Electrical Union News, 1953 October 2

| Products.
Protest Stalling

A meeting was held in the Weld-
ed Products Division last week in
un effort to avoid labor trouble hy
what appeared to Union represen-
tatives us deliberate stalling tac.
ties of foremen in this Division.

Executive Board. member Scott
filed a grievance pointing out the
increasing and repented complaints
from his shop stewards regarding
the stalling of foremen in payment
for waiting time, extra work and
-eurrecting oimpreaper piece work
prices. ‘They further pointed out
that even when a condition would
he finally corrected, it was, never-
theless, repeated when the silu-
ation arose again, These condi-
tions had become so weneral that
the people were finally forced to
interpret. supervision’s attitude as
an deliberate intent to provoke a
work stoppage.

Therefore, the Union requested
the meeting between management
ofthe Dept. and the Union, repre-
sented by Board Member Scott. and
Pres. Jim Cofinetta. Manager Lath-
vop claimed he did not’ know: such
conditions existed but did agree
that they should not exist. He also
stnted that any specific, examples

hrought to his attention through -

Mr, Burrows will be corrected, Peo-
ple of this Dept. are now waiting
to see how long ‘it will take for
this attitude to filter through to
local supervision,

Trial Committee
Elected

Whenever
against any member of the Union,
the Constitution of U.E. Local 301
requires that a Trial Committee
of nine members elected at a mem-

charges are made

bership meeting “shall hear the
plaintiff and the defendant and

then make recommendations to the,

next membership meeting as to
the disposition of the case.

Elected from the second shift to
act on this committee was L. Stan-
ton; Bldg. 40.° The eight members
elected from the first and third
shifts are: William Mahoney,
Bldp. 107; D. Conti, Bldg. 734; G.
Ginvomo,' Bldg. 52; A. Benaquisto,
Bldfi, 78; Ro Armstrong, Buldg. 40;
C. Passikoff, Bldg. 69; J, Kennedy,
Bldg. 40; J. Ahkno, Bldg, 285.

Where does the money go?
times and it is a good question,
While a financial report of

of finaneial report given to each

pay puaranteed by the Union,
ment when necessary.
requires considerable cost.

The legal and compensation

unioins. Many hundreds of our

of proper legal representation,

Union dues based on our present
at $2.50 per month:

Building Fund

Local

Headquarter

Nannal Union
Contributions
Tnsurance

Surplus ‘

100%

extraordinary expenses.

Union Dues homey —

and aeted upon at cach monthly membership meeting and a copy

stil! many who do not attend Unon meetings and do not. realize
how mueh if costs (o operate a Union and especially one that gives
the type of service to its members that U.K. Local 301 does.

In order to give immediate service to our members, there is a
shop steward for approximately every 25. members and when he
loses time representing members on grievances, he must have his
When he cannot settle a grievance,
there is, an Executive Board member in every department who
comes to his assistance, and, from’ there, committees to manage-
All these serviecs cost money. q
and HS provisions protecting the job was not given to us out of
wenerosity, we will assure you,

other unique service that is not generally found in other labor

fits of our compensation service realize the tremendous benefits

The following is a breakdown of income and expenses from

Pp
100% = 40,000 = 16,000 members

expenses
National Per Capita
Dist, #3 Per Capita

Lost Time in Shop

Salaries (10 employee

rvaper CELUL News)... .
Legal and Compensation Service.
Expenses...
Conferences and Conventions ‘ 400
Cost. of Cheek-off & C.PrA. Audit.

S.C. Tax and NYS Insurance
Local 301 Pension Plan .

The items marked by an asterisk are, fixed expenses either by
constitutional requirements or F
items are subject to membership action, .

You will note the margin between our income and expense is
very small (8700.00). considering the many problems «that come
before the Union daily, any one of which could bring about some

is a question thit is asked. many

income and expenses is discussed

member who is present, (here are

The contract
Maintaining and improving it
service of this local Union is an-

members who have had_.the bene-

membership of 16,000 on cheek-of

OME

$12,400 * ©
1,600 *
8,000 *
6,800
4,200
2,000
1,200
1,000

Election .

$40,000

ederal and State laws. The other

No Paper Next Week

Beeause most: of us who are,
responsible for the job of get+
tine the E.U. News published
will be in’ Chicago next week
awltending the convention, it was
decided to cancel the, September,
25th issue, ; ;

The next iveue will be out. as
usual on’ Priday, October 2nd.

conclusion — of

UE Local 301 Delegates
Address Lynn Meeting —

William Mastriani, Chief Stew-
ard, and William Linka, Executive
Board member from Turbine. ad-
dressed a meeting of the U.E. Or-
ganizing Committee ‘in Lynn last
Wednesday.

Both Schenectady delegates
stressed . the importance of the
General Electric employees in
Lynn to vote U.B.-and join with

‘ Schenectudy and Eric, which make

up the “Big Three” in the General
Electric Company.

The Schenectady
pointed out to the members of the
Lynn Organizing. Committee that
UE. Local 3801 was prepared ‘to.
‘olfer any assistance that will he
necessary for a. victory.

Along with meeting with the Or-
ganizing Committee, Mastrianni and
Linka met other key U.E. support-
ers in the plant.

The Schenectady delegates’ re-
port that 6,800 U.E. cards have
beeh signed and the Lynn workers
ave anxious to have the N.L.R.B.
election as quickly as possible. The
Lynn case is now before the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board, after
lengthy hearing
where it is now awaiting a dec
ions The main fight. at the N.L.
R.B. hearings wes between th
A.F.L, und the LUE. The 1.0.1
wints to keep the factory and of-
five employees in one local and the
A.F.L. wants them separated. The
UM. petitioned for the shop and
office together, but will agree to a
separate vote for the. office pro-
vided U.E. is on both ballots and
provided it brings a quick election.

delewates

State Law Requires Company to Pay Compensation
For Some llinesses As Well As Accidents

Union Lawyer Explains Claims for
Occupational Diseases

When an accident injures a
worker, the worker is immediately
nware that something has happen-
ed to him and he reports it to his
foreman immediately. There is no
mistaking such an occurrence. The
worker has hurt a hand, a leg, a
shoulder, his back or. some other
part of his body, There has been
a single incident which caused this
injury and the worker is able. to
report to his foreman what hap-
pened, ‘

The Law, however, requires that
even certain types of sickness’ or
disenses be reported as soon as a
worker becomes aware that he is
suffering from such a disease if
the worker feels that this disease
yeariied from the nature of his

work,

Friday, September 18, 1953

Take, for example, the worker
who works with -cuting. oils and
who breaks out with a rash Of
course, if the worker goes to his
own doctor with this condition, the
doctor may inform the worker that
the skin disease came from the
oils he used at work. In such in-
stances the worker. should report
this as soon as he is able to. In
any event, however, a worker who

develops such a disease can con-_

sult the Union’s Lawyer’ as to a
possible connection with his work
and the Union Lawyer will advise
him as to how to go about investi-

gating this possible claim, for com-

pensation,

The same holds true for many
other types of occupational dis-
eases, These include loss of hear-
ing for workers who, tike chippers,
work in a noisy atmesphere; also

lung conditions like bronchitis or
silicosis among workers in the
foundry and power house; and
many other types of illnesses,

The rule for occupational dis-
eases is the same as for accidents,
‘As soon ‘as a worker becomes
aware or even believes that there
is a connection between the type
of work he does and the illness
‘from whieh he is suffering, he
should report it promptly to his
foreman,

IT PAYS
TO BELONG

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS |

ensues RSL MLM ASST SASS UTA LO HO

‘

ae

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Vol. 11 — No. 39

Convention Votes

Per Capita Boost

Responding to the need for ad-
ditional revenues to run the union,

the UE national convention in Chi-.

cago voted unanimously to increase
the per capita tax from 75e to

$1.00, The per capita is the amount-

paid by, the locals to the national
union for each member,

The per capita increase involves
a change in the UE constitution so
that if must be submitted to the
locals -for ratifiention, « However,
judging by the strong fecling: ex-
pressed at the convention that the
boost is absolutely necessary to
maintain the organization, there
seems to be little doubt about the
eventual OK of the change,

In the wide discussion of the per
supita Increase, many speakers
pointed” out that Ul would still
have one of the lowest:per capita
taxes of any union in the countiy,
Without. the increase, the union

Cy he forced’ to either ‘curtail

s services to the people or run at

Resolutions Summary
oth complete report summar-
izing the resolutions adopted by
the 18th UE national conven-
tion. in Chicago is presented on
pages 3 and 4 of this week’s EU
N We urge all local mem-

‘'s lo read these resolutions
which will guide our union dur-
ing the coming year,

UE-GE

Friday, October 2, 1953 -

joard Makes Plans

For’54 Contract Campaign

; A G.E. Conference Board meeting was called in Chicago
on Sunday,the day before the. opening: of the 18th Annual

Unity,und determination to carry
on the fight for. improving the

~, economic well-being. of the mem-

bership were the two. keynotes
which ran through the entire UE
national convention in Chicago last
week, i :

A typical expression of the uni-
rted strength of UE came on Wed-
nesday. with the unanimous re-
-elcetion of the union’s three na-
tional officers, President Albert. J:
Fitzgerald, Secretary-Treasurer
Julius Emspak, and Director of

Organization James J. Matles.. A.

similar harmony was expressed in
_-the working out and approval of
the many important . eonvention
resolutions —- resolutions denling
with such -key subjects us wage
policy, -specdup, organization of the

If it’s up to the family of GE worker Harold Monroe, then
there’s no doubt that the current UE Local 301 drive for eye

bank pledges will be a huge success,

Monroe: family have done their
part by pledging their eyes after
death to the Sight Conservation
Society of Northeastern New York.
It’s the society which is cooper-
ating with the Lion’s Club and
with Local 801 in the drive to ob-
ain eye bank pledwes. These pledg-
es state that the persons making
them.are willing to have their eyes
removed after death and used to
restore the sight of the blind.
This.can be ‘done through a deli-
cate operation which involves the
transplanting of the cornea tissue
from the eye of the deceased to
the blinded eye of the living. The

-nyocedure ‘in no way disfigures the
es y cof the dead and it has the

tll approval of all religious de-
nominations. Pledge cards ean be
obtained from 301 shop stewards.

As for the Monroe family,
_they’re..enthusiastic. in. their. .sup-.
port of the drive. When Harold
Monroe, a coppersimith on 2nd shift
in 278, first heard about the cam-
paign, he immediately contacted
the sight group for information.

Then he called his wife, Nettie, and
asked whether she had any objec-
tions to him making the pledge,

Not only did Mrs. Monroe have ,

no objections, but she immediately.
informed her husband to get a
pledwe card for her, and a few
others. to spare. She then went
about the job of lining up the other
members of the family, 21-year-old
daughter Shirley,’ a GI office
worker; 18-year-old son James, .1
‘senior at Mont Pleasant High; and
daughter Mrs. Annetta Monroe
Kimball, who herself is the mother
of two youngsters. ,

All the Monroes signed up with-
out hesitation’ In fact, they’re
how waiting to make it unanimous
When Staff Set. Harold Monroe Jr.
returns home in the near future,
after 5 years in the U. 8, Army
medical corps.

As Harold Sr. puts it, “When our
time comes, the. good Lord will
take care of our sight. ‘The least
we can do is to help others,”

Five members of the

Convention of the WE. Approximately 75 delegates attended
2 a : 5 \
Unity is Convention Keynote

unorginized, political action, anti-
labor legislation, peace and jobs
and taxes.

Another important subject dealt
with by the national gathering was
that of farm-labor unity. © 1t was
pointed ‘out that, the prosperity of
the factory worker depended heav-
ily‘on the ‘well-being of the farmer,
and that the present slump in farm
income had. already brought lay-
offs in many sections of our indus-
try. The union’s position on, this
subject “drew high _praise ‘from
Fred Stover, President af the Town

Farmers’ Union and one of the con-

vention ‘guests.

Probably no subjeet was regard-
ed as’ of greater importance than
that of united action and organiz-
cing the unorganized.  Delerates
cited the vital need of carrying
forth the union’ program in these
fields in order to strengthen UF,
to bring lack shops that have left.

Throughout the convention, Lo-
cal 301 delegates took active roles
in the committees and in the floor
discusions. lected representa-
tives of the local were Mario
Bagnito, Bldg. 52; James Brown,
278; James Cognetta, 52; James
De Masseo, 49; Lawrence Gebo,
278; Leo Jandreau; William Muas-
trinni, 728A; Fred Pacelli, 46; Helen
Quirini, 81; and Wm. Stewart, 278.

BOARD CHAIRMAN.
ini, Schenectady delegate to the
; UE national convention, who was
elected chairman of the special
UE-GE conference board meeting
in Chicago. She is the first woman
ever to be chosen for the post.

“Helen Quir- >

the Conference Board meeting,
representing. 50,000 G.E. workers
throughout the country.

Helen Quirini, delegate from U.
HK. Local 801, was elected to chair
the meeting, This was the first
time in the history of the G.R.
Conference Board -that a woman
acted as chairman. ;

The purpose of the Conference
Board meeting was to sot forth
certain -basic¢ demands that will’ act
as a basis for discussions on 1954
Contract demands.

The UE-GE Contract provides
for wage negotiations and contract
modifications next spring, Notice
will. be given to the. Company on
ov after April 1,.1954 to that effect.

The delegates reported on what
was taking place in their respec-
tive local Unions. The-renoiits cov.
ered the employment outlodk and
the problems affecting: wages and
working conditions.’ The problem
of lack af work was pointed out by
several locals; particularly the del-
evates from Evie, who claimed
their refrigerator production was
cut 80¢% in August, causing lay-
offs of over 1,100 employees and*
another similar cut of 80¢7, is
scheduled for October.

The following, was adopted. un-
animously as an outline program
for discusion by the membership
of loeal Unions, leading toward the
formulation of specifie demands to
he made on the Company ‘next
spring:

Wage Increase-——D.W. & P.W.
Special adjustment for skilled ,,
workers,
Carry through to end dis-
criminatory women’s rates,
Improved incentive  protec-
tions.
Reduce the number of ‘step
rates, _
Elimination — of
differentials.
Improved seniority protection,
Improved holiday provisions,
Improved vacation provisions.
10. Improved sick benefits and
hospitalization,
_1L. Improved.-pension. -plan,

A national, coordination commit:
tee was elected to help all the U.E.-
G.E. locals to have a uniform and
effective plan of activity in order
to win our 1954 Contraet demands,

geographic

See a ODE EN DTS ee Oe a

We Dotnet:

recap ket pereeeey 2o

Author Challenges
McCarthy. Probe,
Risks Jail

Risking jail to defend his rights
under the Constitution, author Cor-
liss Lamont Sept. 23 told
Joseph R. MeCarthy’s
tions subcommittee it has no right

Sen.

investigu-

to inquire into his personal beliefs
and activities. MeCarthy later an-
nounced he would ask the Senate
to cite Lamont for contempt.
Laniont, a philosophy lecturer at
Columbian University and son of
the late Thomas W, Lamont, chair-
man of J. P. Morgan & Co., was
summoned before wv closed session
of the McCarthy subcommittee. at
the federal courthouse here. Rea-
yen was that the army had
chee several books on the» Soviet
Union tten by Lamont in a mili-
tary inteiligence document on So-
viet Siberin’s  peychological and
cultural traits. ,

Lamont’s relinnea on the. first
rather than the fifth
amendment, in refusing to answer
questions by McCarthy could: lead

to another court test of the. Me-

amendment,

earthy zroup’s powers. Such u test
has already been initiated by au-
thor Harvey O’Connor, who was
cited for contempt by the Senate
July 23 after he refused to answer
subcommittee. questions on whether
he had been a Communist when he
wrote books ‘later found in govern-
ment overseas libraries.

O'Connor, citing the first amend-
ment, declined to tell the subeom-

mittee anything about his polities!

beliefs, although he later informed
reporters he was not a Communist.
Lamont told the subcommittee, “I
am not now and never have been a
member of the Communist party,”
but refused to answer same two
dozen other questions relating to
his political beliefs.

STEWARDS
MEETING

2nd SHIFT
Monday, Oct. 5, 1953

1:00 P.M. (before work)

ist and 3rd SHIFTS
Monday, Oct. 5, 1953

7:30 P.M 5

Local 301 Hall

“STARA

© Friday, October 2, 1953

Bldg. 10C: <A time study was
taken on job drwg. 203A 782, and a
price resulted.. However,
there has been a inethods change
since the study and operator Ar-
thur. dd. Stearns has demanded a
new study in accordance with the
contract... The foreman has re-
fused. The union demands: that
the contract be lived up to, and a
new study taken. F

Bldg. 17:.. Dominick Barone | is:

classified as a: tool room machine «

operator-B surface grinder oper-
inion He is giving normal -per-
formance on all the work required
on his maéhine. This has: always
been A work’and the union de-
niands that Barone be given the A
classification with proper adjust-
ment in rate, .

Gerald Mills lost time in the pro-

sss of being transferred from one
job to another, The union demands
that he be compensated for this
time lost through no fault of his
own,

L. Bossard was laid off due to
lack of work and was. slated for
transfer to a punch press. job in
17. However, as the’ result of a
previous grievance docket, he was
to go back to Bldg. 19 on punch
press. ‘The union demands. that
Bossard be given the job. opper-.

tunities to which he is entitled. ‘on

the basis of His length of ‘service.
Segmental group under Foreman
ssewski is entitled to an_in-
ise in the price for job 707-4-
47-8048, which was-run on punch
press 244 during weeks ending’ 8/2
and" 8/9. The union demands the
proper price adjustment.

Index operators were always

‘ation’ against a fully

Inousanas of grievances are nandiea oy UE Locat 301

each year at all ieveis from the steward up to final eppeal

“in New York City,’ To keep members posted, we shall

each week itst some of the grievances that have not been

settled at the steward-joreman ievel and have been re-
ferred to the executive board-management level.

up werk when workers from the
group ure available. The union de-
mands that management act to
correct this situation.

Bldg. 52: William Finn is class-

fied us an assembler on tren floor

medium work, but has heen as-
signed to heavy work. The union
demands that he be upgraded to
heavy work classification with ret-
reactive: rate adjustment.
Bldg... 60: Robert Ahnert was
promised :the first available open-

ing on a Bealibrator test job, How- °

ever, mn opening was filled by a G
test man with less service than
Ahnert,. even though Ahnert: has
‘nlibrated ‘the valve test tables
ind the valves ‘themselves. | The
union demands that this diserimin-

worker be stopped and that he be
given a B job as promised.

In March, a millwright’s leader
retired. The shop” steward ap-
proached Foreman Beaver to find

“out when a helper would be up-

- timbers and 7 ties,

pid average onrnings for making °

keyways on blanks returned from
19, Recently this practice was
changed and thé rate reduced to
$1.64. ‘The union demands a rye-
turn to past practice of paying.
operators average earnings,

Bldg. 29: Donald Anderson is
classified as a setup man on the
27" mica paste machine, with a
rate of $1,734. This rate is in-
adequate for the type of work be-
ing performed. The union demands
an 2-step increase. °
_ Bldg. 46: Group_of mechanieal
Inspectors under Foreman. Jones
protests assignment of a B leader
to segregate C and -B inspection
jobs. ‘The union demands. estub-
lishment of proper machinery to
segregate A, B and C inspection

“work.

Bldg. 49: Group under Foreman
Lee protests the use of day work-
ers from other jobs to do work
properly belonging within group
and for which members of the
group group were available. One
example was the assignment of. a
worker from nozzle assembly to
run the shears. This was done in
violation of a previous agreement
to notify the shop steward in case
of any alleged emergencies. The
example involved only 10 minutes
work by Foreman Lee’s own: ad-

_nission, and when the protest was

made, the violntion of agreement
was deligerately repented by Fore-
man Parini. The union demands
that management take immediate
steps, to end these violations and
to. avoid repetition. of. these. delib-
erate provocations by supervision.

Group under Foreman Lee pro-
tests ussignment of welders to set-

graded. to fill, the opening. He was
told that: work was slack and that

the upgrading “would tnke place-

when Bldg. 85 work was moved.
The 85 work has becn moved and
there are a number of large jobs

Seheduled for 60 millwrights. The

union, demands thesimmediate up-
grading of helpers to millwrights.

Bldg. 84: On 8/29, a group fram
Bldg. 107 was? brought in. to do
work definitely ‘belonging to track
group in transportation. This work
consisted of installing a switch, 4
The union de-
mands that management halt this
practice in the immediate. future.

Bldg. 269:°On 6/10, a docket de-
muimded: the ‘increase of ABR on
C%-108, The foreman promised a
definite answer the following week,
but the AER was not increased
until 8/3 when -price changes were
put in effeet. These changes should
have been effective 6/10 and the
union demands proper retroactive
pay. i
, R. Leach is classified as a B ma-
chinist-machine repair man and is
the only worker in the building em-
ployed on the job, He has to do a
prent deal of A work. The union
demands that he be given the A
classification. with proper rate ad=
justiment.

Madeline Roscoe is classified for
Seal-on vacuum. tube work. Her
dutics include. the giving out of
work to other operators and the in-
struction of operators. Therefore,
the union demands that she he up-
graded with a proper rate adjust-
ment to compensate for these
duties.

Robert Spitzer is a graduate ap-
prentice. Although the division
has hired other A men ‘in the past,
it has not given consideration to

Spitzer who has a B classification.

The union demands that this work-

qualified |

‘cutter change.

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

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

Local 301

see ie?

Published by the Editoriat Commitee
Prosident....--na-e--..Jamos J, Cognotta
Vico Prasident—...-------.-..Josanh Alols
Treasurar ..--.-.--------Josoph Whitbeck
Recording Secretary. -Miles Moon
Ass't Racording Secret: Rudy Risslane
Chief Shop “Steward- itliam” Mastriani
Business Agont—.—....--..hoo Jandraau

RQ) LIBERTY ST. SCHENECTADY 5,N. ¥

er be upgraded to A with proper
rate adjustment.

Group classified as A mainten-
ance and repair men on shop equip-

that the rate should be $2.00%4. The
union demands that the proper rate
be applied.

The union demands a new tim-
ing rate for the Warner and Swa-
zey 4P1-520 machine because of
the type of work being done on the
machine. It. is further demanded
that standard prices be put on the.
jobs being done on the machine. -

Bldg. 273: Frank D'Amico has
been absent. from work since 3/16
because of an injury. He is now
able to return te his job and the
union demands that he be reem-
ployed in accordance with contract
article XI-10, « .

On 212, Charles Higley request-
ed a -"ift transfer in_ accordance
with contract article X-1e, How-
ever, he has been bypassed when
openings on desired shift occurred.
The unien demands that manage-
ment uct to make sure that this
worker vets his transfer in accord-
ance with the contract.

Robert Hogan has not been prop-
erly considered for ° upgrading
hased on length of service, ability
and dependability. He is now do-
ing A erection work and the union
demands that he be upgraded. to A.

Pierce Holohan protests cut in
standard price on HP shell 7053-
E17, part 1/1. The price was cut
to $9.65, The union demands im-
mediate restoration of $12 pricpr,
with retroactive pay adjustment!

ment are entitled to the job rate of a on
$2.08, but supervision maintaing, . :

James Quinn is entitled to up" °

grading from B to A floor assem-
bly with proper rate adjustment.
He has been assigned to A work
and has performed it. satisfactor-
ily. The union demands immediate
upgrading. .

Victor Siaskiewitz is not being
given proper consideration for up-
grading. The union demands that
he be given the A lagger’s classi-
fication and rate.

Foreman has offered only $30
payment for extra work on_dia-
phragm 170-3636, drwgs. 12322 and
12323. This is entirely inadequate.

‘The union demands proper pay-

ment.

Group of chippers protest as-
simnment on 9/12 of floor assem-
bler to do chippers’ work. The un-
jon demands management investi-
gate .to avoid repetition.

An. attempt to convert portion of
day work job to piece work has re-
sulted in discrimination. against
members of floor assembly group.

- In accordance with contract article

VI-1, the union demands further
discussion to correct this situation,
Group protests cutting of 82c¢
price on rouch taper because of
The 82c price was
nereed on, and the union demands ~
that it be restored with retroactive. :
adjustfent, : a

Operators in polishing room prgs,
test company failure to use x
timing rate for establishment \>
new. prices. The union demands.
that the new t.r, be used on all new
jobs in accordance with wage
agreement of 6710.

Drill press group protests plans
to make.only. partial methods study.
on the new machine on shells and
honds, The union demands a com-
plete methods study.

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

Summary of UE Conventi
' Representatives of more than 300,000 UE members from
coast to coast met last week in Chicago for the union’s 18th

national convention. This convention adopted a set of resolu-
tions «which are of the greatest importance to every member

of the UE.

These resolutions will guide UE policy during the coming

12- months,

Under the UE constitution, the union’s national

officers. and staff members are bound by the actions of the con-
vention, which because it is made up of directly elected repre-
sentatives of the membership, is the highest body in the union.

Here is the report of the 301 delegation to the UE na-

tional convention:

Wage Policy

1. Pledges to conduct in 1954 2
united campaign to win a substan-
tial ‘improvement in the standard
of living for our members, through
wage increases. .

2. In ‘erder to xssure maximum
unity ‘and coordination of — this
wage drive, that appropriate con-
ferences of the unions, consisting
of representatives of the major
chains as well us the independent
shops.and other unions be called to
work cut a coordinated wage policy
and a united program for winning
their demands,

& Urge all loculs.and districts to
begin now to build up a wage fight
fund te support the coming battles
for pny increases. '

Condemn Speed-Up

} Another resolution that was un-

——animously adopted by the conven-

tion dealt with speed-up, The reso-
lutien pointed out that the U.E.
Shall fight ugainst speed-up in all
forms by increasing the safeguards
on piece work and incentive sys-
tems where they now exist.

It calls upon the Union to strive
to eliminate from. all contracts
those provisions that permit the
emplceyer to determine the method
or system of pay. v

Tt calls for the elimination of
productivity .factor methods to de-
termine waye increases.

Organization and
United Action

One of the important resolu-
tions that was unanimously adopt-
ed by -the convention delegates
“uled for winning back members

in shops that left us as well’as or- —

ganizing the unorganized,
The resolution proposed: .

_1. -An intensive drive to consoli-

date the membership in our
shops now under contract,
In each. District voluntary or-
gnnizational committees
should be set up by. every
leenl Union in order to give
maximum support to the
problem of organizing.

Rach. Loeal. should. address. ite.

self to the problem of devel-
oping united action with the

ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS

members of other Unions for
the purpose of achieving col-
lective bargaining objectives
and protecting wages and
working conditions of our
membership,
Special emphasis. will be giv-
en to developing organiza-
tion and united action among
workers in General Electric,
_ Westinghouse and other
multi-plant companies.

Political Action

The convention called for spe-”

cifie steps in furtherance of our in-
dependent political action to make
sure that candidates elected to of-
fice will be responsive to labor’s
needs, . .

1, Eyery local ..Union should
make certain it has a fune-
tioning legislative political
‘action committee.

An. all-out enmpaign should
be carried on. to see that
every U.E. member is regis-
tered to vote.

U.E. should participate in
election primaries at every
possible opportunity to sup-
port independent and pro-
gressive candidates, _

A National Political Action
and Legislative Conference
should be held in Washington,
D.C., during the spring of
1954.

5. A national campaign to raise
a UE political action fund,
made up from voluntary con-
tributions of $1.00 per mem-
ber,

Condemn Butler Bill

One of the first resolutions pre-

sented to the convention delegates
was a statement of the General.

Executive Board pointing out the
present economic situation in our
country and the pending plans in
Washington’ among our legislative
representatives, whereby little is
left of New Deal legislation; So-
cial Security is under heavy attack
in Congress and the unemployment
compensation system is being
threatened....'The resolution called
upon organized labor in our coun-
try to give leadership in the fight

against “McCarthyism” and to con-
tinue a healthy democracy in our
country-and a free labor movement.
The resolution: ,

1. Condemn the Butler Bill or
any -other legislation and its
‘purpose to destroy free and
democratic trade Unions by
the Government licensing: of
Unions,

We declare that the U.E. and
its membership will continue
and intensify the fight for a
healthy peacetime economy of
jobs based on a decent ever-
improving standard of living.
We urge all people to join in
this struggle agninst “Me-
Curthyism” and the establish-
ment of a corporate state.
We urge all Unions: A.F.L,
C.1.0. and Independent to
work jointly together to turn
back this attack against the
American people. _

We call on all U.E. Locals
and Districts to organize
themselves for an all-out
campaign in the next few
months to develop maximum
opposition to ‘the drive. to
license Unions. ‘

Against High Taxes

The shortest resolution adopted

by the 18th convention was straight:

to the point. It was as follows:
“WHEREAS: Taxes are too
high for working people, therefore

be it resolved:
taxes.”

UE, fight to lower

While the resolution was short,
lengthy speeches took place by the

delegates condemning high taxes, '

and plans for new types of tixés.

Peace and Jobs

This resolution called for pr
viding means for avoiding a.de
pression by improvements in liv-
ing standards which require:

1, Wide and extensive increases

« in veal wages for all workers.

2.° Elimination of the oppressive

burden of taxes from the
mass of the American people
who need their full income
for the necessities of life.

&. Shorter. hours of work.

Vast increases in the social

services and public works of

Government to replace spend-

inge.on armament. This -means

“great new programs of hous- *

ing, roads, schools, hospitals,
public power, rural develop-
ment, medical research and
aid to the aged and needy.
‘An all-out program to solve
farm depression. “
The .wide opening of the
world’ channels of “trade
among all of the countries of
the world, a8
For More News of Convention
See Page #

Friday, October 2, 1953 © 3

PAN NI era ARE TE FRE NUE TYPO A ESE