General Electric Of Ce
‘peeonamoan UNION NEWS
“St Louis U. E.
my
Faces Cutback -
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, r HAPRERCC HRS BE A ae ©
. Takes Steps To -
Remedy Situation Which:
Effects -Many-U.,-E,-Members.
ST. LOUIS—(FP)—In an. ac-
_ tion which may result in this
city’s becoming a testing ground
for federal employment cut-
back policies, the United Labor
Committee of St. Louis asked
Mayor-Aloyos P, Kaufman to ap-
point a committee to go to Wash-
ington to seek .more war con-
tracts for local plants.
An estimated 37,500 AFL ant.
CIO members engaged. in. work
directly related to the war ef- -
fort have been laid off due to
lack of work. An additional
5,000 in the building trades,
mainly members of the Building
Trades Council, are due to join
unemployed in the next two
months.
Cutbacks at “the ordnance
plants here will mean dismissal
of 15,000 workers, mainly mem-
bers of the United Electrical
Radio & Machine - Workers
(CIO). UERMW representa-
tives in Washington are trying
to bring other government or-
ders to St. Louis,
Labor leaders from both AFL
and CIO were preparing a writ-
ten report on the increasing un-
employment to support their de-
mand for a citywide committee
representing labor, the Chamber
of Commerce and civic group to
conifer with legislators and the
War Production Board in Wash-
ington.
ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
SEEKS DANCE INSTRUCTOR
The Activities Committee of
Local 301 would like to learn of
some Union. member who is
qualified to each dance routine;
chorus work and train other
types of entertainers for future,
shows, sponsored by the com-"
mittee. Anyone interested in
becoming active in this work
should contact Union head-
quarters and arrange to set in
-at the next meeting of the Activ-
ities Committee.
“Tun-Za-Poppin”, which was
Local 301’s latest and most suc-
cessful venture in the entertain-
ment field did much to cement
the relationship of Local 301
with the general public and
speaks very highly for the ef-
‘forts of the Activities Com-
mittee.
District Cound No. 3 Meeting Held
On Stabilizatiion of Radio industry.
= Thursday of the labor rep-
‘resentatives from the various
radio manufacturing concerns in
Upstate New York for the: pur-
-of-bringing about: the-atab-—
ilization of wage rates throngh-
out the radio industry. Among
those represented were labor.
<Jeaders {rom General Electric
plants in Schenectady and Syza-
cuse, Westinghouse of Buffalo,
King-Colonial,
berg-Cazlson of Rochester, Wur-
litzer of No. Tonawanda and
others. Local 301 had a delega-
tion headed by Leo Jandreau,
Business Agent of the local and
President of District 3 Council
of the UE.
The program being initiated
is similar to one already adopted
“by. the Distriet which includes
the Chicago area. Present at the
meeting was President Ernest
DeMayo of the Chicago District
‘of UE who was successful in
bringing about the stabilization
of wages in his area in which a
large pércentage of the radio
industry is located. Mr. DeMayo
“because
Buffalo, Strom-.
condition of Bat tiroat competi-
tion which existed in the radio
industry: before the war. This,
he said, is not only dangerous to
the manufacturers themselves
some of them will be forced: out
ofi business, but that labor stands
to be. the big loser as it has al-
ways been the policy of com-
panies to reduce cost by cutting
the wages of the worker .and
either people would be thrown
out of jobs entirely if their em-
ployer failed or forced to work
at sub-existance wages. Also it
was emphasized that this stab-
ilization was necessary during
the present war emergency be-
cayse it will bring about condi-
tions which will insure our
armed forces the production of.
communication equipment they
sorely need, ~~~
A‘ special committee was set
up at the meeting for the pur-
pose of coordinating the effort in
all radio manufacturing plants
in the district and includes Wil-
liam Mastriani, of Bldg. 81,
Schenectady. .
~“Fun-Za-Poppin”
Dance Is Saturday
‘May 6th at Hall
It has been announced by the
‘Activities Committee. of Local
301 that a “Fun-Za-Poppin”
Dance will be held at the CIO
Hall, Saturday, May 6th. The
dance will include many fun-
making features similar to, those
in the recent stage hit any many
prizes will be awarded which will
create much mirth and laughter.
Popular refreshments will be
available at. very modest prices.
Music for the affair will be fur-
nished by Duke Mirate and. his
Orchestra from 9:30 until ?
FIFTH WAR LOAN
STARTS JUNE ‘12
Washington—Organized labor
‘again will be asked to play an
important role in the country’s
all-out war effort by assisting
in the Fifth War Loan Drive
which will start June 12th and
run until July 8 Henry Morgen-
thau, Jr., Secretary of the Treas-
ury, has announced the goal
which ‘will be 16 billion dollars,
G billion of which ‘will came from
individuals.
Send a copy of The Electrical
Union News to your relative or
friend in the service. He'll like
it, .
- City.
C. A, P. COMMITTEEMAN IS
BICYCLE RACING CHAMP
Not generally known is the
fact that we have among our
committeemen, the bicycle speed
racing champion of the country.
He is Paul Muller, representative
at=the Campbell Avenue plant,
who is formerly from New York
‘Paul has several years of 6-
day racing at Madison Square
Garden behind him. His last big
race was shortly before he came
to Schenectady in which.Jhe de-
feated that champion of Hurope
for the world’s championship.
Altogether Paul holds 32 speed
records for road racing through-
out the United States and
Canada.
MRS. SADIE IOVINELLA
Is ASST. TO BUS. AGENT
(Continued from Page 1)
movement and her experience
well qualifies her for her new
position. She will work with the
other two assistants recently
named, Harry Case and Earnest
Bezio, and releave Business
Agent Leo Jandreau of as much
routine grievance work as pos-
sible so he can devote more time
to his other duties.
Your unionis as strong as
you, the membership make it,
Well attended meetings is a sign
of strength.
‘in commercial fields,”
wh
. Worker. ss to Organize
Committee Planning
Drive to Extend Union .
Benefits to Office Group
tract with the General Blectrie
Company has granted coverage
to the clerical and white collar
salaried groups, Local 301 has
initiated-a-drive-which-it-is-ex=-——--~
pected will bring the thousands
of workers in this category in
the Schenectady works into our
Union,
The first step taken was a very
successful meeting held last
week: withsseveral people from
various offices and at that time
‘the formation of committees for
the purpose of contacting all
office workers ‘was planned. A
regular meeting ‘night will. be
arranged for this group as soon
as it begins to function:
It has long been common know-
ledge that the white collar work-
er has suffered more from the.
maladjustment of economic con-
ditions caused by the war than
other. groups. This has been due
to the fact that although, their
cost of living has steadily in-
creased, they have not had. the
opportunity to effect an adjust-
ment of this condition because
they are unorganized and do not
have the advantages of collective
bargaining. °
At the presént time ‘it is aye
“necessary for anyone wishing to
join to pay the $2 initiation fee
and no dues will be collected un-
til such time as the UE is certi-
fied as the ,bargaining agent
through a NLRB election. Then —
it is planned that the group will
establish their own local which
will be independent of but work
in conjunction with Loca 801,
Any white collar worker who‘
is interested in assisting in the
drive to iorganize ther’ groups
should call union headquarters
and arrange to attend the meet-
ings. ©
Free Drawing Classes
To Be Conducted .
Jt has been announced that
Local 301 will sponsor classes in
drawing iand cartooning to be
conducted by Chet. Cooke, Hlec-
trical Union News Artist. Mr.
Cooke has had wide experience
in the drawing field and is well
qualified to train those who
would like to learn the art. The
‘classes, which will be free of
charge, are for Union members,
or children of Union members
between the ages of 10 and 380.
Anyone interested in this pro-
ject of the Activities Committee
is urged to call Union Hall and
signify their intention to enroll.
“THE WHITE COLLAR WORKER”
CA
SCHENECTADY
Mike Quill, in shown beng congratulated by Peter @ubal, e/m3, U.S. Navy
on his brilllant political action speech
at Captinl District Council Rally at CIO
Hall, April 16, 104%, Mr. Zubal who has served in netlon for 18 mo. in the So,
Puelile urea. against the Japs in commenting on the CLO politieal netion pro-«
gram. “lt stands for the very things we're fighting for.”
Mike Quill Calls Upon Labor-Minded
People To Become Active in Running
Government at Political Action Rally
Os
Sunday April 26, at one of
the most interesting and inform-
ative meetings held at CIO Hall
in recent months, Mike Quill, na-
tionally-known labor leader and
Councilman of the City of New
York, conveyed a message to the
people" ol Scheneetady~> which:
they should not forget. The
meeting was held under the
sponsorship of the Capital Dis-
trict Ind. Union Coun. and was
chaired by Charles Weiher, presi
dent of the local Transport
‘Workers Union, the CIO union of
which Mr. Quill is president.
Also among the list of speakers
were Mrs. Frieda Schwenkme-
yer, business agent of the Amal-
gamated Clothing Workers of
Troy and.Sam Faclone, Local
301 Legislative Committee chair-
man who delivered an address
for Council President C. L. Pat-
... Yiek who was ii.and unable to |
@)
attend. Mr. Quill said in part: “TI
am happy to come to this town
as a part of the drive to organ-
ize workers both industrially
and _ politically.”
“T understand that the press
is not too favorable to organized
labor in this area. Let me say
from the off-set that I come here
as a member of the Executive
Board of the CIO, I come here
fortunately as the President of
the Transport. oe Union
and as a member of the New
York City Council.
“T was, elected as an indepen-
dent labor candidate by some 83
thousand citizens from the
Bronx County. It is true that
some Republicans voted for me,
and some Democrats voted for
me and-some Socialists and. Com-
munists voted for me. - I bid for
their votes and make no excuses
about my election... . Yes, the
papers down in New York are
no more favorable to organized
labor than your papers are. They
have attacked our program be-
cause they are afraid of the
things. we stand for. You did not
come here to be convinced. You
came here because you have a
program. Because you have
(Continued on Page 4)
George Pendleburg
Donates Blood —
For the 8th Time
~ -Bdward> Bazan, chiainmenr “ol
the Blood Donor Committee of
Local 301, gives us a fine story
which should spur other mem-
bers on to greater effort in the
vital Blood Donor Campaign
+ which is being conducted by the
local during the month of April.
It regards George Pendlebury,
Building 49, who has now do-
mated blood to the Red Cross
Blood Bank for the eighth time,
thereby becoming a member of
the fast-growing gallon club.
About a year ago George made
his first donation at the Sche-
nectady Red Cross Blood Donor
Center. After considerable con-
troversery with the centers offi-
cials ‘he was allowed to donate
that first pint and toldnot to
give any more because of his
age.
weigh more than 110 pounds.
George was told that it was not
(Continued on Page 3)
Incidently,.George doesn’t
AL UNIC
on farr
a
Y— APRIL 28, 1944
F, riedland:
Al Davis, Trace at Sunday Meet
Committees and Action Approved _
At a special menitendhta ) meeting } held. Sunday, Sidney Fried-.
lander, Bidg. 16, was elected Treasurer of the local to fill.the office
made vacant by the resignation of the former treasurer at the unity
meeting some weeks ago.-Also A. Davis was elected Trustee. to fill
the post made vacant by the resignation of former trustee R.
Anderson of Bldg. 17.
©
Clerical Workers
Urged To Become
Organized in Uj. E.
The Clerical Organizing. Com-
mittee is holding regular weekly
meetings each Tuesday and -al-
ready the results of its efforts
are beginning to show in the
number of signed application
cards received at Union head-
quarters. The following is a
message -this committee, which.
is made up largely of office
workers, wishes to convey to—
their fellow workers.
“Do the office workers. need
a union? Would union organiza-
tion result in better working
conditions and higher earnings
for us? Is a labor union an or-
ganization that, protects’ the
..broduction, v
are questions. that you and other
office workers ‘throughout the
works are asking...
“While the production work-
ers’ have had the union to pro-
tect their interests, we have re-
mained aloof and through this’:
action have suffered from the
whims of the supervisors and
renvained one of the lowest paid-
groups in the country.’ This is
in spite of the fact that we are
really key people in the opera-
tion of the company, and in
spite of the fact that we are
really key people in the operation
of the company, and in spite of
the fact that our duties are as
demanding and the demand for
‘skill and training is in many
cases more exacting.
Proposed Plan
‘UE Local 801 extends tous
in the Schenectady GE plant an
(Continued on Page 4)
Ballot Applications For Servicemen
Made Available by
In line with Local 301’s policy
of doing everything possible to
‘help the men serving in the’
armed services of our country,
it has taken steps to make it
possible for service men from
our area to vote in this year's
elections in spite of the. law
passed by the legislature at Al-
bany and approved by Governor
Dewey.
The local has available “Serv-
ice Men's Application for the
New York State War Ballot
Cards.” The cards. which will
be available through Union Com-
mitteemen and at Local 301
Union, Early. Mailing
service man ‘will be able to cast
his vote in the coming presiden-
tial elections which are-one of
the most important -in. this
country’s history,
Applications are necessary for
the following reasons. President
Roosevelt proposed:a:simple plan
which would have made it possi-
ble for evéry service man. to
vote through the use of a fed-
eral ballot distributed by ‘the
branches of the.armed services
and.collected by them. This way
every soldie# ‘would have ‘xe-
ceived a ballot no matter where
he may have been. This plan was
Headquarters conform with re-- defeated by a collation of reac-
quirements of the law and have
attached a tearcards giving in-
structions for use so that the
tionary Republicans and poll
tax Democrats and a substitute
(Continued: on Page 2)
eed str iL DSL RRRPOSG ACAI BA OT" OTR
ers, only.?. These...
Assistant fisted Agents
Another important step was
‘taken in the approval of the ap-
pointments previously made by
the Executive Board of the three
Assistants to the Business
Agent. They are Harry Case,
- Ernest Bezio and Sadie Iovinelli.
‘These people were named some
“weeks ago; due to the fact, that
demands on the office of. busi-
ness agent by the large number
of grievances became so great
expansion of the personnel was: *
necessary. Among other Execu-
tive Board recommendations ap-
proved by the membership was
the staff recently appointed to
publish the Electrical. Union
News which is headed by Austin
Case, editor and. Ray Plannlgan, ‘
co-editor. 5
Recommendations Ryphoved:
Among other recommenda-
tions«approved were the follow-
ing: .
Donation to the-Red Cross.
“Sehitiectady chapter of $200 and”
to the Fort Edward Chapter of ©
$25 ‘was approved.
That the delegation to the
General Electric Conference to
be held in New York April 26
and'27 be increased from 8 to
7 due to the importance of the
wage question which will be dis-
cussed with representatives
rom the Westinghouse locals. .
Those named were A. Christen- |
son, L. Jandreau, F, Emspak, A.
Case, RB. Wallingford, W. Kelly
and R. Flannigan -
The printing of sufficient
copies of the new union contract
to supply all shop stewards
The donation of $100 of the
expense incurred in producing
the show “Fun-Za-Poppin” was
«donated to the Child Care Cen-'.
ters. The chairman reported that
$400 was turned over to the.
Child Care Funds as the net pro-
ceeds.
That the membership meeting
of May 16 “discuss amendments -
to the constitution as will be re-
ported by the Constitution com-
mittee and also that copies of
the constitution be printed’ in
sufficient quantities to supply
shop representatives.
That immediate usage be
made af rhembetship cards to, be
distributed quarterly by the
Executive Board members and
shop representatives,
That a new machine be pur-
chased for use in the business -'
office which will .permit the
printing of the membership
cards by the office staff. and
the handling of necessary meil-
ing requirements,
Jandreau Explains Problems
‘Business Agent Leo Jandreau
explained to: the membership
the problems facing the union at
the present time in the matter
, (Continued on Page 8) -
~ . ELECTRICAL UNION
me Published by ;
‘United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of Ameriea—Local 301
301 LIBERTY STREET SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
AUSTIN J. CASE, Editor ~ - =, FLANIGAN, Co-Kdltor ,
sooo ts "Fa ttine “Commitice
FRANK EMSPAK JAYNE STARKO
JACK NE CRET COOKE. |
B, MOWERS
PROY. SNIPE
aia “SED. FRIEDLANDER
EDITORIAL «\
! . . one a) a
Worker's Security via-Political Action
The fundamental. issues behind labor’s decision to take an
active part in political action this year ‘are of vital concern to every
individual, but many of them. do not fully-understand what these
issues really are."When a union attempts to negotiate an increase—
for a group of workers and comes outwith increases from the com-
pany it now has to go to a War Labor Board which says “you have
had 15% since Jan. 1941, that’s enough.” This government agency
was set up by politicians who hold seats in Congress and after ap-
peals have been made, it is only through polities that they can be
effectively dealt, with.
When we complain that prices have arisen far above that which
our income will afford, we find that prices are controlled by the
Office of Price Administration, a body of men set up by those same
politicians and the only way we can get our complaint effectively
to them is through politics. When a man is avorking in the shop
and conditions arise which make. it necessary for his well being for
him to leave his job, we find, that he is not allowed to do so because
of a ruling of the War. Manpower Commission, still another group”
set up by the same politicians in Congress, nd still the only way
we can reach them with a just complaint is through political effort.
It is morally the duty of people elected to State Legislatures
and to Congress to represent their people and to take actions. which
will be of benefit to them. When they are appealed to by'the people
and respond by doing otherwise, there is no longer such a thing as
negotiation. Then it is up to people who have such representatives
who do not recognize the problems of their communities to take »
whatever steps necessary to make their voices heard. That way is
through political action. The record of many of those elected to
Congress in the 1942 elections serves fair warning that labor must
be on its guard or else it will find itself so hamstrung by laws passed
by a group of labor-hating Congressmen whom they have elected
themselves, and that it will be impossible to operate in any way
beneficial to its membership. _ _
Anti-labor laws such as the Smith-Connley Act, and govefn-
ment.agencies set up by.Congress and manned mainly by anti-labor
personnel, already have had serious effects on organized union ef-
forts to adequately fight for people’s rights and give them protection
from unserupulious employers. It no longer is the simple matter of
setting down with an employer and negotiate for better wages and:
working conditions. We. now have to submit things we may gain
through arbitration to a group of men whose past record and back-
ground gives us a hurdle which is almost impossible to get by.
These conditions are prevalant because of men the people them-
selves have elected to office. Unless the people wake up now to the
fact that conditions are serious, and unless true pro-labor men are
elected to office, their own working conditions and amount of weekly
earnings may be cut far below their present standards with any
chance of gains along these lines entirely out of the picture.
The program of the Political Action is not to set up a new party
in the political field, but to encourage our membership to see to it
that people who are defintely in labor’s corner, are nominated «within
the parties which exist. The candidates themselves and not, the
party are important.
:
How Unionists Are Made
Submitted by A Union. Member s ;
When I was four years old, my oldex. brother (seven years-old)
took me for a walk to. Classen. Point and back to our hore in the
Bronx, a distance of some eight. miles. I have been wandering about
ever since. Cleveland, Africa, Florida, New Orleans, the Mississipi
River and some dozen other places beside the Capitol district have
been my home during 39 pretty busy years,
Thave been in and out of business a number of times, made and
lost money, been hungry a few times and drunk more than once. I
have been wrong lots of times and right occasionally. I have a pet
hobby which is to get real mad when I see a guy getting a raw deal.
That’s why. am a unionist first, I have seen the unions do more for
the workers than any other single agency and I am for anything
that works that way..
1 was «@ sailor before the NMU. becarne strong and I have seen
ships manned almost completely by. seamen getting $1.00 a month
_ and their board.and not much board-at.that, T-have seen bean. and, _
* cotton pickers making $1.00 a day for 10 to 12 hours of killing
wrk. I have seen guys picked up in the South and given 60 days on
the chain pang for daring to ask for a job. I've seen apple salesmen
and breadlines stretching for blocks. I've seen a white man crack a
long lash over the backs of 50 Congo negroes hitched to a freight
car, (It was cheaxper to use manpower than engines.) I’ve seen
policemen on horseback ride down crowds of men and women who
were on-strike because they could not live on $8.00 a week in New
Jersey. Those things and many others, — and I’ve seen the unions .
slowly change them until, in many places, the worker can almost
hold this haad straight up and say “Maybe I am a man.”.T.hope to
- live long enough to see the time when the “Maybe” will be erased
and every worker will dareto say and really mean it “I AM A MAN,”
Se eee eer
_April 28, 19:
1!
NEWS _
|. A Grievance
One of the main difficulties
““Tormation on gr
a result of this much extra time
is lost before the grievance can
be properly negotiated. - There
are certain facis needed: on ‘all
-cases-and=-should-always-be “ins
cluded on the grievance form.
The business agents in the office
have no way of knowing-them
otherwise. Be ey
These facts are as follows:
name end check number of com-
plaints, length of service, skill,
type of work performed, job
rate, classification, length of
time on job, foreman involved
and if possible specific clauses of
the contract on which the griev-
ance is based. Also a foreman's
written answer which the com-
mitteeman receives after making
a written grievance to the fore-
ma nwith,a “specific request”
for an answer in writting.
It should be remembered-that
there are many cases sent in to
the Union office each day and if
information is left out of your
grievance, time consuming” in-
quiries will have to be made with
the result, someone else with
just as—important: a grievance
will have to wait for their
answer that much longer.
Ballot Applications
For Servicemen.
(Continued from_Page 1). by_a_tiny. reactionary. minority-------—--—~-
: Of poll tax bitter-enders. This
fight has been going on-too, long
plan was passed providing for a
Federal ballot IF a service man's
state agreed to use it:
Governor Dewey.and the New
York State Legislature have re- -
fused to use it and through a
bill passed and signed by the”
Governor, a New York State
War Ballot is provided for but
available only if the service
man complies -with much red
tape and complex restrictions.
Otherwise he will be distran-
chised. The law requires that
every service man or service-
woman make a SIGNED APPLI-
CATION for a ballot and the ap-
plication must reach the Ny Y.
State Ballot Commission “on or
before September 1” and no la-
ter than October 16, It requires
that BALLOTS be mailed to ap- °
plicants “on or before Septem-
ber.7” and “thereafter.” It re-
quires that all filed-out ballots
must reach the commission “no
later than noon November 3rd.”
The eaway in time is about 8
weeks for those who apply
early. It is less for those whose
application reaches the Commis-
sion after September Ist.
The leadership of -your. Union
appeals to every member who
has a friend or relative in the
service from New York State ob»
tain one of these application
cards which are. printed with
the proper return address and
mail them at once, The boys who
‘are fighting for their country
have EARNED the right to vote.
Let us see that this right is not
denied them.
CAMELS JOIN UNION
Workers in the R. J. Reynolds
Co. plait in Winston-Salem, N.
C., have voted in an NLRB elec-
tion fora CIO union to represent
them The operators of this, the
largest cigarette factory in the
world, conducted a vicious anti-
union campaign but it was of no
avail, so now Camels are (CIO)
|— Legisla
Committee Repor
daily,
on the contrary, brought. this
bill, BR: 7, high_up-on_the list
essential .current legislation. in
the Senate. aa
Public. sentiment so over-
whelmingly supports it, that the
poll taxers fear they cannot suc-
cessfully pull off their annual
routine — to let the bill come up,
then filibuster the Senate into a
“gentleman’s agreement” to kill’
the measure with one quiet vote,
failing on cloture. They are try-
ing to keep the bill from being
called up in the Senate. Sen.
M. Mead (D-NY) has promised
to. give leadership in this fight
by calling up the measure and .
helping to steer it through the
Senate. Every kind of back-door,
desperate pressure. is being
brought. to bear on Sen. Mead
and on. Dem. Party Leader, Sen.
. Alben W. Barkley (D-Ky) to de-
lay and ‘kill HR 7.
lt was originally promised to
the people for the last week in
March. Then for this week. Now
_the heat hasbeen turned on even
more — and the date has been
put off until April 24, In plain
English, the American people
are being given “a run around”
already. It must not be permitted
to drag on any longer. (If-it does
not come up this month, with
Congiessional recesses or ad-
journment sure, and then elec-
tions, it is lost). Just that final
push is needed — and the fight
will be won. 7
Cost of Living
Report Due May 1
WASHINGTON - (FP) - Chair-
man William H..Davis of the
President's Committee on the
Cost of Living said April 20 he
expects to have a report from an
advisory committee of statistical
experts by May 1.
The committee has examined
the reports of the Bureau’ of
Labor Statistics and the labor
member's.of the-President’s com- .
mittee and in addition will offer
other statistical material on the
subject, Davis said. Chairman of
the advisory group .is Prof. Wes-
ley C. Mitchell of Columbia uni-
versity, Others are Margaret G.
Reid, senior, economist, division
of statistical standards, bureau
of the budget and Simon 8. Kuz-
net rofessor of economic sta-
‘tistics, University of Perinsyl-
vania.
The BLS reported a rise of
only 28.4 percent in the cost of
living, while the labor members
‘found it- to be 48.5 perecent--for.
the same period: January 1941
to December 19438.
The BLS index is under sharp
fire from all division of the labor
movement in connection with
labor’s demand for revision of
the Little Steel Formula, -
Quadruplets in England and
New York, triplets in NewYork,
and reported quintuplets in Ar-
gentina—is this going to be aw
era of mass reproducton, too?
Council.
Dorothy Freeman
f. One of the most interesting ..
and informative-meetings held
ing recent weeks was conducted -
Thursday, April 6, by Sgt. Doro-
thy Freeman of the WAC. Re-
cruiting Station in Albany.. Sgt.
Well readers, it isn't our policy
to knock the management, but
only -give them.a dig where wé
deem it necessary.. Recently a
floor. Where did ‘they. put it, but
right bang against an appealing
furnace. Did someone say we
wanted a Turkish bath?
~ “~"“Freeman Was acconipanied on
her visit by Cpl. Arline Tracy.
The-meeting was held under
the sponsorship of the Women’s
Activities Committee and °ar-
local.
Official War Department sound
movies were presented depicting
the entire lite and activites of
the WAC after which Set. Free-
man, an exceptionally effective
and witty speaker, discussed the
advantages which are offered
‘women who enter this newest
branch of the Army. Among
these. features she told of.the op- .
plant some of the girls along
with the forelady have'a sealed °
glass jar and each absentee has
The sixty-four dollar question
is who is wrong, fifteen girls
who flatly refuse to work for a
certain forelady or the past per-
formances of this forelady. Can .
fifteen girls be wrong?
Fellows who lave had dealings
+ Plant.+ J
Wher
Hy
Aisa
William Mastriani _
‘Fred Schoeffler, one of
former Union brothers in Build-
ing 81, has sure kept his athletic
—ability-sinee-joining-the-Navy-as-
word thas. reached ‘yours truly
that Fred recently won a Pan-
Amercan race in. exceptionally
-fast time. ;
Your correspondent is still of
the belief that Building 81 has
more champs than any other sec-
tion in the plant. The follow-
ing are just a few of the
“Champs” we have among us:
Earl Peters, Schenectady city
bowling king pin; Joe Scardino,
city checker champ who is plan-
ning a tour of Army camps
putting on exhibition of his
skill; Tommy Riggi, one: of the
fastest stepping lightweight figh-
ters in the Capital district: and
above all, our Union committee-
portunity of receiving specialist With a certain time-study man men who in my opinion are the
training which will fit a. person _ave disappointed that he has dis- best in the trade union move-
for more renimerative- employ-
ment after the war, the advant-*
age of travel throughout the
country with a chance of going
overseas, fine physical. trainin
and: conditioning, and also the
same insurance and pay which
the men’ in the regular Army
receive. Sgt. Freeman told of the
great need existing at the pres-
ent time for women to take over
non-combat duties which many
of-our men are holding in this
country, by so doing they can be
released for more important jobs
overseas during the coming in-
s-yvasions «oo
Sgt. Freeman has an office in
the Federal Postoffice Building
in Albany, but is in Schenectady
each Tuesday at the Van Curler
Hotel from 10 A. M. to 4 P. M.
where she is glad to interview
any woman who would like in-
formation regarding the WAC.
Also she may be heard each
Tuesday noon over radio station
District 3 Elects
Local 301 People
At the last District 3 Council
meeting held at Syracuse April
15 and 16, delegates of Schenee-
tady Local 301 «were all placed
on acting committees of the
_ Couneil. In addition to Leo Jan-
dyeau, who as President ‘of .the
Couneil- will work -as -ex-officio--
‘member of all committees, those
named are: Andrew Peterson,
Executive Board of the Council
and the Organizational Com. ;
Mrs. Cora Rogers, Constitutional
Com, and Women’s Activities
Com.; Roy Lash, Legislative
Com.; and William Mastriani,
Financial Committee. Also Local
3801 is further represented by
Philomena DeSiena, a member of
our Local who is Director of Wo-
men’s Activities for the District
Friediander Elected Treasurer,
Davis, Trustee at Sunday Meet.
Committees and Action OICd
‘(Continued from Page 1)
of handling grievances with
management and told that steps
had been taken by the Ixecu-
tive Board and officers to im-
prove the conditions. Also Iin-
ancial Secretary, Marvin -pre-.
sented a detailed report on the
fiancial affairs of the local.
carded his cane. They were hop-
ing for an opportunity to un-
gently ‘displace it ‘rom. under
nm, - :
The boys are busy building a
recreation field on the company
property. Everyone should pitch
in~and help. Coach Hany Tib-
betts has a fine looking bunch of
softball players lined up and
games will start.as soon as.the
weather permits.
to mention that it was Francis
O'Connell who—taught—Preston—
Harrington, our blind Borematic
operator “how to operate’ ‘this -
complex machine, “Fran” ‘did a-~2
swell job and deserves congratji-
lations, | 8 hes
Your reporter has been ex-
perimenting with a muzzle load-
ing shotgun lately and to-date is
not quite sure which end it is
supposed to Kill at. a
Foes of Social Security
Would Cut Of Ten
Million from Benefits
WASHINGTON, — (FP) —
Opponents of the Wagner-Mur-
yay-Dingell bill now pending in
congress threaten to stop 10 mil-
lion ‘service men and women
from collecting any benefits un-
‘der the social security act in
the form of old age pensions and
survivors insurance, |.
That charge was made before
a Methodist ministers institute
here, April 12, by Mrs. Bllen S.
Woodwhrd, member of the Social
Security Board. She said.the--
act.as it now stands provides
that a person must be employed
aw year and a half ont of three
years preceding a request for
benefits. Persons who have been
in the armed forces three years
now. have lost all claims to pay-
ments they made from their sal-
aries as civilians, she said.
~The Wagner-Murray-Dingell
bill, awaiting action since last
June, permits the federal gov-
ernment to make payments to
continue the benefits to service-
men-and women. ,
ment. (Editor's note; As a rep-
resentative of Campbell Avenue
plant, we recognize and respect
everything said by our Building
81 brother who has always done
a veal bang up job for the Union
and the people he represents
BUT Campbell Avenue will reply
in the next issue.) The dissatis-
faction of the girls om the 75
Watt wheel is due to ventilation
and other unfavorable conditions
.In. our_last—column-we failed.2td we recognize their complaint
as being well justified. It is our
intention gixls, to do everything
possible to} get the company
‘moving and‘do.something to rec.
ify.it— We appeal to every per-
son in Building 81 to attend the
Blood Donor Rally scheduled to
‘be held in the very near future
and to kindly respond by donat-
ing a pint of their blood so that
our wounded brothers overseas
will be able to return to this
tree land of theirs, alive. People
who are being transferred and
laid off for the lack of work find
it difficult to figure out why in
the middle of this war, a com-
pany like GE should have a lack
of work! It just doesn’t add up.
The Wage stabilization Com-
mittee in Building 81 is com-
prised of the following people: Al:
Davis, ‘S. Fazio, 'T. Riggi and
I. Rageueci. Get. behind these
people and help them really put
our important 17%¢ an hour in-
crease and price sbabilization
across. “4
eR
Building 10A—Rose Carbone.
Betty Bartlett, Mary Pigeon
and Susan Docherty have re-
turned to work after being on
‘the sick list.
We extend good wishes of the
department to F. D. Carr who
has left for service in the Navy.
We welcome J. E. Canarpe to
our group
“water we ask?
f& ive
from oodrow Griffith who
is stationed “somewhere in Eng-
land.” Cpl. Griffith states that
he is preud-of the job the Union =
~people.in.GE-60-Searchlights ara
doing and wants to be remem-
bered to the gang. . - :
. Spike Spiewak was greatly |
surprised. Saturday to see his
brother, who.came home on a
weekend pass. a :
Fred. Tannler has returned
from a week’s visit in Pennsyl-
vania.
* RLS
Tinsmith Department—Bldg. 52
L. Fredrick
The gang received a letter
from Mary Manchester, a for-
mer worker who left.our happy -
home to go back to thevhills of”
Cobleskill. .
“Bea” Wall and Ann MéKen-
non have returned to*work after
a recent illness, _
‘Carmine Oropolla and Bernie
Balkayar came into say hello to '
. the gang while home on fur-
lough from the Navy.
There will be an honor roll on
the first floor for the blood do»
nors in Building 52 to keep the
vecord straight. Everyone who
has been to the blood bank bring
‘in your card and snow it to =
Lewis Chicoine, your commit-
teeman as soon as possible.
We noticed a new sign in the
men’s washroom;~Please con-'
serve hot water.” ‘What ‘hot
The new girl accumulator in’
John Delenbeck’s Dept: is Min-
nie Mone.
+ Burt Connaley’s son Burton
Jy. is home on furlough from the
U.S. Navy. - o,
' Why won't Charlie Brownell
tell anyone his age when we
know he was born on December
a 1918, in the State of New
ork, :
“
* By *
Building 46—Troy Snipes
46-8 gave a party for K. Hart-
man and P. Wait recently. These
two men will leave: shortly for
‘the armed forces. So far 380
from Building 46 have left to
fight for their Unele Sam.
Our deepest sympathy goes to
Mrs. Ethel Gann, 46-4 Lathe
department, who received word
that her husband First Lieuten-
ant. Ralph. Gann, was reported
as missing at the Anzio Beach-
head in Italy. Lieut. Gann left
for overseas duty in May, 1943.
A Thought for Today
Life is like a big round ball
Rolling steadily. every day,
With God picking here und there
Taking His own away.
Day by day we stop and wonder
As we kneel and pray,
Will we be here another year.
Or will God take us away.
Lécal 301 Column
In line with the policy of the
Publicity committee, it has been
arranged with the Schenectady
Gazette to have a weekly Local
301 column, which will give the
membership more news of the
_ activities of their union. The col-
RATIONING NOTED
Who says cops, are tough ?
Chicago police of the Blue Is-
land precinct have been ordered
to refrain from eating lollypops
. While on duty,
‘umn will cover meetings planned
as ‘well as a summary of those
held the previous week and mem-
bers are urged to follow this col-
umn so that they may be better
informed of the program of the
local.
George Pendleburz Donates
Blood For the Highth Time
(Continued from Paye 1)
an Army or Navy regulation that
men over 60 should not give
blood but that it was a RedCross
regtlation. In view of this he has
won his argument every time
and kept donating: until now. he
has reached the amount he set
as his goal, Our hats are off to
George Pendlebury because he
has not only proven his great de-
votion to his country but set an
example for all ‘younger and
more robust people to follow.
‘
