Electrical Union News, 1947 April 4

ELECT! RICAL UNION NEWS

March 28, 1947

. Organizing Chairman Talks to Section Meeting on Membership, Drive

. William Stewart, chairman of the Organizing Committee, organizing, drive March 17 at.the union hall Seated at the
addressing a section meeting of ‘committeamen about the head of the table is Alfred-J. Pelrah, Board member for the
. Heenan Willett includes Bldgs. ma, front end of 64, 67, 71, 73, 75, T7,-79 and 234,

Turbine Committee
To Meet With Male

Another meeting to discyss the dis-
pute over the proposed carboloy. tool
speed-up in the ‘Turbine Division is ex-
pected to be held with Louis Male, gen-
eral superintendent, Jate this week or
early -next weel,

The case was referred badlk for tur-
ther local discussion after a méeting at
the national level last week without re-
sult, A sub-committee of the special
Turbine Division committee; ‘consisting
of Board Member William Stewart and
Roy Lash, both of Bldg. 60; and Michael
Whittle of 273, represented the union,
assisted by Leo Jandreau and Interna-
tional Representative Joseph ‘Turkowski.
James W. Burnison, for the company,

wanted to proceed with the speed-up, 7
without recognizing that the new prices ”

sliould make ineveased earnings pos-
sible.

The Turbine Division committeemen
have insisted that the men should be able
to earn more if the machine speed-up is
put into effect, in view of the increased
strain and effort. Otherwise the commit-
teemen proposed that the work be plac-
ed on day work at present average earn-

ings, ‘The company has admitted that

carboloy tools were in use. for years on

tools.

Honor Roll

Heve are the names on the com-
mitteemen’s honor roll for 100 per
cent union membership in the
groups they represent.

Jack Mele and’ Charles Putnam,
Bldg. 46; Fred Blodgett, Bldg. 50;
Wililam Stewart, Ralph Pigeon, E.
Connelly,, A, MeNally, Robert
Schulenburg, Edward Wallingford,
“Roy Lash, Roy Hamilton, Stuart
Burns, Michael Palmo, Walter
Munimer, Frank Colamarino, Noel
Test, Emmet T. Brennan, Ray H.
Frederick, Gabriel Maitino, A. G.
Signor and R. Finigan, all of Bldg
60.

Also, Alfred J. Pelrah, Bldg. 64;
Henry Fazzone, Bldg. 66; William
Mastriani, Bldg. 78; Michael Mary-
zak, Bldg. 89, and Frank Kriss,
Bldg. 105.

the work in question, but claimed to
have developed ways of running the

machines at greatly increased speeds |

and feeds.

While . the case is under discussion,
Male has agreed that there will be no
change'in prices as a result of the specd-
up of machines .already using: carboloy

GE Discrimination
Protested by Women

Women from two shifts at the Sche-
“nectady plant passed a resolution Mar,
19 protesting against GE discrimination
against them in piece work rates, com-
pared with men’s vates,

The resolution called on GE to grant
immediately the demands of Local 801
in the union’s grievance ease on women’s
AER's, _

“Comparison ‘of jobs usually held by
women, both’ on piece work and day
work, with other jobs in the plant, show
that women are paid substantially less
for the same work,” the women said:

“Such discrimination is not only un-
alr, but a violation of the law of the
stute of New York.”

The resolution was sent to Elmer
Spicer of GE by President Andrew Pet-
erson who addressed the union women.

Book for Stewards

Copies of “The UE Shop Steward”
were mailed recently by the national UE
office to all shop committeemen of Local
S01,

The booklet is a revised edition of the
union's guide for settling grievances, en-

forcing. the. contract and building the: -

UE,

THE VOICE OF THE UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO & MACHINE WORKERS OF AMERICA—LOCAL 301 CIO

Vol. 3—No. 5!

SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK

April 4, 1947

Peterson Protests

Farming Out Work

A protest against the farming out of
work normally done in. the Schenectady.
GE plant to plants in other cities was
made by President Andrew Peterson c
Loeal 301 this week.

In a letter to General Stiperintendent
Louis Male, Peterson pointed out that
many workers are waiting to-be called.
back to the Schenectady plant and that
there have been many lay- pis hete Ye-
eently.

“Sending away work which could pro-
vide employment for our people is a
practice which we deplore,’ Peterson
stated.

“Tt must also give serious concern to ~

- the whole community here, which needs

full employment.” - i

He mentioned the situation in Bldg.
73-A, welded products, enclosing cases,
“from which work has been sent to

_other companies in . Utica, Johnstown

and Holyoke, Mass.” Welding, shear,
punch press, press brake and assembly
work is involved. Because of lack of
work in the department, some men in
these groups have been put on different
work, with a cut in earnings.

“We are also told that fabricating and
welding ‘ of turbine stator frames in
Bldg, 52° (welded products) has been
sent this year to another company in

“Pennsylvania,” Peterson ‘said.

He asked assurance that the farming-
out practice will not increase-and-that—
Male will take definite steps to reduce
it or stop it entirely.

Section Night

The first of the Local 301 Section
Nights will be at 8 pm. Wednesday,
Apr. 9, at the ‘union hall, for members in
Bldgs. 18, 18A, 40 and 40B. The Activi-
ties Committee plans a program of en-
tertainment and refreshments weekly,
until all the sections are covered.

Membership Meeting

The monthly membership ‘meeting of

‘Local. 801 will be at 7:30.p.m. Apr. 15.

at the union hall, 301 Liberty.

GE Offers Minor improvements;

Nothing On Big

GE is willing to “do something” on

Contract Points

Sunday premium pay for continuous oper-

ation, and other lesser contract issues, but has not moved.on the major questions,
Leo Jandreau reported to the committeemen’s meeting Tuesday night,

On paid holidays, general wage in-

" evease, and increased vacations for long

service workers, the company has so far

Joseph Dermody Leo Jandreau

made no offer. It has said that any of-
fer would be made on. all three points
as a.“package”, because they are all
“money” questions.

The company was stubbornly opposed,
Jandveau reported, to any change in the

Honor Roll

Names of the following 19 com-
mitteemen have been added to the
honor voll for the organizing drive,
for having 100 per cent union
membership in the groups they
represent. ; ,

Ernest Davies, Bldg. 40; Leland
Bellinger, William Spellman,
James Hay, Joseph Hallenbeck,
Ernest Fainelli, Frank N. Mareley,
Harold Barber, August Neubauer
and Mario Peretta, all of Bldg. 49.

Also Arthur Bertini, Bldg. 68;
Joseph Whitbeck, Bldg. 69; Clar-
ence Shayne, Bldg, 84; Andrew
Fariello, Eugene Le Moine and
Everett Matthews, all of Bldg.’85;
Ki, J. La Bombard, Bldg. 97; Mich-
nel Bielicki, Bldg. 98A, and Albert
Spears, Bldg. 107.

grievance procedure and to clearing up -
the confused wage rate structure of GE.
These two demands have. been pressed
particularly by Local 301; because of whe
difficulties here on those issues.

Jandreau said the company was satise
fied with the present’ grievance set-up,
but that he told the company negotiators
the. union insisted on being able to deal
with someone with authority to settle
grievances in the shop, because foremen
no longer have that ‘Authority. °

Jandreau is one of the main negotia~

, tors. Heading the UE negotiating’ com-
mittee is Joseph Dermody, secretary of
the GE conference board of the union.

Other Boints reported ‘by Jandreau i In-
cluded. ‘

The company has agreed to straight

“top seniority for stewards (committee.
men), without the need of taking a poll.

The company wants very much to be
able to tamper with piece.prices. —

The company negotiators have agreed
to go back to the pension board to see if
they could supplement the low pensions.

The company has agreed to work out
a system_of wage progression for piece
workers.

It objects to any increase E
tion for long service. It wants to end

“the profit-sharing plan.

The procedure for taking cases to
arbitration, something which has caused
many difficulties in settling grievances,
will be worked out.

Stewards Are Sworn

New committeemen sworn in at the
committeemen’s meeting “Tuesday ‘were!
James Capea and Mary Skrocki, both of
Bldg. 60; Elroy Marine, Bldg. 57; Ernest
Truax, Bldg. 10C; John R. Boyd, Bldg.
285; Alphonse Delefano and Walter Sea
field, both of Bldg. 16; Barney Ohlidal,
Bldg. 273; Charles J. Zajan, Bldg. 266;
and John A. Liszewski, Bldg. 107.

HAVE YOU ;SIGNED. UP.

A NEW MEMBER YET?

___ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS _

April 4, 1947

ALCO, Steelworkers
in Contract Talks

As 1947 contract negotiations with the
American Locomotive Co, began. in Sche-

nectady, Locals 2054 and 8180, United -

Steelworkers of America, CIO, were
faced with company proposals to drop
maintenance of membership and check-
off.

ALCO also proposed actual pay cuts,
as well as working conditions poorer
than those now in existence.

The company proposed cutting piece
work prices to 40 per cent above the
base rate. That would mean a slash of
about 75 cents an hour. on piece work,
according to Anthony Barbieri, Local
~ 2064 president,

ALCO also asked, among other things:
‘That no pay be given for waiting time.

Under a War Labor Board order -of-sev-

eral years ago, the company now has to
pay average hourly earnings for time
lost:in the shop beyond the control of an
employe. Workers collected $110,000
back pay under the WLB riiling.

That the 7% per cent differential for
the second shift and the 10 per cent dif-

‘ferential for the third shift be dropped.

That instead of giving 20 minutes with
pay for lunch, the company allow 30
minutes. without pay.

That the union office be removed from
the plant. The War Labor Board or-
dered the company to permit the USA
Office there.

Both Local 2054 and Local 3180 (which
represents office workers) asked the full
- union shop and “a substantial pay in-
erease”, They followed. the iational
Steelworkers and UE policy of pressing
the case for a general raise to offset sky-
rocketing cost-of-living, rather than de-
manding a specific hourly increase.
The old contracts, which were to ex-
pire Mar, 21,.were extended until May 5.
Terms of the new contract will be effec-
tive on the dates of signing.

DID YOU HEAR?

APRIL IS THE BIG MONTH
FOR 301 ORGANIZING DRIVE

Nene

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

Unirep Evectricat, Rapio & MaaHine
Workers or America, CLO
Somenzaravy GE Locan 301

<<
Published by the Editorial Commitice
William Templeton, Chairman
Mary McCartin, Secretary
Willard Kuschel Victor Pasche
Leland Sisto
Editorial Office - Electrical Union News
301 Liberty St. ~ Schenectady, N. Y.

GCHRNECTADY PRINTING GO, ING, sansa

— = re =

Capital District CLO

Capital District cio

United Labor Unions of

io Programs for April

National CIO broadeast—WOKO.............

» Council program—WTRY. .. cee eeeeesesereseeesees Sunday, Apr. 18, 2:20 p.m.

Council program—WOKO...........s0cnegeee ees

Local 801, UR—WSNY............00....0...5++.+ Every Monday, 7:16 p.m

Fulton County—WENT..... 02. cece cece perenne es Every Friday, 6 p.m.

Every Saturday, 6:45 p.m.

Sunday, Apr. 27, 2:20 p.m.

.Sunday, Apr. 6, 12:15 p.m.
Sunday, Apr. 13, 12:15 p.m.
Sunday, Apr. 20, 12:15 p.m.

Citywide Meeting
For CIO Stewards .

Plans are being made by the Schenec-
tady CIO Coordinating Committee for a
citywide meeting of shop stewards of all
CIO locals at’801 Hall, at 8 p.m. Apr. 16.

Robert Lamb, national legislative di- —

rector of the United Steelworkers of
America, is expected to be principal
speaker. The meeting is part of the
National CIO. program of observing
April as DEFEND LABOR MONTH.

The following local CIO presidents
have charge of arrangements: Andrew
Peterson 801; Leonard Colasuono, Local
432, Laundry Workers, Amalgamated
Clothing Workers; Anthony Barbieri,
Local 2054, USA; George McDonough,
Local 3180, USA, and Lewis Benedict,
Local 159, Transport Workers Union.

The Coordinating Committee, at a
meeting Saturday, discussed steps
against the new city ordinance forbid-
ding sound trucks. The group also rec-
ommended joint action to obtain better
bus transportation for Schenectady
workers. “The Committee will protest
against the-proposed 10 cent bus fare
at a Public Service Commission hear-
ing in Albany Tuesday.

301 Membership Shoots Up
During Withdrawal Period

The annual. withdrawal period, during
which members can resign from the un-
ion, ended Mar. 31 with Local 301 mak-
ing a net gain of over 100 members.

Withdrawals totaled only 126 in the
10-day period, despite newspaper and
magazine attacks on the union and de-
spite anti-union attacks by the local
Carey-Block group, members of the so-
ealled Committee for Democratic Ac-
tion. This faction distributed anti-UE
leaflets in Schenectady during the with-
drawal period.

Carey - Block Group
Again Smears Union

Local supporters of the. Carey-Block
faction within the UB, last week dis-
tributed in ‘some buildings here copies
of a leaflet attacking the national union,

and misusing the name “UB” and the.

word “democracy.’”’ Apparently the sheet
was gotten out by some group in an-
other city. Nothing in the leaflet identi-

fied the supposed union members respon-

sible for its publication.

The sheet was strictlyfactional. De-
spite the hypocrisy of a message urg-
ing members to “stay in and fight,” it
was obvious that the. effect of the leaflet
on lukewarm members would be to drive
them away from the union. . Yet these
so-called believers in UE circulated the
sheet in the midst of the 10-day period
during which members throughout the
GE system could withdraw from the UE.

The sheet contained nothing of a con-
structive nature or bearing on wages,
hours, or grievances. It was full of lies
and distortions, many of them of a kind
hard to track down. The most. obvious
lie was the one accusing the national
UE of “sabotaging the CIO’s Southern

drive.” Actually the UE’ has been sup-:

porting and actively working in the
Southern drive.

The slanders in the Carey-Block
group’s leaflet are fully in line with the
attacks on UE recently peddled by the
Saturday Evening Post, Life magazine,
and the New York Hearst and cripps-
Howard, all zealous organs of Big Bus-
iness,  *

James J. Matles, UE national director:
of organization, has-given documentary
proof in his booklet, “UE-The Members
Run This Union”, that Carey is directed
by forces outside the union.

BUILD THE UNION

April 4, 1947

~BLECTRICAL UNION NEWS _

Other Schenectady County veterans’ groups were well repre-
sented when the Local 301 Veterans’ Committee officially
opened the union’s~Veterans’ Center Mar. 26 at 301 Hall.
Front row, left to right, Albert Le Roy, commander, Schenec-
tady County American Legion; Lee M. Allen, chairman, Sche-
Henry Cohn, counsellor,
State Division of Veterans’ Affairs; Pauline Serifini, director,
Agency;
Foster, commander, Schenectady County Veterans of Foreign
Wars, and Andrew Vanderbuilt, Schenectady County Veterans’

nectady County Veterans’ Council;

Schenectady County Veterans’ Service

Thruston

Welfare. Rear, E, Henry Miller, American Veterans Com-
mittee; Herbert Brooks, American Legion; James Jones, com-
mander, Marine Corps League; Joseph Grubar, Local 301:
President Andrew Peterson, Local “301; Joseph Dominelli,
chairman, Local 301 Veterans’ Committee; Dewey Brashear,. ‘
Local 301 Veterans’ Committee; William McCabe, commander, —
Disabled American Veterans; Bert Connally, vice-chairman,
Schenectady County Veterans’ Council, and Walter Lan
Veterans’ Administration representative. The Activities Com-
mittee assisted. The Veterans’ Center is open from 1 to 5 p.m.
every Tuesday and Friday.

Greater Organizing
Activity Is Urged

Union members in every shop in the
GE plant must pitch: in to assure the

success of the Local 301 organizing
drive, Chairman William Stewart of the
Ovganization Committee told the com-
mitteemen’s meeting Tuesday night at
the union hall.

“A few members are doing an*out-

standing job and getting fine results,”:

he said. -

“But it’s not a job for a few. It’s a
job for every committeeman and for
every member of this union.”

Stewart reminded committeemen that
the goal of the drive is to enroll all non-
members into Local 801 by May 1. With
806 signed ‘up by Apr. 1, that leaves

; about 3800 applications to get.

Bldg. 69 of which Stanley Bishop is
chief steward still holds the organizing
record for thé 1947 drive. Applications
have been received from 88 workers in
this building,

Richard A, Nielson, Bldg. 69, has sign-
ed up 16 members and is leading the
field for the $100 bond, first prize in

the drive. Two men are tied for second’

place, Francia. Hiller,, Bldg. 285, . and
George Judway, Bldg. 18. Nach of them

Members Prefer
Present Pay Days.

The Executive Board has in-
formed the local GE management
that union members want pay days
to remain the same, although
banks are now closed Saturdays.

A. check-up of opinion in the
shops. showed that most members
would rather be paid on Thursday
or Friday than shift to Wednesday
and Thursday. The company had
indicated, in answer to an inquiry
from the union, that it would be

able to move up the pay days.

On Committee

Lucy Zeppitelli, Bldg. 58, has been
named to the committee to go to New
York City for the union on the women’s
AER case. She replaces Marie Sweeney,
Bldg. 69, who will be unable to go.

has 10 new members to his credit. Local
301 will give a $50 bond as second prize
and a $26 bond as third prize.

In addition, one dollar is awarded to
each member for each. application eard
he turns in, until the May 1 deadline.

Another Black Mark
For Kearney Record

Congressman Bernard W. Kearney of
Gloversville voted for. the Republican
Knutson bill to give huge tax reductions
to people with large incomes and to give
only a few dollars of tax relief to low
income groups. The bill recently passed ‘
the House of Representatives 273 to 1377.

The bill was whitewashed a little, he-
_ cause the unfairness of the straight 20
per cent reduction across-the-board was
too easy to see. A change was made to
allow a 80 per cent cut in tax on a.net
taxable income (income after deducting
$500 for each dependent) of $1,000 or
less a year. But from $1,896 up to $802,-
000 the reduction is a flat 20 per cent,
A wage-earner, earning $2500 a year,
with a wife and two children, would have
his tax cut $15 a year. But a business-
man making $800,000 a year would have
his taxes sliced $47,000, The wage-earner
would have his take-home pay increased
six-tenths of one per cent, but the $800,-
‘000 man would have a 72 per cent in-
crease in his take-home pay.

YOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR ORGANIZING!