Electrical Union News, 1953 March 20

OF COURSE You'RE ABLE. TO WORK... SINCE WHEN

DO You TIGHTEN SCREWS WITH YouR HEAD?

Plan 4 Stewards’ Classes.
For All Shifts Next Week

UE Local 301’s stewards’ school will hold its last full
schedule of classes next week with Buiding 273 committeemen

from all 3 shifts participating.
2 vroups of stewards will still be
sluted for. sessions, These are the
shop representatives under Board
Members William Stewart and
Anthony Villano. These sections.
were originally. slated to get to-
wether on Tuesday. evening, but
their clusses were postponed until
' March 24 beeause of St. Patrick's
Day. .

This past week's sessions were
marked by the same high level of
attendunee which has featured the
cntire school, They “got underway
Tuesday evening with the commit-
teemen and women under Miles
Moon and Vineent Di Lorenzo in
attendance,

All. 2nd shift stewards except
those in Turbine got their oppor
tunity to discuss the grievance ma-
chinery and other shop problems on
Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday
evening’s class was for the repre-
sentatives under Board Members
Manuel Fernandez, Webster Bath-
viek and Paul Rosa, On Thursday,
the stewards ‘under Paul Landolfo,

~ Albert Pepieelli, Adam Griffith, and
Howard McLean attended the
school,

The entire stewards’ school has —
been-under. the supervision of. Bus-. 1.

iness Agent Leo Jandreau and of
his. assistants, Serafin Pit. and
Fred Sheehan,

By the end of the week, only

Board Proposes To Send Six

‘To UE Women’s Conference

_ A proposal to. send a 6-member delegation’to the UE na-—
tional women’s conference in New York on May 2 and 3 was
approved by the Local 301 executive board Monday. In taking

this action, the bourd emphasiacd
the importance of the gathering in:
furthering. the fight against the
“pay the women less” racket which
prevails in industry.

Local 301’s delegation will go to
the conference prepared to report
fully on the progress made in Sche-
nectady toward the union’s goal of
“equal pay for equal work regard-
less’ of sex.” Starting with a big
women’s demonstration a year ago,
301 has been waging a fight to end
all, pay discrimination against
women. This fight has been
marked by, many. grievance victor-
ies. However, these victories have
not solved the major problem of
the company’s basic policy of
keeping women workers with high
skills at rates below those for com-
mon labor.

The union’s ‘position has. been
that the problem will not be solved
until the company is forced to
abandon this practice, It is for this-
reason that.a special wage increase
for all women workers is one of the
demands presented to GE in. cur-
rent wage reopener negotiations.

Phe idea of a’ women’s confer-
ence grew out of a-number of Uls
district. conferences held through-
out the country.

4 © Friday, Mareh 13, 1953

Prize Drawing Slated Monday

Sherif! Harold Calkins will dip
his hand into a big revolving basket
at Ulf Local 801 hall next Monday,
und 6 unioh members will be richer
as a result,

Calkins won't be playing Santa
Claus. He’ll just be drawing the
winning tickets in the union’s big
giveaway program which has
brought a record sale of tickets in
the shops., The drawing will take
place at the evening session of the
local’s monthly membership meet-
ing,

Tickets have been selling at 3 for-

25c, Those who have bought them
will be‘ eligible for the following
prizes:

1. A complete $100 Easter outtit

Class Schedule _.

Shop stewards under the fol-
lowing board members are slat-
ed for classes next week at
these times: .

Tuesday, Mareh 17, 1:00 p.m.
—Turbine 2nd shiftestewards,

Wednesday, Mareh 18, 7:30
pan Bill —-Linka- and Anders
Christensen, , '

Thursday, March 19, 7:30 p.m,
—tLarry Gebo,

for either a man or woman.

2 A $75. Sepicce luzgage set.

A $50 cause of assorted liquor.
A. $87.50 electric rouster,
A $25 machinist’s tool box.

6 A $12.50 Shakespearian tool
box. 2

In, addition, $5 prizes will be
given to all persons who sold win-
ning tickets. Ticket holders will
not have to be present at the draw-
ing in order to win,

Proceeds from the giveaway pro-
gram will be used to help finance
the big 1958 schedule of social
events planned by the activities
committee. This schedule will
start off with an anniversary dance
‘to be held within the next couple
of months. :

GM Profits Rise

General Motors Corp. profits rose

- to $658,721,179 last year, This

huge figure was calculated after
taxes, but before C. Lk. Wilson,
GM’s
over the Defense Department. 'Two-
thirds of GM’s record. 1952 sales
were defense order's,

. “former”... president; took -

Industry Men Scuttle @

T-H Change Committee

Corporation spokesmen lust week
dashed any hopes the Eisenhower
administration may have had of
getting a united labor-management
program for changing the Taft-
Hurtley slave labor law.

A special “harmony” committee,
made up of management, labor and
public .representatives, collapsed
lust week after-only 3 meetings.
Cause of the committee breakup.
was the refusal of management
members to agree even on proced-:
ures to be followed by the group.
While both labor und publie mem-
bers agreed that’ the whole com-

. mittee should vote on recommenda-

tions to Congress, the industry rep-
resentatives refused to even go on.
record on any law changes. They
said point-blank that they would
not support-any majority decisions
of the committee, © | ~

In taking this position, the com-
pany’ representatives ended any
possibility that a program
amending 'Taft-Hartley might*
dvawn up, The committee, which
was set up by Secretary of Labor
Martin Durkin, was in .this way
relegated to the meaningless role
of an “advisory body” on, so-called
non-controversial issues.

U.S. Gives Big Order
To Army Chief's Firm

One of the largest peacetime
orders ever given to a textile firm
—$14,586,907—was awarded by the
urmed services last week to J. P.
Stevens Co. The award was note-,
worthy because the “former” head
of the company js Secretary of the
Army Robert T, Stevens.

In reporting the award, the New
York Times admitted that “interest
in the Stevens’ award was apparent
in the textile trade” because of
Stevens’ post. However, the Times
quickly added that the awards were
ussigned strictly on the basis of
“low bids.”

Stevens was one of the big
poration executives who supposed-
ly disposed of their stock holdings
before being confirmed by the Sen-
ale. for. cubinet...posts. ..However,
apparently old ties’ are hard to
_break, especially when they are
knotted with dollar signs.

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK

Friday, March 20, 1953

7 os
Sheriff Harold-Calkins is pictured ‘drawing one
Ralph

SERVING WITH SMILE,
of the winning tickets in UE Loeal. 301’s big giveaway program.

(Jonday night.
single squawk.

“bought it from himself,

Pipe of the activities

committee looks on,

The sale of giveaway chanees

netted the union’s activity program more than $2,000.

Sheriff Hands Out 6 Tickets,

But They're Good for Prizes

Sheriff Harold Calkins probaby set a world's record on

They were the winning numbers in
UE Local 80's big giveaway pro-
gram, and entitled the recipients
to pick up $3800 worth of prizes.
Calkins perfomned his feat at the
union’s monthly membership -meet-
ing where he drew the winning |
numbers out of the bir “wheel of
fortune” basket into which close
to 80,000 tickets had been pliced,
When the sheriff dipped his hand
into the busket for the Ist time, he
came out with a‘ stub bearing the
name of B, Wazlauskas, Racetrack.
This made ‘Kazlauskas the lueky

- winner of Ist. prize—a complete

$100 Easter outfit,

Then. in succession, Calkins pick-
ed out tickets: bought by R. Salley,
52 (winner of ‘a $75 3-picee lug-
wage ‘set); T. Nealon, 46 (a $0
ease of liquor); J. Rispoli, 73° (a
$37.50 electric roaster) 3K. Negrin,
40 (a $25 machinist’s toolbox; and
P. IE. Chase, K-1 (a. $12.50 Shake-
spearian fishing reel).

Probably the neatest- trick was

ulled off by Rispoli, Not only did

“Ybuy a winning ticket, “but he

sult, he nailed down an extra $5,
the reward to each seller of a win-
ner. Others to get the $5 bounties

-were-L. Passikolf- Ve Sty dohny By
Hopkins, G. Hubert: and.d, Spooner,

A preliminary financial audit on
the giveaway program indicated
that the profit to the local would’
top the $2,000 mark.

As are: -

He handed out 6 tickets and didn’t get a
However, the tickets weren't the usual kind.

GE ‘Offers’ Zero or Less
in Reopener Negotiations

With the company makin

g an arrogant proposal which,

_in effect, gives the union thé choice of accepting either noth-
ing or less than nothing, UE negotiators this week prepared

IVE Local Endorses
United Action Cail

CE’s call for united action to
avin higher wages for all electrical
‘workers, regurdless-of union ‘affili-
ation, achieved an important. vic-

tory last week when one ‘of the.

Inrgest locals in the IUE-CIO-vat-
ed unanimously to call on its: na-
tional leuders to take’ a similar
position,

The strong united action yote
Was taken at the monthly mecting
of TUK Loeal 1581, which repre-
sents 4,500 workers at. the big
Westinghouse Cheektowaga plant
neur Buffalo, .

This vote was just one of, the
many
rank and file is tired of Carey’s
disruptive policies and realizes the
need for united action against the
companies,

Local Backs Cincy GE Strike

Recognizing that the outcome of
the current strike at GE's Even-
dale plant near Cincinnati ‘will
have an important bearing on U's
contract reopener negotiations with
the company, Local 801’s member-
ship unanimously went on record
Monday in support of the 4,500
strikers and their pay demands.
The Cincinnati jet engine workers
are members of 2 unions, the AFL
International Association of Ma-
chinists and the CIO United Auto
Workers,

A number of Schenectady union-
ists took the floor to-urge passage
of the support resolution, which
directs the executive board to take
concrete measures to back the ex-
pression, These spenkers pointed
out that the company is trying’ to
foree the worker's in Ohio to accept
new contracts with pay seales al-
most exactly like those in our pres-
ent pact. (UE day work rates run
from $1.50 for common labor to
$2.32 an hour for toolmikers; Gl’s
offer to the IAM would provide
wages ranging from $1.50 to $2.38,
and the UAW with “rates. running
froin $1.50 to $2.31.)

In other works, if Cincinnati un.

ion demands for an additional 6c
to 8¢-an hour are not won, General

Electrie management will have
suceceded in its plan to establish
a pay eeiling. for all GE work-
ers. This ceiling would give UE
no reom for upward movement in
the current: wage reopener talks,
and would make the job of win-
ning a badly-needed substantial
wage increase much more difficult.
The Cincinnati situation under-
lines the correctness of UE’s call
for united aetion among all GE
workers, regardless of union alfil-
iation, GH is now trying to pick off
2 of the smaller (as far as GE
membership isconcerned) unions
With one attack. Only united sup-
port fvom the majority of GI
workers can prevent the company
from succeeding in its objective.
Local 30L’s resolution is in line

“with this policy of united action.

The policy was adopted by the Ul:
Ci. conference board, which groups
together union locals 'in the chain
throughout the country, just before
the opening of current newotia-
tions. It calls for members. of all
unions to get together around a

set of uiininium démands. “In ‘this

way, GE would be blocked from
playing one union off against an-
other, the policy followed by Boul-
ware ever since he engineered the
Carey-led split in 1949, ,

indications that the lUE

for achard- fight to guin real wage
increases for GIF workers.

The. company. proposals suppos-
edly gave the union 2 “alterna-
tives"=—to go along with a cost of
living escalator based on March 15
BLS index, which is likely to mean
un-inetease amounting. to exactly
nothing -per hour, o to accept an
annual improvement increase which
would -amount to “at least” 1,79¢
an hour, -

In both cases management threw
in a gimmick which showed that it
had’ no intention of giving any-
thing without a fight. If the un-
ion were to accept either proposal, !
it would have to give up the right
to negotiate for wages wheiT the
contract opens up in September, it
took union negotiators, including
301 Business Agent Leo Jandreau,
just a few seconds to get. over the
arrogance of the proposal and then
to turn it down flatly.

Even before this proposil was
made public, UR Local $01's mem-
hership Monday forsnw the faet
that development of shop action
would be the vital factor in wins
ning a wage inerease this yetir,
The union’s demands in the reopen-
er include:

® A substantial wage incrense.

© Payment in time or money for 2
Saturday holidays this year

9 Special wae ‘increases for
skilled workers, diay workers and
women, and to eliminate peograph-
ie! differentials, .

These demands are bused on the
urgent needs of GH workers now,
They will be expanded to cover
other contract issues at the gen-
eral negotiations this summer and
fall. It appears likely that the un-
ion’s bargaining position’ will be
greatly reenforced for these talks
by the growing rank-and-file pres-
sure for united action by all GM

(Continued on page 2)

Correction

Last. week’s issue of the EU
News incorrectly reported that
Adam = Griffith, 10C, had been
- appointed: to the executive buard-|-
conunittee looking into the prob-
lem of decentralization as it ef-
feets maintenance workers. Ac-
tually, George Griffen, Bldy. 107,
was the member named to the
committee,

NENA

exery,

Hota

TOT a wenn re rime mere aerate mtn ene mannan

+ Se a er T RT we ag:

6 Women Receive _

P.W. Wage Boosts

Six workers in Building 81 have
won wage increases’ of 6c to 12%c
an hour’ in grievance victories
which are likely to have far reach-
ing effects in the fight against

-company  dis¢rimination,: against

women throughout the plant.
Both victories were scored at the
Male level, and were patterned aft-.
era cuse affecting about, 10 wom-
en last summer, In the new cases,
the women involved are ~ piece
workers. In one.case, their job
title is “eut and. prepare wire.”
Their timing vate had stood at 54e,
giving them un A.E.R, of only
$1.41, The union was able.to show
the similarity between this case and
that of the women involved in the
summer grievance, and manage-
nent ugreed to raise the rate. How-

‘ever, at first, the company insisted

on an increase of only one step—
to a timing rate of 57¢ and an
AJle.Reof $1.44, The union turned
this down and continued the fight
until another step was won, bring
the timing ‘rate to) 60c and the

ALR, to $147. = .

The increases were won for
Stella Petka, Wanda Dziedaic and
Lillian Gleech.

In the 2nd case, the company
was forced to grant even bigger
increases to 3 assemblers. Their
timing rate was jumped froin 60¢
to 7c, and their A.E.R. changed
from $1.47 to $1,594. These boosts
went to Rose Rosalino, Sybil Ru-
tana and Irene Bartkowski.

Executive Board Member Helen
Quirini helped process both cases.

Negotiations

(Continued from page 1)
workers regardless of union affili-
ation.

Monday’s membership, gathering
specifically directed. .the executive

* bourd to cull meetings in every di-

vision. hese meetings would be
aimed at mobilizing the local for a
light to back the negotiating com-
mittee in its demands . It was em-
phasized that the “best negotiating
committee in the world can’t do
anything without the full and mili-
taunt support of the people in the
shops.”

Reports coming from the plant.
indieated that many board mem-
bers have already met with their
stewards and members to discuss
the negotiations picture. These

- discussions left <a strong impres-

sion that UIE Local’ 801 people are
determined to get some share of

‘the huge Gli profits this year,

2 ® Friday, March 20, 1953

“bonus,

Bldg. 10: Lorenzo. Becker is
classified us a piece work cut-off
operator. ‘In the, past 2 weeks, he
has -not received any. piece work
jobs. He has complained of this to ‘
supervision but it has done .no
good, The union demands that this
worker be’. given. adequate” piece
work either ‘in his. present .depart-
ment’ or. elsewhere.

Surface grinder operators under
Foreman Makery are being taken
off their piece work jobs and being
assigned to other work at conven-
ience of company. Since they are
not being paid average earnings
for all time involved, contract ar~
ticle VI-5f is being violated. . The
union demands an end to these vio-
lations. : ‘

Surface grinder operators under
Foreman Nieckarz are not recciv-
ing adequate piece work jobs, and
half of ‘their operations are day’
work, As a result; they are losing °
earnings. The union demands man- '
agement correction of this situa-
tion. ; ‘

Bldg. 14: William Eellis, classi-
fied as a complete motor repair
man, demands a l-step increase to
bring his rate to that being paid
for similar work in 84.

Bldg. 17% Howard Place is class- ,
ified as-a B machine repair-man -
but is doing strictly A work. The
union demands: proper upgrading
and rate adjustment.

There have been 2 major acci-
dents on. compound die jobs run
with suction feeds under Foreman
Howland. These accidents ocur-
red primarily because it’s difficult
to handle the material properly
with suction feed. The union de-
mands that all compound blanking
die jobs be operated by hand feeds
in order to avoid further accidents.
Correction of the faulty material
which is being issued in. many
sases is also demanded.

Bldg. 28: Stator assemblers un-
der Foreman Larsen on the 2nd
shift protest the methods and tools
used in assembling these units.
There ure women workers assigned
to this job, and they do not possess
the rigid physical strength requiy-

“ed under the present routine. As a

result, many are completely ex-
hausted after assembling one unit.
The union demands that supervis-
ion institute simpler and more ef-
ficient methods on this job.

Supervision in 28 has instituted
a new method of reducing earnings
by casking. 2nd shift workers to
work days on Saturdays, thus fore-
ing them to forfeit the 10% shift
Since there is ample work
for them on their own shift, the
union demands that this practice
be stopped immediately.

Bldg. 49: Foreman, Sable has
taken over. the work of tool crib
keepers on Saturdays and Sundays,
thereby eliminating the need of as-
signing keepers. “The union de-.
mands an end to this: practice.

Bldg. 59: There has been an
agreement in effect for the. past

“year under whicli members ‘of'serv-

ice groups. have received perman-
ent transfers to other divisions in
the plant, with the workers with

ification,

Thousands of grievances are handled by UE Local 301
each year at all levels from the steward up-to final appeal
in New York City. To keep members posted, wé 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.

the greatest seniority receiving the:

earliest opportunities. _The union
demands strict, adherénce «to . this
agreement,

Bldg. G0: °-W. Kruetzfeldt de-

mands retroactive adjustment of

his starting rate as a millwright’s
helper.’ He transferred to this job
from a B machinist-machine re-
pair job,-and: has had 5 years’ ex-

‘perience us a millwright. He there-

fore was entitled to start at the

‘job vate for a millwright’s helper.

Foreman Van Fechterman has
deliberately attempted to curtail
the activities of Michael Riggi as
au shop steward by using threats

and reprimands, and by making in- .

correct progress: reports. This is
outright coercion in violation of
contract article VI, and the union
demands that Van Fechterman be
immediately restrained from this
type of conduct. ‘

‘Reduction unit assembly job
9783286 has been rated as C al-
though the work is of a complicat-
ed' nature meriting a higher class-
The union. demands a
change to B classification with a
proper rate adjustment.

A and’B painters under Foreman
Hansen were sent home because
electricians and welders were work-
ing in paint booth area. Supervis-
ion’s position was. that this was a
question of safety, but. actually,
other work could and should have
been found for these workers. The
union demands. an end to this dis-
crimination,

Bldg. 68: Group under Foreman
«C, Moncsko asks reduction of forc-
es because of lost time due to lat-
est lack of work’ situation.

Bidg. 69: John Johnson lost a
full day’s work and .pay because
of an error on his badge. This. er-
yor was the responsibility of super-
vision, and the union demands that
is worker be paid for the lost
day.

Bldg. 73A: Spot weld assemblers
have suffered losses of earnings
for several weeks ‘becuuse while
their work is short run and_in-
volves considerable waiting time,
the table on which their prices are
based is computed for long run
jobs such as magnetic switch box-
es. As x result, there are no ade-
quate waiting time allowances. The
union demands a management in-
vestigation to correct this situa-
tion.

Bldg. 269: G. E, La Combe is be-

ing used as a‘painter although he
is classified as a sand blaster. The

union demands that this worker

not be required ‘to do jobs outside
of his classification.

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO & MACHINE
WORKERS OF AMERICA (UE) :

Local 301

GE 2
Published hy the Editorial Committeo
Prosidont.....---------Jamus J, Cognelta
Vico Prasldont....m-nuaneaeotoseph Alols
TreGsUrOr—wnennmnnnnnenntosaph Whitheck
Recording Secretary-..-.....-Roy Schaffor
“Asa't RocordingSecretarys- Rudy — Rlastand™
Chief Shop Stoward-....William Mastrlant’
Businoss Agent... --loo Jandreau

301 MIDERTY ST, SCHENECTADY 5, N. Y.

« grinder classification.

. Bldg. 273: Chester’ Bruce - and”

Kenneth Brantley requested that

their’ jobs be converted to piece
work 7 months ago. Up to noy
nothing has been done about i)
request. The ‘union demands /
immediate investi-
gation,

B. Dumas, a worker with 27
years service, has been transferred
to another machine against his de-
sires. The union demands that
management investigate immedi-
ately so that Dumas can be restor-
ed to his old job.

Henry J. Ficcone is entitled, on
the basis of experience, ability and
performance, to an upgrading from
B machinist-machine repair to A.
The union demands this upgrading
with proper rate adjustment.

Payment to R. K. Hutton for
having chipped clearance for a eut-
ter is demanded. He is entitled to
be paid average earnings under
contract article VI-5f.

Howard D. Salsburg is entitled
to upgrading from common labor
rating. Some higher classification
duties ‘which have been added to
his job are,sorting emery and mak-
ing’. lifts on a-hopper job, filling
and maintaining levels and deter-
mining cyeles on glue pots, chang-
ing accumulated. deposits. on blow-
ers and salvaging silver solder.
The union demands immediate up-
grading: and wage adjustment.

Although Daniel Sitterly was
put.on A work on 12/2/52, he was,
kept at a.B_ intermediate cu y

management

His reclag¢
ifieation was not made effective u
til 12/15, and now the foreman ,1'e-
fuses to give him a promised and
merited increase. Based on his
ability and performance, the union
demands an immediate increase to
the job rate.

Group of boring mill’ operators
are rated at an AER of $2.14 al-
though their jobs rate a $2.20
AER. The union demands an im-
mediate veclassification and rate
adjustment. ’

Bldg. 285: A. Dinardo is classi-
fied and paid as a grinder operator
although he devotes 60% of his
time to operating a bore-matie ma~
chine. The union demands an im-
medinte reclassification and rate
adjustment, .

Richard Jabloncki is classified as
a handyman and works under Fore-
man Luther, He caught a bad cold
und asked Luther to give him in-
side work until he got vid of it,
Luther refused, and as a result,

the eald got worse and Jablonski

lost time and required medical at-
tention. Luther also fails to rotate
handymen, a practice always fol-
lowed in the past. The-union de-
mands an immediate end to this
discrimination.

H.C. Litte is classified as a C .
tool follower and has charge of a
tool crib under Foreinan Konye-
Another identical erib_ under C)
sume foreman is in charge of a%
man classified as an A tool crib
keeper. Duties and responsibili-
ties are identical. Recently the A
man was reclassified to AA, while
Litte was refused a reclassification.
The union demands. that’ this~‘dis-

-evimination be ended by: upgrading

Litte to the A classification which
he merits.

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

_ Local Votes Pension Program
- To Pay Union Time Benefits

UE Local 301 members voted Monday to adopt a plan
under which shop stewards, board members and union em-
ployees will be at least partially compensated’ for pension

losses suffered while they are serv-
ing the union,

Under the plan, the local will
add 8% to the lost.time payments
and union salaries. This money
would be set aside and paid to un-
ion workers in the form of $25
U. S. bonds whenever $18.75 is ac-
cumulated, .

It is hoped that this plan will
help. to solve’ the long-existing
problem arising from the fact that
active ‘union members take a beat-
ing on their pensions because the
‘company refuses to recognize any
time except that actually worked
for GE in computing pension time
and payments.

Based on last year’s lost time

‘Sneak’ Measures to Destroy Political —

Action Rights Crawl Into Legislature

UE Local 301 mobilized this week to fight against a sneak attack aimed, at destroying
the basic:right of organized labor to defend-the interests of the working people through legis-

lative action. The attack took

ay Tax Threat Grows

th State, City Bodies

A drive to add to the tax bur-.
den of the -working people of
Schenectady was in progress this
week as the state legislature con-
sidered a2 measure to give Sche-
nectudy authorities a clear. path
toward imposition of a payroll tax.

At the sume time, the city coun-
cil appeared headed toward taking
such action at the first available
opportunity. However, widespread

‘opposition from the entire labor

movement wes developing .

UE Local 301’s membership vot-
ed unanimously against any pay-
voll levy on Monday. Those at-
tending the meeting reported that
the men and women in the shops’
were showing’ rising ‘anger at the
idea of a payroll tax to solve the
city’s financial problems.

Many workers expressed the
Jeeling that Schenectady could

CG ch more easily meet its financial

‘viigations by assessing GE and
ALCO property for just a small
fraction of their actual value. This
would be a lot better than trying
to get added revenues from the
workers who are already bearing’
the heaviest tax burdens, and who
are least able to pay. :

_ ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

ure to bar unions from political
action by prohibiting them from
spending any money in legislative
work,

This ban has long been the
dream of big corporation lobbyists
who would like a clear field to jam
through every possible measure to
break unions without © opposition
from the intended victims,

The sinister nature of the meas-
ures was emphasized by the woy
in which they were introduced in
the final week of the’ legislative
session,. The sponsors did not even’
dare put their names to them. How-
ever, UE Local 301 learned reliably
that the sume combination of In |
win and Travia which failed to |
guin passage of the bills last year,
was directly responsible. The un-
ion was also informed that the Re-
publican leadership in Albany had

‘instructed GOP legislators to sup-

port the measures us “party bills.”

However, William Stewart, 273,
and James De Masseo, 49, of the
301 legislative sub-committee, who
were sent to the capitol. by the
membership to fight against the
bills, reported that the Republican
lawmakers were by no means solid
in their backing. Sen. Thomas
Campbell indicated his personal op-
position, while Sen, Stanley Bauer,
Bulfalo labor leader, was working
actively to. bring about the meas-
ures’ defeat. The Democrats were
completely. opposed to the pro-

“posals, : ‘

Local 301’s representatives also _
learned that passage of the UE--

the form of bills patterned after last year’s Travia-Irwin meas-

sponsored. bill to provide compensa-
tion payments for paftial silicosis
disability is likely to occur before
this newspaper is distributed in the
GE: works. :

Big Difference

Columnist Drew Pearson reports
a major difference between -death
and taxes. ‘Death doesn’t get
worse ‘every time Congress meets.”

and salary bill of the local, the
plan will cost the: union approxi-
mately $4,000 annually.

In the past, many food union

. members have been forced to’ limit »
their activity because they could
not afford to .take. the ‘financial
losses involved. in losing ‘thine. This
his been particularly true of men
and women approaching their re-
tirement age. . .

By eliminating this situation, the
301 executive board, which recom-.
mended the plan, hopes to encour-
age wider participation in union
affairs, and to strengthen | the
gvievance machinery. | A similar
pension plan has long been in ef--
fect in UE Local. 506, Evie GE.
There it has proved highly suecess-
ful. ‘

The proposal adopted at Mon-
day’s membership meeting also
provides for the establishment of
a committee to look into the possi-

’ bilities of expanding the plan so
~~ that the people who have lost’ pen-
sion benefits in the past because of
union employment would. be cov-
ered. :

Call on FEPC

Men and women who face dis-
crimination problems in the shops
are urged to contact the UE Local
301 fair employment practices com-

‘mittee for help. They should get in
touch with Wayman Lewis,° secre-
tury of the group,.through the un-
jon hall:

NEW STEWARDS. The picture
above shows Guide Mario Bagnato
(right) administering the oath of
office as shop steward to’ Robert
Templeton, Bldg. 60. Also. sworn
in was Stanley Mnish, 13, whose
picture is at the left. The swear-
ing-in ceremonies took place Mon-
day night at the UE Loeal 301
membership meeting. The 2 men
join approximately 630 other shop
“yepresentatives who represent the
interests of 19,500. Schenectady
General Electric Workers.

Friday, March 20, 1953 * 3