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THE VOICE OF LOCAL 301
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Vol. 7 No. 49
SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
December 16, 1949
_ Kelly and Jandreau Elected by
UE Negotiators Take Up
Way GE Assists Carey
Meetings between the UF nego-
tiating committee and GE were re-
sumed Wednesday... The union
spokesmen again went into the ae-
tions which GE has engaged in un-
der cover of legal technicalities,
hailé on the “Imitation UE” drive,
Taking full advantage of the
ion,-GRE..has._stalled
It also has with-
held the check-off money, thereby
interfering seriously with opera-
tion of the local It has obstructed
the grievance procedure in a num-
ber of plants. In some plants it is
recognizing no one, so that the
grievance procedure has been stop-
ped,
UE Still Recognized
At the meeting last week, George
H. Pfeit of top GI management
said the company recognized UE
as the representative of the work-
erg under the contraet. But it was
brought out in the discussion that
GE’s actions were interfering with
this representation.
Despite the company's position
that it was withdrawing its so-
salled pension and insurance offer
(worth 2.1 cents an hour) because
of the Carey claims, the UE. cam-
mittee insisted on‘ discussing pen-
sions and pointed out the defects
of the company’s offer, Pfeif con-
(Continued on Page 2)
: ry
ligure This Out!
Before the 1,000 workers at the
“Allegheny Ludlum Steel plant at
Waterviiet were called out on
strike by Philip Murray Nov. 1 the
company paid four cents an hour
toward health insurance and the
workers paid nothing, Under the
United: Steelworkers’ settlement. of
the two-week strike, the company
won't pay an extra penny on in-
_--surance,.but_the workers will pay.
two and a half cents an hour start-
ing Jan. 1.
As in the other steel settlements,
the workers get no pay increase
and their union officials have sign-
ed away their rights to seek any
wage increase during 1950. They
can’t try to change other working
conditions until 1952. The pension
plan, scheduled to go. into effect
Jan. 1 for five years, still has to be
okayed by a stockholders’ meeting
‘ext spring. :
Blessings and Buses
For Carey from. Philco
Here’s another proof of the com-
pany union character of the “Imi--
tation UE.” .
Tn Sandusky, the Phileo manage-
ment exeused all workers at 11
cam, to attend meetings called by
“the Carey boys. Not only thal,
but the company provided buses ta
take the workers to the meetings!
NOTICE— Election of Shop Stewards
Local 301, United Electrical,
of America
In accordance with the Constitution, Art. XVI, Section B,
elections of shop stewards will be conducted in all groups
IRSDAYS DECEMBER 22) 19497
The elections will be condueted during the lunch hour on all
three shifts, beginning Thursday morning, Deeember 22, and
concluding 7 o'clock Friday morning, December 23, (except where
a group may be notified of special arrangements).
Only members in good standing of UT Local aot may be
nominated and may vote in these elections. ‘
The above is noticesto all members to be ready for the elec-
‘ian’ during’ thei lunek four on December 22. :
ELECTION COMMITTEE,
GEORGE DECRESCE, chairman
PAUL HACKO, seerctary
Radio and Machine Workers
..__fael._that_the election was_orderly,_
__condueted in.49 hours of voting at _
i!
Leo Jandrea
Joseph Mangino James Cognetta
Statement on [lection
By Commissioner Eckel
The following statement was
issued by Charles W. Eckel, Sche-
nectady County ‘election commis-
sioner, after the votes were tab-
uiated Wednesday in the 801 elec-
tion.
“At the request of the Local 301
lection Comunittee, I personally
supervised the eonduet of the elec-
tion, opening and = closing the
polls and having a representative
present at all times while the
polls were open. | attest to the
fair and impartial.
“As an experienced officer, I
want to add the comment that the
turn-out of voters was surprising-
ly high, in view of the facet that
there was no contest for several
major offices, and that all the can-
didates were supporters of the
sume viewpoint in the. plant,
namely the viewpoint of UE Lo-
val 801,
“Signed: CHARLES W. ECKICL,
Election Comm.”
Local 30
Big Turnout
Of Members
For Balloting
A total of 4,194 members of Lo-
cal 301. voted this week in the
union’s annual election of officers
the union hall from Monday noon
to 1 p.m. Wednesday, on election
machines, —
William J. Kelly, former vice-
president 'and former assistant to
the business agent, was elected
president and Business Agent Leo
Jandreau was reelected to serve
his fourteenth term.
Elected to Office
Uther officers chosen were: vice-
president, Joseph A. Mangino;
now a Board member; recording
secretary, John P. Green, now act-
ing recording secretary;; assistant
recording secretary, Shop Steward
Virginia C. Murphy; treasurer,
Henry Kaminski, now a Board
member; chief shop steward,
James J. Cognetta, now a Board
member; trustees, Shop Stewards
Frank J. D'Amico, Floyd Thomas
and Joseph G. Whitbeck; sergeant-
at-arms, Shop Steward James
Muir; and guide, Shop Steward
Floyd I. Warner.
Eckel Supervises
County Election Commissioner
Charles Eckel again supervised the
election and the tabulation, on in-
vitation of the [lection Commit-
tee. (See statement by Eckel)...
On behalf of the Election Com-
mittee, Chairman George DeCresce
and Seeretary Paul Hacko issued
a statement thanking all candi-
Membership Meeting
There will a Local 801 mem-
bership meeting at the union
hall at 7:80 pam. Tuesday, Dee.
20, tor first and third shirt
members, and: later that night
at 12:45 pam. for second shitt
memhers, after the close of the
second shift
~"(Gontinued on” Page 2)
ASRS
Ran
ay
at
~—Tashwian)
2
ELECTRICAL
UNICN NEWS
December 16, 1949
Court Upholds
FE-UE Merger
Merger of the 50,000 members of
the Farm Epuipment Union with
UE has ‘been upheld by a decision
of New York State Supreme Cowt
Justice Morris Eder. He ruled that
the referendum by which FE mem-
bers voted overwhelmingly to jom
UE was legal under the FE con-
stitution.
The judge dismissed a plea -by a
former FE officer and the national
CIO for an injunction against the
merger.
Employees of the Intciriational
Harvester Gompany at Auburn
recently voted to become part. of the
Farm Equipment Council of UE.
This action of FE Local 180, which
represents 1,400 production and
maintenance workers, reverses an
earlier vote to join UAW-CIO,
PFechnical- employees at=the-plan
members of FE Local 255, have
also voted to affiliate with UE.
The Auburn workers chose Ul
to protect the gains won under
their union contract with Harves-
ter, They didn’t want to have to
lake the UAW contract instead,
which has poorer seniority, pieve
work and holiday clauses.
UE Negotiators Take Up
Way GE Assists Carey
(Continued from Page 1)
tinued ta rely heavily on the Steel
and Auto settlements in defending
GE's position, The Steel and Auto
pension deals do not take effect
until various times in 1950.
In a letter to Joseph Dermody,
UE representative, last week, Pfeif
repeated his defense of the com-
pany's position based on legal tech-
nicalities, and repeated GE's claim
to neutrality. Dermody “pointed
out that the company’s claim to
“neutrality” took a form helpful
to the Carey stooges.
One issue being discussed is the
question of making. accumulated
pension money available to laid-off
workers without breaking their
service, Certain proposals are be-
ing considered. In order to avoid
confusion, this will be reported
here only when and if the matter,
has been decided.
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
UNITHD GLECTRICAL. RADIO AND
MACHINE WORIRRS OF AMERICA
SSCHENKBOPRADY (a LOCAL 801
ae on GDB 2
Published by Mdltorlal Commltteo
Maury McCurtin, Chairman
Arthur FQ Bertini, Secretary
Willlam) Chelatman Wrank D? Ameo
Aduin Koldalensl| Victor Paselie
Troy Sulpes
Maltorla Office
BLECTRICAL UNION NEWS
VOL Tdberty St, Sehonectudy, N.Y.
Telephone 8-1986
Pigeon Was A Favorite At 301 Party
Children at the 301 Christmas party at Mont Pleasant High School
(ry to make Harold Vine, magician, show them where the pigeon came
fro m.
Diane Colandro.
301 Election
(Continued from Pa
dates for their cooperation in con-
ducting a fair and impartial elec-
tion.
The statement said that the
mumber of union members turn-
ing out to vote was remarkable “in
the light of the fact that there
were contests for only three major
offices, with no contest for presi-
dent, recording secretary, treasu-
rer and business agent, and that in
the contests all candidates were
all-out supporters of UE.”
Jandreau polled the highest vote,
8,884,
The complete voting record was:
President, William Kelly, 8,805.
(1 write-in vote for Joseph Kelly)
Vice-President, Mangino, 8,895;
Jack Andrews, 668.
Reeording Seeretary, Green, 3,766.
(lt write-up vote) for Marion
Tibbitts).
Assistant Recording Secretary,
Murphy, 8,607, and Frank Cor-
nieelli, 856,
Treasurer, Kaminski, 8,680.
Chief Shop Steward, Cognetta, 3,-
887; Rudy Rissland, 406; Alfred
Pelrah, 104; Walter Kniffen, 64;
and James De Masseo, 74. (1
write-in vote for Elizabeth Da-
ley).
Business Agent, Jandreau, 3,884.
Trustees (three elected), DAmicu,
3,370; Thomas, 3,458: Whitbeel,
3,449; Salvatore De Pietro, 864;
Henry Busse, 872; Reynold
Baker, 876; Edward Luberda, 98;
George Farr, 108; Frederick
Shutelt, 88, and Raymond Fors-
lund, 56.
Sergeant-at-arms, = Muir,
George Crandall, 497.
Guide, Warner, 3,888; George
Walker, 504, Al Glaypool, 76.
ATTEND the UNION MEBTINGS
BTT;
Left to right, Billy Kilmer, Marie Colandro, Jen PD. Gallo and
Carey Agents Trying
This Trick on Workers
The current trick of the Carey
stooves in their desperate efforis
to sign up workers is the story
that signing an application eard is
just to get a Labor Board election,
and does not pledge a vote for the
‘Tmitation UE".
Tn his broadeast last week, Frank
Kriss went to great lengths to as-
sure GE. workers that if they sign,
a stooge union ‘card and withdraw
“from the cheekoft, they, don’t lose
their contract seeurity, they don't
lose their membership in UE, and
so on.
This is a fine lot of typical |
Carey-Kriss-Fiorillo hogwash, dish-
ed out in the hope of fooling some
peuple into signing cards.
Maybe a Kriss doesn’t. under-
stand it, but any good union man's
commion sense will tell him that he
van hardly expeet to pet effeetive
union representation by refusing
(a pay dues, viding on the backs
of his fellow-workers, and tearing
down the union whieh won the con-
tract and enforees it,
Rut anything goes for the Carey
boys,
Carey Speaker Smears
301 Steward System
One of the most vicious false-
hoods of the many peddled by the
Carey stooges is the one put on the
radio last week by one John
Marshall regarding the “UE shop
steward system, He claimed that
A, C. Stevens. assistant to the
-works manager, had told him that
Leo Jandyreau “replaces” shop
stewards whom the company dis-
likes. :
The falsehood was deliberate, be-
‘ause Frank Kriss, who conducted
‘the radio program, knows from his
own experience that shop stewards
have been changed only by seeret
ballot) recall election on- petition
from members, or by the Executive
Board on specific charges.
When Jandreau told Stevens how
he was quoted on the radio, Stev-
ens declared he had made no such
tement, hut refused to issue a
public statement denying it.
The Carey stooges are obviously
much upset over the victory of the
membership in forcing the com-
pany to recognize changes in shop
stewards as in the past. Male had
at first insisted he would continue
to recognize stewards who were re-
moved by the Executive Board be-
“ause of open activity on behalf of
the Carey outfit, Membership pro-
tests forced the company. to live
up to the contract, The Carey
people hoped that the company
would make it possible for their
handful of shop stewards to use
the union’s name and money to
tear down the union,
Only a handful of stewards turn-
ed against the UE and were sus-
pended and replaced, Under the
constitution, the Executive Board
can make temporary appointments,
goad for fifteen days, pending an
election.
10 Cent Raise
Ul Local 1189 at Minneapolis
has won a straight 10 cents an
hour wage increase at Minnesota
Steel Supply Company.
These: new
stewards, (aking
the oath of
office, ‘are, left
to, right: ;
Julius Rispoli,
Building 73A ;
Joseph Macher-
one, Bde. 69 and
Helen M. Scott,
Bldg. 69.
,
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS -
BY YOMEN
“ Don't worry, honey.
Just because they sent Congressman
Thomas to jail doesn’t mean you aren't going to get any more
expense money for smearing unions.”
Charges Are Filed
For Anti-UE Acts
Charges were mailed Wednes-
day by Acting Recording Seere-
tary John Green to members ac-
cused of raiding and secession ac-
tivities. They ave charged with ad-
vising workers to leave UE and
with passing out application cards
wfor “a rival, rump organization.”
1n avcordance with a vote by the
shop stewards’ meeting last week,
the Executive Board called a spec-
ial meeting of the 301 membership
for last night to elect a trial com-
mittee of nine members under the
constitutional provisions,
The accused members were voti-
tied by. Secretary Green that the
xecutive Board had recommend-.
od that the trial committee hold
hearings Monday, Dee. 19, ab- 1
pam. for second shift workers
against whom charges were made
and at 7:80 pam. for first and third
shift workers. .
Under the constitution the trial
Pimmittee is required to report its
recommendations. to the. next. 301..
membership meeting.
Tune in on the Arthur Gacth
broadeast at 10 pan, every Monday *
Law Suits Now
In State Court
Federal Judge James ‘I. Foley
has returned to the New York
State Supreme Court the court ac-
tion which Frank Kriss, Frank
Fiorillo and Ralph
brought against Local 801. There
will be a hearing Tuesday before
Judge John Alexander “in Sche-
nectady on the question of contin-
ulng the injunction which he issued
restricting the tight of the 301
membership to use the union's
fundsescuy
The tinion’s action against Kriss,
I‘ierillo and Mirando, to restrain
them from interfering with Local
301, will also come before Judge
Alexander then.
Turbine Inspectors
Inspectors in the Turbine Divis-
jon will meet next week at the un-
ion hall to diseuss shop problems
and grievances raised by a num-
her of them, Inspectors working
con the first and third shifts will
meet at 7:30 pm. Monday and see-
dnd shift inspectors will meet at
1:80 p.m, Wednesday.
Is Your Shop 100% UE?
Mirando -
ce
Broadeast by Kriss
Full of Falsehoods
As the. GE workers show their
overwhelming rejection of the “Im-
itation UE”, the Carey stooges are
increasing their resort to whole-
sale falsehoods in their attempt to
confuse people.
Typical was the radio broadcast
last week by Frank Kriss. Here
are two examples.
Kriss said that General Presi-
dent Albert J, Fitzgerald now is
‘a member of Local 301. He is not,
and never was. He remains a
member of Lynn Local 201.
Kriss again said. that if the
workers changed over from UE to
the stooge union, the contract
would remain in force. The truth
is that the new outfit would have
no contract. That is the law. It
is also the bitter experience of the ‘
workers in the 38 or 40 UE plants
SUCCESSL uly raided by vother “O1o
unions in the. past two years.
There were many more such unm
truths. A separate story appears
in this issue regarding the most
serious and brazen falsehood, re-
garding the designation of shop
stewards. There is also a separate
piece on the seniority issue in
which the broadeast stood the facts
on their head. ; ;
Gaeth Boadcasts
~ Answer to Murray
Arthur Gaeth, radio commenta-
tor, in his broadcast Dec, 5 re-
plied to an attack made en him by
CIO President Philip Murray. ai
the “Imitation UE” convention.
“Two decades ago an Austrian
paper hanger developed the thesis
that if you told big whoppors peo-
ple would
“them,” Gaeth said. “I resent hav-
ing the whopper treatment applied
to me.”
In veply to Murray’s untrue
statement that UE paid Gaeth
$380,000 last year, Gaeth said that
his contract was with the network,
not the union; that the union has
no vontrol over his scripts, and
that he asked “less for my services
than the $25,000 a year Mr. Mur-
vay is drawing.”
“TJ believe what first got Mr.
Murray. on his. ear.” Gaeth com: _
mented, “was my reporting of the
brutal assault, by CIO Industrial
Workers, once a puppet of the
Steel Workers, on Maurice Travis,
secretary-treasurer of the Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers, down in
Alabama last April. It was a raid-
ing operation.”
In accordance with a vote by.
the 801 shop stewards last week,
the union office has sent every
steward three copies of the Gaeth
broadcast, “An Answer to Philip
Murray,” ‘to show to their groups,
i
Take Your Choice
Speaking on a Carey broad-
cas here last week, one John
Marshall complained that the
holiday provision of the GE con-
tract with UE is not perfect,
What would he prefer?
Philip Murray's Steelworkers’
contract with the main steel
companies, which has no paid
holidays at all?
Or perhaps the Steelworkers’
contract with American Loco-
motive here, where holiday pay
is $8 flat instead of one day's
pay?
bYe ap EOL.
more easily believe _
$64 Question
In Bldg. 69
The $64 question in Building 69
is: How much can you get away
with if you're campaigning for the
pany repeatedly that Stanley Bis-
hop, removed as an Executive
Board member and shop steward,
was spending considerable time on
the various floors of the building «
campaigning for the Carey outfit,
while he is supposed to be operat-
ing a milling machine on the
ground floor,
Nevertheless, Bishop continues
to be seer daily spending hours on
the second floor in conversation
ith other former shop stewarls.
Another question is, who pays
m while he is away from his
machine? he
The company’s answer to the un-
ion regarding Bishop’s activities
during : working hours was that
pupervision would tell him to stay
on the first floor, and that there
was ‘no more that could be done,
Carey Meeting Flops
At Peterboro GE
-In_spite of big advance publicity
by Carey agents at the GE plant
at Peterboro, Ontario, Canada, the
meeting which they staged there
recently with James B. Carey as
speaker turned out to be a flop.
Nevertheless Carey has applied
‘to the Ontario Labour Relations
Board for certification of the
“Imitation UE” as bargaining
agent und the company has tured
over the check-off money to a
trust fund, pending a court order
about the disposition of the funds.
GE is giving every possible aid to
the Carey group.
Christmas Seals
Endorsement of the annual |
Christmas seal campaign of the
Schenectady County Tuberculosis
‘and Health Association was voted
last week by the 801 Executive
Board.
