“Page Four
LOCAL 301. NEWS
October 30, 1959
McCain) Committee | Is Expected Flere
By ¢ Charles Scott
This is a report oii.a case which
is being sent to the New York
Level of the grievance procedure.
These are the facts of the case--
After reading the facts, decide
whether the General Electric
Company ‘has treated this, em-
ployee fairly and has lived ip to
the word and intent of the can-
tract or not: ; my
The complainant has a back-
round of Sheet Metal Work,
Class A, R-19, in the Research,
Yab, and R-17 Sheet Metal-Steam
‘Turbine Enclosures, He was dis-
placed from his job in Steam Tur-
Hine and was offered no job in
the plant,
The Union filed a case pointing
out to the Company representa-
tives that there were 7 employees
with shorter sarvice’on R-15 Tin-
smith Helper and 11 employees.
with less service on Class B, 9-19,
and Class A, R-21 Tinsmith oc-
cupation, The Conipany refused
to “allow this, employca; to bump
any. ofthese: 18 employees with
less Service,
One week after this employee's
case was sent to the Company
for sccond level discussion, the
shortest service of 23 ‘Tinsmith
Helpers, R-15, was upgraded to
R-19, Class B. Tinsmith. This
employes who was upgraded has
i0 months “less service than that
fof the complainant. When this
upgrade was protested to the
Company representative of Union
Relations, his answer was: “There
is nothing wrong with the up-
grading—just the ..timing Is
wrong.”
These are the type of deliberate
‘violations by the Company which
your -Union representative must
Tight every day, because Company
representatives. live up to their
slogan: “We do right voluntar ily
--only when foreed te’!
Listen For Your Name On WSNY;
6:40 A.M. — You May Be a Winner!
Every morning at 6:40 A.M. on WSNY Radio (1240 on your dial)
the nameg of four or five “Men in the Shop” (and women) and
their building numbers will be announced, The first one whose name
is called, or any members of his family, who phones in to WSNY,
WX press 3-1771, will win 1200 blue stamps. So get a pad and pencit
und keep that phone number handy, Names, Bldg. numbers and
personal news can be sent to Art Christopher at the Union Office.
2 596 hi gher,
the individual employee.
G.E. ProfitsUp 50% -Sales Up 2.5%
ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT in the. Wall Street
Journal, profits by GIé in the third quarter of 1959 were nearly
5066 above the pre-recession level of 1957 and after taxes were
309% higher. This in spite of the fact that sales were only wbout
YH QUESTION MIGHT BE ASKED how is it possible to
get such amazing increases in profits with a very small increase
in sales, The answer, of course, is by gotting » more work out of
For example, between 1957 and 1959 sales went up by $80
million but the expenses went down by $14 million!
This is of course, the carrying out of the “balanced best
interest” which is the slogan of General Electric.
Buring ‘the early part of Oc.
tober, ‘Rep. Samuel 8. Stratton
contacted the .MeCarthy Special
Senate Committee and, expres: dd
his concern. with the acute unem-
ployment problem in. Schenectady
and the sefrounding area, At the
same time le sextended® an invi-
tation to. this Special Committee
on Unemployment to visit here
and make. an on-the-spot invest
gation.
PRESIDENT JOHN SHAMBO
followed up this invitation on Oc-
tobe 12th on behalf of the mem-
bership of Local 301 which totals
upward of 9,000. employees at the
General Electric Plant, The fol-
lowing day, the Board of Super-
visors, followed suit.
According to Rep, Stratton and
a letter received by John Shambo
(from the committee) every -pos-
sible effort is being made by the
Senate Committee. to schedule an
on-the-spot investigation here in
Schenectady. :
CONTRARY T6 ‘REPORTS
from other sources, Rep, Stratton
confirmed the fact that no defin-
ite word. of commitment has been
nrade as yet by the ‘committee.
He further received assurances
from Senator McCarthy that
when such a date is set he will
be notified immediately..
From all outward signs it ap-
pears that an investigation will
be scheduled here before the end
of the year,
Cost of Living
Rises in Sept.
Last September marked another
rise in the cost-of-living index to
125.2. This means an increase of
1 cent an hour in cost-of-lving
adjustments and am increase of 17
cents per hour since our 1955
agreement. This is an increase of
about 7% percent,
Thanks to the foresight of our
leaders in the 1955 negotiations,
we were able to keep pace with
the ever increasing prices.
VOTE!
ATTENTION!
KOTON PAINT — It is re-
quested that any members or
friends of yours who have pur-
chased KOTON PAINT and
have found fault with it please
contact: Jack Suarez, Presi-
dent, District #3, TUE at the
new Union Hall,
AFL-CIO |
Vol. 6 — No. 13. | The Voice
of GE Workers, Local 301, Schenectady, N.Y. November 13, 1959
SHAMBO STATES UNION POSITION AT GUTS CONFAB
Novak to Meve
Law Office Jan. 1
4
A crowd of about 1,000 Schenectadians filled .the Local 301 TUE
‘aide on Weduesday, November 4, 1959 as the first GUTS
presentation was male to the citizens of our Community,
John Shambo, President of the local, welcomed the vathering to
our Union Auditori um and spoke on Local 3801's hesition in regard
{to our participation in the GUTS program,
Due to the drop in Membership SHAMBO STATED THAT, “we in the labor movement are now
in Local 301 resulting from lay-
offs in’ the past few years, ser-
vices previously given by the lo- “We believe
and always have been strongly in fayor of any program which will
provide full employment in Schenectady and continue the existing
standard of living in our Community,
that Schenectady is as good a Community, equal
eal have had to be reduced. One|to any other in the Nation as far as havirig a vast pool of exper-
of these services which will be
discontinued as of January 1st,
1960, is the legal division for the
handling of compensation claims.
BEGINNING ON JANUARY
1, 1960, Mr, Novak will discon-
tinue his office at the Union Hall
but will continue in his general
practice as a lawyer at 124 Clin-
ton Street. Schenectady, N. Y.
Mr, Novak came to District #3
from Washington, D.C, as an
attorney in 1947. He transferred
to the local early in 1950. In
those 12 years he gained a Na-
tlonal reputation as a compensa-
tion lawyer,
Thousands of union members
will remember Mr. Novak as the
lawyer who firmly pressed their
claims against General Electric
with unusual success. He will
leave an indelible imprint in our
monories,
Persons pres-3
ently being rep
resented by Mr.
Novak will b
able to react
him at his pri
vate office or
Clinton Stree
after. January 1 .
1960. LEON NOYAK
ienced, skilled labor (whi ch is a rare and extremely expensive com-
modity. anywhere), the nearness to markets, transportation facilities,
available space, and adequate housing.”
“We have been very highly critical and concerned with the
lack of work here since 1954. Likewise, we have done everything in
our power to secure full employment in our Commniunity.” Shambo
continued.
“Wo in the labor movement have always been in faver of FULL
EMPLOYMENT and are and always will be behind any program
to creale more jobs without impairing the hard won gains by Inbor.
“WE BELIEVES that it should be a major responsibility of GUTS
Inc., not only to set a goal ef thousands of new jobs to be provided
by new industry, but it should also have an equal responsibility in
urging existing industry in our Community to expand here by pro-
viding thousands of additional jobs,
“Schenectady has always enjoyed the reputation as being a great
development center for electrical and locomotive products, whieh
confirms the fact that manulacturing changes bringing about new
techniques and modern machinery have not been hindered in any
way,
“The labor movement encourazes progress of this kind provided
that it is not made with o result of increasing unemployment or
lowering the present standard of living.
‘Th every program such as this, when the goals we seek are
finally reached, we naturally expect a reward for all our efforts, One
of the bigg rewards, besides the feeling of a job well done, will be
our paychecks ... and the size and the continuity of receiving them,
“THE SLOGAN WHICIL GUTS, INC, has adopted is: ‘lt isn’t
what you pay .. its what you get for what you pay.” This is very
important because it shows that the program is designed to maintain
the high standard of living which Schenectady has enjoyed for a
number of years.
“A full and steady pay envelope reflects in the standard of Hving
of all the citizens of our Community, such as that of ‘Che Butcher,
The Baker, The Candlestick Maker’ Tt reflects, too, in City Services,
Educational Pacilitics, and the economic security of the entire com-
munity.
“The labor movement has always been dedicated to these princi-
(Continued on Page 4)
” idge Pea’
STEEL LABOR
September, 1959
4
September, 1959
STEEL LABOR
Page Five
FdISE ace part of the yroposals for changes in
contedet language made by. the United States
Steel Corporation in the negotiations with the Stcel-
teorkers bargaining subeuamiltee which began on
Septeinber ;
Kop in mind that virtually identical efforts, to
forprdy cuttraet protections are being advanced by
wcery alher major corporation with which we are
teging fo negotiate ar ageccments,
‘ follaming, therefore, remember
As ee revids the
proposing is part and parcel
that what U8
of the tndast
“eon benefit mryotialed far’ yo ober Mee. past 20
NOUS, a Sex :
United
sti Une
: ty
ia), weting in behalf of itscl, its lowal Unions and
the enplayes.?
QUESTION: Is it the company's purpose, by
including ‘local unions'' to permit the
company-to sue-local unions for damages
in the event of wildcat strikes, without
suing the International?
Co, ANSWER: Yes.
LOCAL WORKING-CONDITIONS
Company Proposal
"Muy sueh practice we eustom whieh was not
ye “bas a dueal worki eomelitiaay wn thus
provisious ef the prion Us Pabor Agrecme ity
shall net he deemed to le a local working eonei>
fiom oder tle: provisions of this agrecment, Wty
veh practice orceustua shall be established
nent iu writing Gy an liter nal afile
eMidien atid thas ¢ ions exed=
alive ol the enampany,??
QUESTION: Is this intended to make any
future loca) practices or agreements unen-
forcenble unless embodied in un agreement
sigmed by the International oflicers?
CO. ANSWER: Yes,
Company Proposal
“This Agreement shall dike preeedenee over any
alo working conditions with respeet fo nuit ters
covered by this Agreements. 2?
QUESTION: Would this provision give the
company the right to violate local agree-
ments as to hours’ of work and overtime
such as the. Hoyt-Maloy agreement pro-
viding overtime for Saturday and Sun.
day ais such in the Cleveland plunts of
American Steel & Wire?
CO, ANSWER: Yes.
Company Proposal
“This Seetion shall aot vestriet Ue conpany
from jimproving Ute effigieney ant evonomy of its
yperations.?
QUESTION: Under this provision would the
company hive the right to eliminate any
local working condition or practice pro-
viding bevelits to the employes if it could
show thal it would save money by doing
80?
CO, ANSWER: Yes, The company should
have the right to improve the ofticiency
and economy of its operations in every
way that does not violate x specific pro-
vision of the agreament other thun Sec.
tion 2.8,
QUESTION: Gan you name any loca) pric.
tice which the company could not change
or climinuta if it cowld show that by do-
ing xo it would save money? ,
CO. ANSWER: The only practice which
would he protected under those conditions
would be practices required by other sec.
tions-of the ngreement, such as sufety and
health,
‘This Is
YOu as.
Wuvrad altitude fuward every hard ©
“participate in any such activities.”
Bi
Mi
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES
Company Proposal
‘rhe union (its officers and representatives, at
all levels, ineludiug its local anions) and_all em-
ployes are hound tu observe the provisions of this
agreement’?
QUESTION: Is the purpose of including. the
reference to loca] unions to reinforce the
company’s claimed right to sue Jocal un+
ions for wildcat strikes?
CO, ANSWER; Yes, z .
Company Proposal
“There shall be ono strikes, worl stoppages,
Picketiig, or intervuption ar impeding of worl.
No offeer or represerdative of the unian ner any
member or employe shill anthorize, instigate, sid,
or comlane any sich act uw cnpluye shall
‘Violation. by an employe of this provision shall
constitute proper cause for discharging him, irre-
pective of whether other employes who violated
his provision ure disciplined.”’
“Should it fe determinal hy the Lead that an
emplaye has been suspended or avged for
eause, tie Board shall noth arisdiction to
modify the degree uf discipline imposed by the
company.
QUESTION: Under this proposal would the
company have. the wnreviewable right to
pick and choose among the employes it
shore to discharge for engaging in a wild.
cat
C0. ANSWER: Yos,
QUESTION: Would the discharged employes
have the right to ask the arbitrator, na
they now cin, to modify the discipline be-
case other employes’ who were mor‘
guilty were not punished at all?
CO. ANSWER: No,
Company Proposal
Wor cach ealendar day on whieh any employe
shall violate this provision, sueh employe shall
forfeit his right to eight hours af his next vaeo
pay to whieh he would otherwise have been ene
titled nader the provisions of Seetion 12 and also
ong Credit Unit to whieh he woukl otherwise be
entitled under the Supplemental Unemployment,
Benet, Plan established by agreement between the
company and the union, ‘Phe provisions of this
paragraph shall not berdeesmed tu limit in any way
the authorily af thi eompany to suspend, discharge
or otherwise discipline any cniploye who shall vio~
Jate this provision,
QUESTION: Under this provision could the
company decide which employes it would
discharge and which employes it would
simply decide to punish by depriving
them of vacation pny?
CO. ANSWER: Yea,
INCENTIVES
Company Proposal
“Rael uew op replacoment dieantive .. shall:
wee be le wl to provide an opportunity to
een dientive compensation yoand above the
applicable standard buuely sorte in return
for production or work deeomplishunent over and
above the uinimum cequirements established by
the company in couneetion with such ineentive for
the payment of inecutive compensation,"
QUESTION: Under this provision muat a new
incentive provide ‘‘an equitable incen~
tive compensation’ nga is required under
the. present ngreement?
CO, ANSWER: No,
QUESTION; Under this new standard what
must the company show in order to prove
that a new incentive does not violate tho
agreement?
CO, ANSWER: The company must show only
that it is possible for an employe to earn
some incentive compensation, no matter
ae ETS
a
2
benefits under the agreement. Yf
covered by the eight points.
is What the Stcel ‘Industry
Your Job
(The following message, covering a report on meetings with the U. S,
Steel Corporation, aa sent to all local unions involved on September 17,
1959, by John W. Grajciar, assistant chairman, and R. E, Farr, assistant
secretary, of the Union's U, 8, Steel Negotiating Committee.)
poLeAse read and study the attached report on some of the changes in our con-
MB tract proposed by the United States Steel Corporation. These are not the only
changes proposed by the company. They are the most important ones. Theyare de-
signed to put.Into effect.the comma 5 elgttepote” »rogram to deprive employees of
‘ill note, hé
not stopped at cight points, The <...ipany has ne droposed to take away rights not
‘ar, that United States Stecl has
This report contains the exact language proposed by the company on these points.
!t also contains the questions asked by the Union negotiators as to tho purpose of
these proposals, and the answers given by the company, not in the exact words used
but in substance,
Please read carefully what the company says that it wants to do to the rights
of our members under the contract.
The Union has patiently presented its proposals for improvements in the agree-
ment. The company has refused to agree to a single ono of those proposals. The
company wants "progress''—but the onl
progress it wants is to take away long-
standing benefits and protections from the Steelworkers, their local unions and the
United Steelworkers of America,
The members of your negotiating subcommittee have patiently and diligently ar-
gued against the company's program. They have urged the absolute necessity of
putting in the minimum program of.improvements suqgested by the Union,
We regretfully report that so far we have made no progress. The company has not
withdrawn one of its proposals. The company has not agreed to a single improve-
mont.
how small, by producing nbove 3 .
mum reqiirementa established: .,’
compmny,
QUESTION; Under this proposal can the nr-
bitrator review the worl: requirements
aot by tho company to determine if thoy
are fair and equitable?
GO, ANSWER: No. The company would have
to show only that it is physically possible
for an employe to moet those require-
ments,
Company Proposal
“When and it management in ils discretion
takes or approves changes in equipment, i mann
facturing provesses av inethods, in ferees or ase +
signments, inom ssed, or in quality or
mantfacturing isso that the conditions
on whieh an existing incentive is based are
changed, management shall terminate and replace
oy change the existing incentive, The decision as
to whether, under the eireumatanees set forth
above, an existing incentive shall be (2) lerni-
nated and replaced op (2) changed, shall be an
exelusive function of the management.”
QUESTION: Why docs this propor:” rover
cases Where manngenent ‘iy te"?
changes? No?
CO. ANSWER: So as to give management
the right to change or replace incentives
when the employes themselves make the
improvement and management approves
of their action,
QUESTION: Gan management terminate and
replace an incentive under this propos,
even if the change in conditions is n minor
one having a small effect on earnings?
CO, ANSWER: Yes.
QUESTION: Can the union contend that the
change wis so small that only a change
in the inceutive should have been made,
nob a replacement?
C0, ANSWER: No.
Company Proposal
When an ineentive is replaved 5... the reptaee.
nent dneeutive .. shall pravite in eaenings ope
portunity for earh jul anton the replacement ine
gentive tot tess Chin Une average hourly earnings
Dunder the former incentive
eeks ending will the last jury, peri-
closed priory te the termination of the foriaee
ineentive.!”
QUESTION: Under this proposal do the
earnings under « replacement incentive
have to ba equal to the earnings under
the old incentive if average performance
is maintained? K
CO, ANSWER: No, The omy requirement is
that the earnings opportunity under the
new incentive be equal to the actual av.
erage received by the employes under the
old incentive,
QUESTION: Is there any guarantee of earn:
ings?
CO, ANSWER: No,
QUESTION: If, under the old incentivé, em-
ployes avernyed 30 per cent nbove tho
standard hourly rate, with some employes
musing more, and some less, and some pay
periods providing higher incentive and
others lower, would the new incentive
have to provide 30 per cent earnings?
\NSWER: No, It might only provide 20
per cent or less, on the average, if the
company could show that some employes
in some pay periods could mike 30 per
cent,
QUESTION: Why docs the company make
such proposals?
CO, ANSWER; Becnuse we believe that tho
installation and chinge of incentives is
exclusively n management function and
the only proper contractual provision is
one which provides the least possible re-
atriction on management,
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Company Proposal
Seetion Mj)?
QUASTION: Is this a proposal to delete the
existing provision that the company will
not establish performance standards for
non-incentive jobs?
CO, ANSWER: Yes, °
fants To Do
ecurity...and Your Union
¢
SHIFT PREMIUM
Company Proposal
“a, Day, Shift includes all turns regularly seheds
uled to commence between 6.00 a, in, und 9:00 a,
uly, inclusive,
“h, Afternoon Shift.ineludes all turns remularly
sehedulrd tu commence between 2300 pin, and
5:00 p. un, inclusive."
QUESTION:- Would this proposal have the
effect of depriving employes who worl
eight hours beginning between 8 and 9
a.m. of any shift premium despite the
fact that the prevailing shift in the de-
partment begins before 8.2. 1.2
CO, ANSWER: Yes,
QUESTION: Would this proposal have tho
effect of depriving employes who work
eight hours beginning between 4 and 6
p.m, of any hours of night shift premium
despite the fact that the prevailing night
shift in the department begins before 4
p.m?
CO. ANSWER: Yea,
QUESTION: Why did the company not pro-
pose to enlarge the definition of night
shift from the present 10 p. m.12 mid.
night to.10 p. m-l.a, m,, to accord with
i Proposals as to the day and afternoon
shift’
. ANSWER: Such enlargement would have
the effect of giving some employes sched.
uled to go to work after midnight tho
night shift premium for a full eight hours,
The purpose of the company’s changes in
the shift premium definitions is to cut
down on the payment of shift promium,
not to increase it
HOURS OF WORK
mpany Proposal “
patte
va
ves heyord he conteol of miutagement; ov
schedules deviating froma the nepal work
pattern are est nl ohy arreement between
plant tranagement and Che griewunee committee.”
QUESTION: I it the purpose of this proposal
to enlarge the right of management to
schedule employes on split work weeks?
CO. ANSWER » Yes,
Company Proposal
“Sehedules showing ciployes? workdays shall
slop otherwise tu eniplayes
thee with py shut net
Tater than Briday of the week pt ig the vale
endae Weel in whieh the sehedule beeaines effe
live Unless otherwise provided by Joel tigrecs
cent
QUESTION: Is it the purpose of this provi-
sion to permit the compiny to post ached.
ules on Friday, rather than on Thursday?
CO, ANSWER: Yes,
Company Proposal
“Schedles mney be changed by management at
any tiny exeept where ly laeal aimeenent sched.
wonot ta be changed in the absenee of mutual
mervement; provided, tawever, that any changes
mite atten Wriday: af the welt pregeding dhe eal-
end week in whieh tie changes are to he ate.
Hl tae e ved att Une practionble
Hime lo the geievaina: ar assis vee vont
mittee al Uns en Reeteds and provided,
ucther Chat, With respeet ta any: stele selaatilles,
bo vhiiges shall te ude atten Mriday unless eine
to broakeowus, requirements on the lutsinvas; one
qnatters beyond the eontyol af the depaictment stu
perintradente! 4
-ontract
QUESTION: Is it the purpose of this proposal
to permit Lhe company to change sched.
ules because of the requirements of the
- business after they have been posted on
Friday?
CO. ANSWER; Yea,
QUESTION: Is it the purpose of this proposal
to permit the company to change sched-"
ules beeause higher company officials tell
‘the department superintendent to change
them, without cause, after they have been
posted on Friday? ; .
CO. ANSWER: Yes,
ALLOWANCE FOR JURY SERVICE
Company Proposal
fe An eniples: etnore than
you whieh ho
CO. ANSWER; Yes,
‘purt and perfomu hi
HOLIDAYS
Company Proposal ~~
hall bee
vome dneligil hed hulis
lay un
work bevatsie af : s
his immediate family Caothes
laws, ehildren, brother, st
yrand patents) av beet
QUESTION: The present contract only refers
to nn employe who is scheduled to. worl ,
on a holiday and disqualifies him only if
he fails to perform his, scheduled or aa-
signed work, Why does’ the company pro-
pose to change this to cover employes who
are scheduled or aasigned to work on the
holiday and disqualify any employe who
fails to perform his assigned work,
. ANSWER: To permit the company to call
in an employe on the holiday even though
he was scheduled off and to deprive him
of holiday pay if he fails to report and
perform his assigned work,
Company Proposal
"As used in this Subscetian, an eligible amploye
wank essigentyg] bath at bis hist
guy priag teuad oon bis first sehod-
islay unites te hi
sun Dee
ot because
QUESTION: Why does the company propose
to change the present words ‘scheduled
or assigned"? to Une simple word ‘'ag-
signed’"? .
, ANSWER: To. make it clear that an-em-
ploye must worl as assigned on the day
before and the day after a holiday re-
gurdless of how he is scheduled to worl
on those days.
QUESTION: Would this deprive an employe
of holiday puy if he refused to double over
‘on the day after a holiday even though he
reported promptly as scheduled on that
ay
CO. ANSWER: Yes,
VACATIONS
Company Proposal
