co. guve UE -members a
10e to 17¢ wage hike.” ;

‘HERE AGAIN,

bers ‘on Wednesday, so that no
actual tabulation was available
when this edition went to press.
A complete tally will be published
in next week’s EU News, «
Apparently, a large majority of
the Schenectady GE workers. were

taking part in the’ shop meetings .

to decide the fate of the GE pro-
posals. Similar meetings were be-
ing held in UE-GE locals across
the country. If the UE members
vote to approve the contract he-
fore July 10, it will go into effect
as of June 10. If it is rejected,
negotiations will. be resumed.

The company’s proposal would
give all GE workers under UE
contract a general wage increase
of 3.26%. In addition day ‘work-
ers now ‘getting. $1.79 or more
would receive 1¢ to 8c special in-
creases on their rates. Similar
boosts would be applied the tim-
ing rates and AT.R’s on new
piece work jobs in which the
AIR. corresponds to $1.79% and
up. Since a 8-step differential be-
tween day work rate (down time
rate) and A.R. is general prac-

bourd, which” groups together un-
ion locals in the General Electric
chain. The board's decision was
based on the belief that’ Carey’s
grabbing of the contract before he
even consulted IUK-CIO member-:
ship cut the ground from under a
further fight.

However, there was one. major
change made in the proposal be-
fore acceptance was recommended.
Carey had been in such a hurry to
grab the offer, that he apparently
didn’t even read the section which
made it clear that the, company’s
intention was to limit'the duration
of the raise negotiated Now to the
12-month: life of the contract. UE
insisted that this “be altered to .
make the raises -permanent,

In 2 discussion on the contract
which followed Business Agent
Leo Jandreau’s report on negotia-
tions during Monday night's exec-
utive board, many board members
expressed the feeling that great-
er gains could have been scored
had united action been achieved

tice in Schenectady,. this would with the IUE-CIO. Such unity was

usually mean increases on A.E.RS
of $1.97 or higher.

Acceptance. of the contract’ pro-

posal would follow the recommen-

dations of the UE-GE conference”

part of the UE program from the
beyinning of the negotiations, but
Carey ‘consistently sabotaged «all
efforts in the direction of a joint
fight apainst the company.

UE Local 301’s annual Field Day will be held at Republican Park on Princetown Road on Sun-

day. Pictured above is a seene from the the 1952 event, Full details ow page 4.

Bldg. 17: . George  Croinex
<worked on a new job, in which he
set up one stacker and made
20,000 slots in 5 hours. Price ‘is-
sued was $12 per thousand, in-
dicating earnings of only $2.80 in
5 hours. Supervision has refused
to check the job. The union de-
mands the establishment of a fair
price and the payment of average
earnings for all work done until
such a price is set.

Chester Okinsky wanted to in-
form his foreman that there was
un obstruction on his punch press.
However Foreman Tyron was
busy doing material handling in
the iron shed and could not be
reached. for an’ hour, The union
demands that this worker be paid
for the time lost through no fault
of his own. It further demands a
halt to the practice of the fore-
min doing material handlers’
work, ’

Bldg. 18: Group working under
Foreman Jones has an inadequate
$2.03 rate for large layout work.
Based on. similar: jobs being done
in 27%, the rate is not high enough
to compensate for skills and re-
sponsibilities, ‘The union demands
uw B-step increase. in rate. .

Bldg. 28:. All dials stamped
2QUT2V2 have a standard price of
‘Ge each. Supervision has said that
unpriced dials will be priced in
the future. The union maintains
that present prices are computed
from the standard table, and de-
mands-that the 6¢ price he applied
to all type of dials.

The IHCT stator was originally
priced at $104 per hundred, After
a change of method, the price was
cut to $49 The union protested
this inadequate price, and it was
raised to $60. However, the work-
ers are still not able to maintain
their previous carnings. The union
demands a proper price adjust-
ment.

Bldg. 46: Joseph Dziewierz and
Edward Wilson are. classified as B
cutter grinders, sharpening and
rebuilding all types of Gleason
and spiral bevel. gear cutters, as
well as Gleason #2 straight cut-
ters. The present rate is
quite for the high skills and
knowledge required to do these
jobs. The union demands reclus-
sification of the workers to A
“with proper rate adjustment.

Henry Florkiewiez machined a
30-piece job, One piece required 2
hours of rework, and the foreman
refuses to pay for time involved.
The union demands that this
worker, Who has un excellent work
record, be paid for his time..

se

inade-.

TUNE IN!
UE on the Air
“WIRY: ie

6:45 A.M.

Friday, June 26,.1953

Thousands. of
each year at a

grievances are handled by UE Local 30!
levels from the steward up to final appeal
in. New York City.

To keep members posted, we shall

each week list some of the grievances that have.not been
settled at the steward-foreman level and have been re-
ferred to the executive board-management level.

“Charles Friello is a B cylindri-

sembly operations in accordance

cal grinder operator with a $1.97——with practice throughout Control.

rate, His work merits a higher
rate, especially in view of the fact
that his work on grinding plug
auges, taper guuges and special
gauges requires work at’ toler.
ances of .0001. This is strictly. A

work, and the union demands that”

Friello be given the A

classifica-
tion and rate. &

Richard Patnode and William
Turner are classified as B_ tool
grinders. Their work is compar-
able to A classified work through-
out the plant. The union demands
that they be properly upgraded
und that their rates be increased.

Edmund Reynolds is classified
us a B eutter grinder operator
with a rate of $1.7334. His work
is strictly’in the A classification.
The union demands’ proper up-
grading and rate increase.

Bldg. 49: R. Russett is getting
more than his share of one piece
jobs and lost time. He ds also en-
titled to suverage earnings on a
job which he started but was not
allowed to® finish, The union de-
mands an end to the discrimina-
tion ngainst this worker and pay-

“ment. for .the above mentioned

work. © ;

Group of boring ‘mill workers

are entitled under contract article
Vl-Sb to standard prices on 8 dif-
ferent jobs and operations. The
union. demands thit these stand-
ard: prices be: set.
mill — group
inethod of computing prices on
repair jobs. A management in-
vestigation to correct this situa-
tion is demanded.

Boring protests

Bldgs. 57 and 95: Moulders and
coremaukers protest their inade-
quate job rates and_ earnings.
Their occupation, which has al-
ways been considered as a craft
occupation, is not being given the
sume consideration “as other
crafts. They also protest the fact
that their earnings do not  suf-
ficiently exceed their AE.R.’s.
Furthermore, the workers
test the bringing in of new em-
ployees on moulding work while
an apprentice -plan is in effect.
The union demands —imniediate
correction of all of these situa-
tions.

Bldg. 60: A. De Rossi protests
the failure. of management to up-
grade him to A_ elevator repair
although he has had the B clas-
sification for 2 years, and is fully
qualified for A work. The union
demands that he be properly up-
graded, .

Robert J. Hunt is giving normal
performance as a B rigger. The
union demands that he be given
the job rate.

Although Daniel Rice is classi-
fied as 2 B ehecker-packer, he is
doing A work, The union demands
that he be given the A classifica-

tion and rate, .

Bldg. 69: , Wire and assembly

“group. under Foreman Bennett re-

quest supervision to apply the
-standard table for wiring and as-

pro-"

The union demands that, manage-
inent see to it that this request is
granted.

Bldg. 89: Recently a porter was
upgraded in a. group,. and the
steward requested that the open-
ing -be filled. However,. this has
not been done, The union demands

the immediate .assignment of a_

porter to correct this situation,

Test group. under “Foreman La
Roeco is classified as test and in-
spection, $1.47 ‘rate. This rate is
completely - inadequate for the
skills, knowledge and wide range
of jobs involved. The union de-
mands proper evaluation | and
rates for jobs.

Bldg. 269 Anthony Cremo is
classified as a floor and Klystron
tube assembler with a’ job rate of

' $1.85. He is receiving only $1.79%4.

The union demands payment of
the job rate to this fully qualified
worker. ‘

At the company’s convenience,
Susan McCarthy and Owen Morris
were taken off their regular work
to work on -purtially-developed
Utien Seals, On 6/5, the foreman
notified. the shop. steward that
average earnings would be paid,
but’ on 6/8, he said that payment
would only be pawwediwwe The union
demands payment .of average
earnings in accordance with’ the
foreman’s’ commitment and with
contract article VI-5f. .

Grace Vandenburgh is classified
aus a K inspector with a. job rate
of $147. She is doing the same
kind of roving inspection as male
workers who are getting $1.79%4.
This is straight discrimination on

“the basis of sex. The union de-
mands that this woman be paid
equal pay for equal work,

Bldg. 273: Henry Bajer is clas-
sified us a C floor assembler, but
has been doing B work. for over
6 months, The union demands re-
classification to B: with rate ad-
justment retroactive to 12/1/52.

L. Freudigman is a milling ma-'

chine operator. on ribs. The burr-
ing operation has been added to
his duties although it is not norm-
ally part of his job. This is. a
violation of contract article VI-1

and 2. The union demands that his

duties be confined ’to his job.

Charles Maleco is. a moveman.

He is the only one of his group
assigned to work out of his clas-
sification and is entitled to up-
grading to tractor train operator.
This union demands he be ‘given
this upgrading with proper rate
adjustment,

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO & MACHINE -
WORKERS OF AMERICA (UE)

Lacal 301
<Q 2-

Published by tho Editorial Committes

James J. Cognstta
aan-an-Josoph Alols

Ass't Recording Sacreta dy Risstand
Chlof Shop Steward....Wimmian Maatrianl
Business Agontannnanan--nleo Jandreau

301 LIBERTY ST, SCHENECTADY 5, N.Y.

is

oe ce
William Thomas is classified as
4 C_ machinist-machine repair-
man. He has been performing B

. duties and should be reclassified

accordingly. ‘The union demands
that he be upgraded with proper
rate adjustment: ; j

B hydrostatic test men protest
assignment of work requiring the
operation of a torch, This is A
work and*should be done by “A
men. The union demands a_ma
agement investigation to corr

this situation, mF

The jobs of R. Lopez and K.
Brantley have been converted: from
day work to piece work. In-viola-
tion of ‘contract article VI-1_and
2, supervision has failed. to’ make
known the new job description, but

‘has announced a timing rate’ for

the jobs, This rate is completely
inadequate, The union demands a
management investigation. te cor-
rect. these contract violations.

As the result of a written
grievance, G. Budini was-returned ,
to a job~from which he had been
transferred. Now he has been told
that ‘he must change shift: The

union demands that this ‘diserim- ,

inatory action be stopped.

“Walter Loesche protests the re-
peated inaccuracies. in pricing drill
press jobs, The same jobs are
being priced differently in different
shop orders, and require constant
adjustment. The union demands an
investigation to correct’ pricing
methods and to. eliminate exces-
sive errors in the future.

Frank Schermerhorn is not..1e-
“eeiving an equal share’ of over-
time in his group. Further, he is
not being given proper considera:
tion for upgrading in accordance
with his service and experience,
The-union demands fair treatmey™
for this worker, ; .

‘2

Sane"

Elmer Streeter -is entitled to
average earnings for 5 hours dur-
ing which he was supposed to be
on crane service. He was bypassed
on forenian’s orders. The union
demands payment in accordance
with contract article VI-5f.

Third shift painters protest
violation of contract article V-9
on equal distribytion of overtime.
Management admits violations.
The union demands correction of
this situation. .

Welding inspectors protest ‘use
of other groups to do their work.
They do not share overtime with
these groups. Union demands end-
ing of this practice.

G. K. Ainsworth is assigned to
the operation and setup of a La
Point broaching machine, The job
is classified as B with a 92¢ tim-
ing rate. This is an improper
evaluation, and, based on job con-
tent, the union demands that this
machine be classified as A with
proper rate.

Samuel Scott is classified as a
B machinist, The-work he is per-
forming and which he is required
to perform merits a higher rate.
The union demands that Scott be
reclassified to A with proper rate
adjustment, .

Campbell Ave: Everett Chregf*
anan_and John Politsch were hil,
as C sheet metal workers. - About
6 months ago, union protested
transfer of C sheet metal work
from CAP to 37, The company
-said that all sheet ‘metal work

in- CAP- would: be A-or By There:

“fore, the union demands that these
2 men, who were improperly clas-
sified when they were hired, be
given B classifications, :

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

ACSC EGY AMAT TUTE sale 1 zy

Start FEP Study .

Forms in the fair employ-
ment practices committee sur-
vey to determine in what areas
of the-Schenectady works dis-
crimination exists were distrib-
uted to Local 301 executive
board members .Monday eve-
ning. ; .
=%_ The forms are to be filled out
by shop stewards. They ‘are
aimed at finding out what jobs
in the plant are held by Negro
workers. The FEP committee
hopes in this way to gather the
information required. to force
equal treatment of all workers
regardless of color or national
origin.

‘More Women Workers Win Wage Hikes

As Schenectady Job Survey Continues

About 200° women workers were given wage increases this past week as a result of job
reevaluations made by the company. The increases, ranging from 3c to 15c an hour,
brought to around 500 the number of women day workers to get special boosts in the last

UE Wins Strike in Scranton

As GE Guarantees Seniority.

UE Local 125 members returned to work this week after
scoring a major victory in their 9-week strike at Scranton

GE. The workers went. back

UE Sirikes Binghamton Shop

Workers at the Fairbanks Co.
in Binghamton walked off their
. jobs Tuesday after rejecting as
inadequate a company offer to
raise wages 7%e an hour and
make a few other modifications in
the present contract;
Striking were more than
members of UE Local 324. -The
workers’ decision to hit the bricks
was unanimous, and was largely
prompted by management's refus-
al to bargain collectively after
' making its proposals on a “take it
or lenve it” basis, - : :
The company offer including ca
conversion of 18%c¢ of the 20c
hourly “adder? into: a yegular. part
rates on piece work jobs

2650

yest the
A da guarantee of. average earn-

ings on. down time,

However, in addition to demand-
ing a more substantial wage boost,
the Fairbanks employees want a

company-paid pension plan and a
similar . group insurance — setup.
Management flatly rejected both
of these demands, and in“ effect
stopped negotiating on the. eve of
the contract’s expiration. The
workers decided to. follow. a “no
contract, no work” policy.

Immediately after the workers
were forced out, the union called
in a United States government
mediator in an effort to bring
about a -quick settlement. Local
324 is being assisted in its fight by
UM. Field Organizer Neal East-
man. , -

Fairbanks manufactures valves,
“and long has been considered one
of the pacesetters in the valve in-
dustry.
Binghaniton loeal are likely to be
veflected in settlements now being
negotiated in a number of area
valve shops.

WREYT
BEDERATED
PRESS

“LOOK, IT'S THAT FELLOW McCARTHY . . . HE'S BEEN
TIPPED OFF THE PLACE IS FULL OF REDS .. ."

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

Any gains. won by the _

after unanimously voting to
approve an agreement which guar-
antees them the full seniority pro-
tection which they were seeking.

In effect, the, Scranton GE work-
workers gained a company pledge
to follow Schenectady practice
with regard to seniority. This
gives them full plantwide senior-
ity guarantees on layoffs and re-
call, It also provides the work-
ers with assurance that seniority
shall be the governing factor in
determining upgrading. The only
modifying : factor would be the
ability to do the job in question.

Originally, Plant Manager Nate
Corwin, formerly of Schenectady,

“had insisted on a clause - giving
importance to “ability and poten-
tial” in upgrading. In other words,

Git wanted the right. to pick its *

favorites for better. jobs, and to

ignore the other workers.

A victory was
the union with regard to manage-
ment attempts to cut job rates and
prices in the Pennsylvania plant.
The company agreed to spend 30
days completely reviewing all jobs
and rates with the union. Most
Scranton jobs are operations mov-
ed from Schenectady’s electronic
tube division when GIZ moved its
dishwasher manufacturing divis-
ion to Louisville.

The Scranton victory: was par-
ticularly significant in the light of
the results of other recent GE
strikes, such as those in Syracuse
and Iivendale, Ohio, where the
workers “were forced to accept
company terms, United support

from the UE national organiza- ~

tion and from all UE locals across
the country was tremendously im-
portant in achieving the success-
ful strike settlement. UE Local
801 aided, the Scranton strikers
with several donations.

Equally vital to the Scranton
strikers was the, solid support.
given them by the Seranton com-
“quunity and by other unions in the
wairen.

_.the..action of .the .AFL. construc-.
tion workers, who refused to cross
the picket lines throughout the
length of the’ walkout.

_had begun to mount rapidly.

also scored by -

Particularly important was ,

month. These workers are em-
ployed on 116 jobs in panel wir-
ing and assembly.

The survey which has brought
these increnses is continuing, and
it is expected that another
women workers may be affected
before it’s done. The job survey
was taken by the company after
the pressure of UE Local 301’s
fight to end pay discrimination
One
of the most important features in
the increase pattern is that many
women’s job rates below common
labor have been eliminated, while
in other cases the gap between
women’s rates. and common labor
has been narrowed from 9c to 8c.

“No job rate below common la-
hor” is one of the chief slogans
in UR’s fight to end pay diserimin-
ation on account of sex.

'Phese pay raises for the women
are the fruits of 2 union campaign
which began more than a year ago
with ‘the big! women’s demonstra-
tion in Schenectady, . UE District .
3 then sponsored an Upstate area
meeting which carried the UIE
drive on the “pay the women less”
racket a step further. Similar
uvea meetings were held -by UE
throughout the country, and at the
last union national convention, it
was decidéd to have a country-
wide women’s conference to map
and coordinate the drive.

This conference was held last
month and was tremendously suc-
cessful, As a result UM Local 301
women workers have been hold-
ing regular monthly meetings to
discuss grievances and job dis-
crimination. The third such mecet-
ing was held at the union hall last
night, 1t will be reported fully
in next week’s paper,

UE Meeting Tomorrow
To Discuss Equal Pay

The job of eliminating diserim-
ination because of sex in the GIf
chain will be tackled in-a ‘special
meeting of a subcommittee of the
UE-GE "conference board. The
group will meet tomorrow “in
Cleveland,

In calling the gathering, the
board recognized that considerable
progress in winning equal pay for
equal work had been made in
many GE. plants under UE con-
tract, It was felt that 2 closer
coordination between locals. and
an adequate exchange of informa--
tion ‘on the progress being mace
would be important in extending
the gains throughout the chain.

Friday, June 26, 1953 ® 3

500°"