President Nicholas Michailoff.
operations,
ately after they have died,
Board Votes to Back ‘Eye Bank’ Plan
UE Local 301’s executive board Monday endorsed the working
of the Northeastern New York Eye, Conservation Society and
agreed {o cooperate with the group wherever possible. :
The endorsement came after the program of the group in.
helping to prevent and cure blindness was outlined by. society
Specifically backed was the “eye
bank” established by the group.
obtain healthy cornea tissue te be used in delicate sight-saving
Sole source of this tissue is from the eyes of persons immedi-
Many persons have already signed
pledge .eards donating their eyes for this purpose.
emphasized that the removal of the eyes would in no way disfigure |
the bedies of the donors, who in this way would make “one last,
great contribution to humanity.” 7
Eye bank pledge cards will be distributed by Local 301 stew-
ards in (he near future. «It is esitmated that it takes approximately
1,000 pledges. to assure 2 or 3 sets of eyes a year,
This “eye bank”. is designed to
Michailoff
GE Could Boost All Pay 13¢
From '53 Profits Tax Rebate
While GE is trying to palm off: an’ Average 314¢ hourly
pay increase on its employees as all it will give in 1953, it is
expecting a lot better treatment from the government. In
fuet, the corporation is likely to
reecive the benefits of a tax. cut
which would enable it-to give every
worker in the chain 18¢ an hour
without touching its huge profits.
‘This tax cut will come in June
when the excess profits tax dies.
Based in 1952 profits, this will be a
kickback of $58-million to the com-
pany,.. This would_enable Generous
leetrig te boost the yearly earmn-
ings of all of its workers by $268—
or 18¢ an hour. - Since GE Presi-
dent Ralph Cordiner hus .predicted
even higher’ profits than the
near-record earnings of 52, the tax
rebate will probably amount to
nore.
With this gift Irom the govern-
ment (to be paid by the working
people through higher taxation),
und with the increased productivity
of each GIo employee, it would be
something short of noble for man-
‘nvement-to grant a real wage in- >
crease without a fight.
But companies aren’t built that
way. GE doesn’t believe that there
is anything like making enough
profit from. the sweat of its em-
ployces, and .the only thing likely
to make the corporation see the
light is a united fight by all work-
ers in the chain,
Fitz Rights Record
UF. International President Al-
hert Fitzgerald told a congression-
al committee this week that “what's
good for trade unions of American
workers is good for America.” The
union Icader made use of an ap-
peavance before the House labor
committee studying proposed Talt- .
_ Hartley changes to straighten out
‘the “what’s good fot General Mo-
tors is good for America” state-
ment of Defense Secretary Charles
. Wilson, “former” boss of GM.
4 © Friday, April 17, 1953
‘Red Fund’ Raids
indict Joe Ryan
Joseph LV, Ryan, the champion
redbaiter in the labor movement,
this week was indicted on 30 conuts
of grand larceny for vaiding his
union’s “anti-communist” fund for
personal luxuries.
Real purpose of the fund was re-
cently revealed by the New York
State crime commission investiga-
tion. ‘he probe showed that ther
longshore union boss had used the
money to buy such powerful anti-
communist weapons. as Cadillacs,
golf club memberships, Stork Club
luncheons and yachting vacations.
If convicted, Ryan faces possible
jail sentences of 165 years.
FRED
WRIGHT
As
we
SRIVIEE
GE Admits Writing Latest
Measure To Break Unions
GE last week admitted that it had hedped to write the
newest union-busting measure before Congress, the Gold-° .
water-Rhodes bill, The admission came in testimony of com-
_pany labor relations lawyer Wil-
liam J. Barron before a congres-
sional committee holding hearings
on the measure. ~ ;
The Rhodes-Goldwater bill au-
thorizes outlawing of unions ‘and
union. leaders designated as “sub-
versive” by the. notorious McCar-
run board, No trials or hearings
would be necessary for. the witch |
hunters to move against any union.
Jessentiully the provisions of the
bill were outlined by’ GIs and. West-
inghouse before the Humphrey
committee last year. Barron ad-
mitted that it’s, a Gl-sponsored
measure when he declared, “We
find that the outline of the pro-
C
gram we ,there recommended . . .
has largely been filled out and in-
corporated” in. the Goldwater-
Rhodes measure... ne
Westinghouse spakesman Robert
D. Blazier claimed similar credit .
for the bill to bust unions when-he-
suid,’ “We believe that. the step
taken . . . embodies our beliet's.”
Bip’ corporation lobbyists have
been pushing the new bill because
they have been largely unsuccess-
ful in framing leaders of UE and
other militant unions under the
Taft-Hartley non-communist oath
provisions, This failure was
brourht home to the companies
when UE successfully blocked 1
grand jury-inspired frameup engi-
neered by the Taft-Hartley| board
at the end of 1952,
NOWIFWECOULD sust TEACH Tie COPS To RUN THE MACHINES +
735 " over-
whelmed AFL raiders ‘at. the F. D,
Russell‘ plant here recently. The
big umalgamated local retained
bargaining rights in an NLRB elec-
tion by a vote of 127 to 27. The
victory obviously dimmed the hopes
of the raiders of gaining footholds
in ‘any of the dozens of shops rep-
resented by Local 735 in. the Cleve-
land area.
kok o*
New York—More than 8,000 CIO |
department store workers threw
picket lines’ around the nation’s
largest. department store, R. H.
Macy’s,: this week, The strike by,
the workers caine after the store
“management refused to grant wage
inerease and other contract im-
provement demands. .
kok Ok ©
Newark, N. J.--UE . Local. 437
achieved a nearly 2 to 1 victory
over CIO raiders in a recent elec-
tion at the Art Wire and Stamp-
ing Co, plant. The vote to main-
tain UE as bargaining agent was
58 to 32 for the CIO autoworkers.
xk wk
Selbyville, Del—The Ku Klux
Klan has launched a campaign of
terror against 350 Negro workers
who are on strike in an effort to
increase wages which average $8
to $16 a week (those figures are
not a misprint). The strikers are
employed by the H & H Poultry Co.
They walked out last month after
a vote .of their union, the CIO
-acking and Food Service Work-
ers. Since the. beginning of the
strike, Klansmen in this southern
Delaware town have been burning
crosses on front lawns of union
leaders and making threats of vio-
lence against the workers. .
we kk,
Peru, Indi—UE District 9, wi)
represents workers in Indiana and
Michigan, voted to support former
Michigan State Sen. Stanley Nowak
in his. fight against deportation, | __
‘The ex-legislator, who was an out-
standing defender of labor’s rights,
is facing MeCarran-Walter depor-
tution proceedings, a
¢
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
Friday, April 24, 1953
: 4 mn
Tuckahoe, N. ¥.—UIS Local 419
“has erushed a raid by the [UE-C1O
dit the Master Metal Products: Co.
plant. The vote in an NLRB elec-
tion was UIE 70 and 1U1 30.
kk ok ;
Atlantic City—President Hugo
Ernst of the AFL Hotel and Res-
taurant: Employees union calicd for
a united: political action front by
call labor and liberal groups. to de-.
feat attacks on the people by: the
MeCarthys and the’ MeCarrans..
* * *
Wausau, Wis.—Police attacks on
UE Local 1113 members, locked out
by the Marathon Electric manage-
ment for 15 months, were stepped
up last week as coinpany. desper-
ation grew. This desperation stems
from the continued unity of.-all
area labor oragizations behind the |
Marathon workers, and from a re-
ht NLRB trial examiners order
negotiate with UL.
* x
Hershey, ’a—AFL workers went
out on strike against the Hershey
Chocolate Corp. this week for the
first time in 16 years. The strike
followed a breakdown of negotia-
tions for higher wages and better
working conditions.
x ke oO
Kingston, Ontario—- Gould Bat-
‘tery Co. employees have won an 8c
hourly. wage increase and a 8rd
week’s vacation after 10 years. The
pact was. negotiated by UE Local
§22. ,
kok o* .
San Franciseo—A mass meeting
of labor, religious and national
groups: last week denounced the
McCarran-Walter immigration law.
Former ,U. S. Ambasador to India
Henry Grady presided. |
* k k
Chicago+-UE won its major de-
mand, withdrawal of a. company
order to enforce retirement. at 65,
wad settled its strike with the Chi-
fo plants of the Minneapolis-
Honeywell Co,
a a re
Syracuse—IUE-CIO Local 320
_hags charged unfair labor practices’ _ |
against GE as a result of a com-
pany drive, backed by intimidation,
to launch a, back-to-work move-
ment.. The union has been stril-
ing the Electronics Park plant here
for 3 weeks.
Profits with ‘Peanut’ Proposal on Wages
UE began the job ths week of fwlly mobilizing its members for the fight to force GE to
offer a decent wage increase in 1953. “ Highlighting the first week of the campaign were 2 leaf-
let distributions at the plant gates and shop meetings throughout the works.
301 Women To Map Drive
For Pay Equality Wednesday
.Women, members of UE Local 301 will gather in the union
hall Wednesday, April 29, for a meeting to plan a program
for ‘presentation at the big national women's conference in.
New York. ; Pas
Workers on all 3 shifts will have
an opportunity to attend the Sche-
hectady wathering which is to be
held in 2 sessions. The session for
2nd shift Avorkers will get ‘under
way ut 1:00 pam., while that for
ist and 3rd shift members will be-
tin at 7:30 pam.
_ The gatherings wil be under the.
chairmanship of Helen Quirini, $01
woman exceutive board member-at-
large, and one ‘of the originators
and planners of the national eon-
ference.
Problems of the women workers
in Schenectady will be thoroughly
discussed, and plans will be made
to complete the survey of rates and
duties on women’s jobs. This sur-
vey ix designed to provide the ui-
ion with ammunition in its strug-
‘gle to end discrimination in pay
ugainst women workers.
UE, both locally and nationally,
has been waging a fight ‘to end the
“pay the women less” racket of
GE and other big corporations.
This racket gives the, companies
huge extra. profits and. alsa pro-
vides a weapon to hold down wage
rates and prices. on. ull jobs.
The:New York conference, slated
for May 2 and 38, is designed ‘to
spur that fight and to spread it to
every local inthe union,’ The, im-
portance .of this drive is under.”
lined by the fact that 859¢ of all
UIE members are women.
NEW OFFICER, Ailes soon, Bide.
85 executive | hoard member, was
elected by this week's membership
: meeting as recording secretary to
fill the unexpired term = of Roy.
Schafer, Schaffer is now an as-
sistant business-agent.
UE Strikes GE Plant
Ul Loeal 125 was forced this -
week to strike, the Serunton GE
pliant after. the company had
adopted. a, policy of deliberately
ignoring. ‘seniority in rehiring
workers, :
The Seranton-plant has been con-.
verted from washing machine man-
ufacture to tube work, much of it
from Schenectady. . Many workers
were laid off during reconversion,
und management apparently de-
cided to take on the union by vio-
lating service guarantees of the
contract in rehiring,
Leaflet. distributions took place
on Monday and Wednesday morn-
ings. On Monday, the GIS Sche-
nectady workers received a detailed
account of company profits in 1952,
The leaflet, prepared by’ the Ul
national office, made it clear that
the company could well afford to
grant a substantial wagé boost and
-still make huge profits. .
Wednesday's leaflet was pre- —
pared in Schenectady: It. tied’ the
profit figures down to the local ‘sit-
uation and made it clear that GE's
refusal to bargain in good faith on
wages, and GE’s. local drive for
speedup and rate cutting were,
pieces of the same picture,
The shop meetings followed uti
the heels of ‘the Wednesday distri-
bution. | First reports from these
gatherings indicating a «mounting
determination by the men and
women in the plant to foree the
company to bargain on wages, to
take concessions on inequities in-
volving day workers, skilled erufts-
men and women, and to grant pay-
inent for the 2 Saturday holidays.
This determination. was strength:
ened by the belief that rank and
file: pressure in all unions would
force the leadership to accept UE’s -
proposals for united action against
Gk. . :
Another highlight of the week's
activity on the wage campaign was
the Monday membership meeting,
There, Business Agent Leo Jan-
dreiu made a report on the nego-
tiations picture as of now. dan-
dreau emphasized that if manage-
ment gets away with its present -
policies of dictation on the national
level, it would. take very Httle time .
for the same policies to be put into
effect in regard to handling priev-
ances,
the union hall at 9 p.m.
Union Dance Begins
VE Local 301’s 1958 social season. will get its
start tomorrow night to. the musical accompani-
“ment of Tony Villano and his orchestra. Villano’s
aggregation will be providing the background for
the local’s big 20th anniversary dance, starting in
_.Andications are“that hundreds of GE workers will _
attend tho ‘big affair, the first social event held in
the union hall in several years.
decorating job has been done for the occasion.
Walls have been serubbed and: painted; curtains”
have been hung from the windows and lanterns
have been suspended over the light fixtures to pro-
A complete re-
at 9 P.M. Tomorrow
vide the right atmosphere for merry-making.
This job hag been. under way for several weeks,
with members of the activities. committee doing the
lion’s share of the work,
direeted by Bucky Phillips, chairman of the com-
mittee, Among the most active contributors have
been Manuel. Fernandez, 10; Julia Mitehell, 40; |.
Stella Mitchell, pensioner; Reatha Pipe, 50; Ralph
. Pipe, 52; Clara Spickler, 285; and Leo Stanton, 40.
Tickets for the dance have been selling at only
ol each. This price includes refreshments and.taxes.
Those persons who have not yet purchased the
dueats will be able to get them’ at the door.
The project has been -
Meetings and Leaflets CompareHugeGE
enenreee nee
Vis sty ern eater
_GE'53 Profit
Figures Jump
Gls had one of the best years in
its history as far as profits go in
1952. But 1953 earnings will make
“the. ’52, marks seem like small-time
' stuff according to a report made
“Tuesday by company President
Ralph Cordiner. .
Cordiner told the annual ‘stock-
holders’ meeting. in Schenectady
that profits for the first quarter of
1952 were up 58% over the gains”
recorded during. the same period in
1952. Dividends on each share of
common stock ‘rose from $1.01 for
the initial 8 months of last year to
$1.59 for January, February and
March of, this year,
This is the financial status of a
corporation which. refuses to offer
more than a few pennies an hour
in wage increases to the workers
who are turning out these profits.
Both Cordiner and Board Chair-
man Philip Reed left no doubt in
the minds of the people assembled
in. Building 59 that General Elec-
tric expects to keep piling profits -
on top of profits in the coming
year.**Cordiner noted that the
present, backlog of capital goods”
(manufacturing machinery) orders
wus close to $3%4-billion.
Apparently GE policy as set
down for the stockholders is more
ol everything except wages. No
attempt was even made to justify °
the company’s “zero or less” offer
to its employees in the light of the
tremendous profits. ;
he stockholders cheered glow-
ing reports made by the brass’ as
to the wonderful relations between
the company and the men and wom-
en who work for it. However, those
making the reports were careful to
keep. the visiting stockholders from
getting too close to the workers.
Some of the reports might not have
stood up so well if these precau-
tions had not been taken,
VE Wins GE Strike
in Long Island Shop
UE Loen] 1227. ended its 2-week
strike against the General Electric
repair shop in Long Island City re-
cently after the company backed
down on its refusal to negotiate a.
local wage structure.
The strike victory by the union
was also marked by management’s
agreement to: reduce 5-day suspen-
sions apainst union leaders to 2
«lays, and to arbitrate those.2 days.
“this represented a: complete re-
versal of GH’s “get tough” policy.
in the shop,
.B machinist-machine
“He requested upgrading to A. Fore-
2 °° Friday, April 24, 1953°
Bldg. 11: Foreman E. Loucks an
man from rate department’ agreed
to pay $48.50 for job 8.0. 223-3491,
Loucks now claims that he did not
make this agreement and wants to
“pay only $40.75 for the job. . The
union demands that this foreman
live up. to the original agreement
“und pay the $48.50.
.Because of an error by Foreman
Loucks, 4..workers were forced to
do’ extra work, The foreman. re-
fuses to pay for this... The union
-demands .payment:for the extra
work.
Bldg. 16: Felix Zaporowicz is a
repairman.
man offered him A job on 2nd shift
and he refused. Later the foreman
nights.
end to this discrimination,
upgrading of this worker on Ist
shift.
Bldg. 18: George Gage is a 2nd
shift miscellaneous: boring mill op-
erator, There is an opening on his
job during. the Jst shift but super-
vision has refused to give him this
opening, The union demands that
Guge be given the Ist shift job to
which he is entitled. |
There has been a $7.00 per hun- ,
dred. price on. rotor flange job
9048155, S. O. 215-1078. Now the
speeds and feeds have been in-
creased and the price -has*been cut
to $3.00. It is.impossible for the
operator to maintain previous earn-
ings. In accordance with contract
article VJ-5d, the union demands a
proper price adjustment.
Recently several new operators
were hired for 2nd and 8rd shift
jobs. However, they were brought
in to break in on days, and then
given permanent 1st shift jobs. At
the same time, workers with longer
service are unable to get day jobs.
The union demands that this situ-
ation be corrected.
Bldg. 40: Leo J. Lasher is classi-
fied as a B carpenter but is doing
strictly A work. The union de-
mands that he be upgraded.
Bldg, 49: John Cantrambone is a
Class B tool grinder, Compared to
similar work in 278, his work is of
higher classification. The union
demands that he be upgraded with
proper rate increase,
D. De Luca and W. Lansing pro-
test the fact that some workers in
the vertical boring mill group are
being paid average earnings on
new jobs while others have to wait
for methods changes and time stu-
dies before receiving any adjust-
ment, The union demands equal
treatment for all workers.
Henry Kessler protests because
other inspectors are being assigned
‘to his. job—welding inspection—.
whenever there’s overtime. The un-
ion demands that Kessler be given:
his full share of overtime.
Group of special hand welders
protest the setup and assembly
work: being assigned to them al-
though. it Is-out-of- their classifien~
tion, The union demands that this |
practice be halted.
Boring mill, Lueas and drill press
operators protest the assignment
Thousands of grievances are handled by'UE Local 30F
each year at all levels from the steward up to final appeal
in New York City.. To keep members posted, we shall
each week list some of the grievances that have not been
settled at the. steward-foreman level and have been re-
ferred to the executive board-management level.
of tool room operators to do their
production work. ‘The union de-
mands a management investigation
to correct this situation.
Welders under Foreman. Cooley
demand reduction of forces because
of lack of work situation causing
lost time.
Group under. Foreman Cooley
protests method of payment for
jobs when price and method are in
dispute. and ‘the refusal of wage
rate to honor agreements made by
the foreman. : The union demands
that these situations be corrected.
Bldg. 50: Group under Foreman
Jeffes asks that another time clock
be installed. for them. There are
now about 85 people on 1. clock, °
which is not located conveniently.
Transportation ‘difficulties © result
for the group.. The union demands
correction of this situation as pro-
posed, by the group. ,
Bldg. 60: Two mén working un-
der Foreman Roberts were sent
home for an alleged lack of work.
At the same time, 2 remaining op-
erators: were given enough over-
time to demonstrate that there was
adequate work for all 4. The un-
ion protests this outright discrim-
ination and demands immediate
correction, ~~
The MK36 power drive prelimin-
ary test has been evaluated as C,
although the skills and job con-
tent involved definitely merit a B
‘ating, The union demands that
Crane operators and followers
protest the importation of a-group
from another building to perform
their work on overtime. The work-
ers in the protesting groups do
not share the overtime in other
buildings: ‘The union demands that
management see to it that the
workers involved be given the over-
time work properly belonging to
them,
Assembly and drill press groups
protest. the unsafe improvised lad-
ders used on their job, as well as
the hazards created by. loose cables
on the iron floor, Although these
problems have been taken care ‘of
for the moment, it is the union’s
belief that steps. should be taken
to prevent any recurrence. Full
discussion of safety problems in
the area is proposed. ‘
» Bldg. 273: George Di John is
performing A work although elass-
ified as a B assembler-erector. The
union
KE. Koch has protested the prices
for shell patch ring job, He asked
to see the time study on this job,
but his request was ignored. He
then filed a written grievance, which
_ ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO & MACHINE
WORKERS OF AMERICA (UE)
Local: 901
RE 2
Publlshod by the Editorlal Committee
Prosidont.......—— James J. Cognetta
Vico President—..-.—---.Josaph Alols
Treasurer... .-.,
Recording Socrotary_.- Roy Schaffor
Ass't RacordingSocratary-...Rudy Rissland
Chiof Shop Stoward.....Willlam Mastriant
“Bustnoss . Agont—.—.—-..—-Loo | Jandraau
301 LIBERTY ST.» SCHENECTADY'S, N. Y.
demands . upgrading with
‘proper rate increase, ;
meodosuph: Whitbeck |
also Was ignored in violation of
contract, Therefore, the union de-
mands a meeting with management
to take up the disputed prices and
to correct the manner of aaa
siievances by supervision. p
Morris Safford protests the safe-
ty and health hazards created by
fumes from are welding flashes in-
K12 and K13. A management in-
vestigation to correct the situation
is demanded. :
Roland Tucker has. been doing A
work for over a year. He is class-
ified as a B assembler-erector. The
union demands immediate upgrad-
_ ‘ing and rate adjustment.
Assembly group on stator frames
protest supervision orders to build
guard rails on scaffolding at top
of frames. The workers who will
build the scaffolds should also put
on the rails. The union demands
that this job be removed from the
duties of the assemblers.
Welders’ group protests . the
bringing in of a man from 61 for
Saturday work. They believe that
overtime should be shared by
workers who do the jobs’ during
the week. The union demands that
this practice be followed. ;
Welding group protests failire
of company to provide full infor-
mation on changes in job classifi-
eation being introduced. Such in-
formation is required under con-
tract article VI-2. THe union de-
mands the -vequired information.
Group of B. assemblers-erectors
have been performing A work. Sie,
2
pervision says that “they mut
transfer to H Bay to get the »&
ratings. There is no reason why
they should not get: their proper
classification in G Bay, and the
union demands that management
give them the: upgrades, without
transfers, ‘
Group protests the lack of pro-
vision for getting vouchers, tools,
ete. on table for finish.drill bearing
ring jobs. This situation existed in
21947 and was adjusted at that time.
The union demands that the tables
be adjusted to meet eurrent con-
ditions,
Group requests reduction of fore-
es because of loss of earnings due
to lack of work, They also protest
‘losses suffered because of time
spent locating prints, paper work,
gauges, ete. The union demands
that management correct these sit-
uations. a
Bldg. 285: George Engel and
James White protest against su-
pervision’s requiring them to check
assignments outside of 285. Two
other cheekers are not required to
go out of building, The:union de-
mands equal treatment for all B
checkers in regard to assignments.
Foreman Luther has tried to cur-
tail the union activities of Steward
Louis Riano by issuing threats and
reprimands, refusing’ to discuss
grievances, and even ejecting hé
from his office when the stew
goes in to discuss union matters,
This foreman has a lonp: record of
every type of contract” violation,
He refuses to work for mutual un-
derstanding on problems and does
not even heed management: decis-~:
ions on such matters. This type of
supervision must be halted and the
‘union demands that the company
- take the necessary steps to do so.
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
ment?
tady works,
smashes an expensive dies...
their jobs and lose a day’s pay.
-
- ——— : : .
t anal - bin PS a © ]
Riesel, LaForge Define ‘Sabotage’
Did you know that when you get so fed up witha foreman’s @
refusal to handle your grievances that you walk out, it may be
sabotage? Or, if you accidentally spoil a piece of work, you are in
reality a part of a big communist plot to overthrow the govern-
. If you didn’t realize these things up to now, you should im-
—~ mediately drop a note to Victor Riesel thanking him for the en-
C) lightenment, For these insinuations are the sum and substance of
a recent column by the notorious anti-labor writer.
quotes, no less a source than, C. A. La Forge, the former state
trooper who is now plant “security” officer for the GE Schenec-
Riesel refers to La Forge as a man “who I know and respect.”
After thus putting the whammy. on the company police boss, the
columnist goes on to quote him on possible examples of “sabotage.”
“A sprinkler system in-a building goes: bad because the win-
dows were left open on a cold night and the pipes were frozen... .
“A chunk of metal just happens to fall into'a punch press and
“Discontent and bitterness break out in a shop and the men
walk off for 24 hours while a national defense order is halted.”
. Of course, “expert” Riesel has never worked a day of his life
in a shop, and La Forge’s knowledge of the working people was
gotten with the state police, so that maybe some of their charges
are not so surprising. They apparently don’t know too muelt about
a speedup which can make the most efficient workers too tired to
hold on to a piece of metal; nor do they understand how a foreman
can let grievances pile up because he’s too busy following company
orders to cut prices; nor do they know how disgusted workers have
to.be with supervision and management actions before they leave
Tlowever, if cither of these “experts” is really interested in
finding out about these things, then UE Local 301 is willing and
very able to contribute to his education.
And Riesel
Lynn Members’ Vote Spurs
Growing Unity Drive in IVE .
Reports from IUE-ClO-represented plants in the GE
chain this week indicating a rapidly mounting demand for‘
united ‘action with UE in. current negotiations with the com-
District Council Votes
To Seek United Action
UE District 38 Council, which
represents 25,000 Upstate New
York workers, voted last weekend
to seck methods of developing un-
ited action with all unions in the
area,
The council, in
meeting at Utica, stressed particul-
arly working with those unions
having contracts with the same
companies as does UE, These com-
panies. include GE, Westinghouse,
Sylvania and Remington Rand,
District officers and UE staff
members were directed by the
council to work out practical unity
wherever possible. The council
was encouraged by reports of an
inereased realizntion of the need
for united action by the leadership
and membership of other unions.
"Methods of Supervision and Rate Men
(jorce Gas Turbine Groups To Walk Out
Failure of Gas Turbine supervision to follow even the simplest rules of normal procedure
in converting jobs from day work to piece work resulted this week in a walkout of 35 work-
the stoppage were boring mill, lathe and drill press operators
ers in Building 49. Involved in
under Foremen Cooley, Mays and
Zimmerman. In the dav. ‘to p.w.
conversion, the rate department
usurped the normal functions of
supervision, with the apparent in-
tention of holding earnings down
to the A.E.R.’s and thus removing
the incentive from so-called incen-
tive jobs. ,
In order to do this, the company
found it
speeds and feeds to a point where
several machines were admitted to
‘We’ or ‘They’.
In an editorial in last week’s
Works News, GE management
mouthpieces offer their s
to. all problems of Gener
tric workers — just say
when the company docs some-
thing and drop the word “they”
out of our yocabulary in refer.
ring to GE,
The Works News gives us a
couple of examples — “We are
king on some new: men,” or
e are getting out a new-time-
Saver (speedup gimmick).”
Well, WE tried out the sys-
tem on a few sentences and it
worked OK until WE suddenly
came a cropper—“We are re-
erease.” . ;
Got any further suggestions,
Works News? e
necessary to, increase
‘fusing us: a decent wage “ine: |~
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
be running unsafely by the safety
department, In one case, R. Sok-
olski, running an American lathe
without’ a chipper brake, was cut
so badly that he required numerous
stitches. Supervision’s. solution to
this. problem was to tell the in-
jured worker to “get a pair of
_ gloves!”
Grievance piled up upon griev-
ance before the workers became so.
disgusted that they went home on
Tuesday afternoon. Time studies
were taken on jobs which weren't
even close to being ready for such
studies—and then when studies
were taken, it would take 2 and 8
weeks before their results were
‘made known, .
These time studies were: tuken
without notification, and the re-
sults"were handed down arbitrarily
without any consultation with un-
ion representatives. Workers lost
time because of inadequate tools,
guuges and inspection service.
All of these things, combined
with supervision’s arrogant atti-
tude toward Shop Stewards Bill
Lansing and Jim De Masseo, final-
management to discuss. the situa-
tion Wednesday afternoon.
ly -brought about-the walkout.
Local. representatives met with:
Another Unity Vote
TUE members at the big West-
inghouse Cheektowaga plant, near
Bulfalo, voted last week to direct’
their conference. board to seek un-
ited action with UE in fortheom-
ing wage reopener neyotiations. .
The membership action was tak-
en despite opposition from local
leadership. Reports. from the big
Wast Pittsburgh works indicated
that a similar position was in the
offing from the 1UT local. there.
RA i
- pany.
its quarterly
This growing. pressure on
the IUE leadership was spurred
tremendously by the action of the
Lynn workers in demanding such
unity with UE at a huge member-
ship meeting on April 12.
In nearby Pittsfield, IUE mem-
bers were circulating, a petition
calling on loeal leadership to meet
with UE to work out a program of
united action, This development
was particularly significant because
Pittsfield Business Agent John Cal-
lahan is the head of the IUE-GE
conference board.
There can be no doubt that the
Lynn action burst like a bombshell
among the top leaders of the CIO
union. More than 5,000 members
of the largest local.in the-organiza-
tion were almost unanimous in
their repudiation of the Carey red-
baiting policies, and in (heir urgent
call for unity with UE as the only.
means of winning substantial con-
cessions from. the company.
In the wake of this action, UE
International Representative Jo-
seph Dermody, acting on behalf of
the UE-Glv conference board, sent
a wire to Calluhan renewing the
union proposal for a, meeting to
work out details of united action
against the company. Dermody
pointed out that the UE had al-
ready designated its national GE
neyotiating committee as the group
responsible for carrying out plans
for working with any,and all un-
ions dealing with General,Electric,
A conmunication was also sent
to» Business Agent Farl Riley of
IUE Local 201 (Lynn), saying that
the UI was ready to give him full
cooperation in carrying out the
mandate of his membership for full
tinited action, ‘
In Schenectady, UE Local 801
members received the news of the
Lynn action enthusiastically. This
was reflected at the Monday mem-
bership meeting.
‘SHOP REPRESENTATIVES, ~ Pictured-aove are: the VEE Local 30L members:
who took the oath of office as shop ‘stewards at Monday’s membership
meeting. They are Edward McFarren, Bldg. 18; William Templeton, 63;
and Gerald O'Brian, 17.. ~ .
Friday, April 24,1953 ® 3
ill To
. " There is a bill now shaping up in Congres8 which could
well destroy organized labor if it is enacted into law.
The big business-ccntrolled press and radio‘are strangely
silent about this measure, a silence which coild only stem
from the hope that the working people of America can be
‘kept from getting knowledge of the measure until it is too #
late to defeat it.
UE -Washington representatives huve discovered that
there is a strong possibility that the proposal—the ‘Gold-
water-Rhodes bill—-\ill be passed utiless all of organized la-
cor wages an all-out fight, ued for its defeat.
‘Introducers of the measure ure two freshman members
of Congress, both frum Arizona where there is little organ-
ized labor, However, the real powers behind the bill are the
big business lobbyists representing the National Association
of Manufacturers and the Chamber of Commerce.
General Electric's role in introducing the bill was dis-
¢losed in the testimony of company labor relations lawyer *
witliam Barron. Barron made it clear that Goldwater-Rhodes
3a GIE bill, just as Taft-Hartley was a GE bill. Barron glad-
iy took credit for a role in writing the proposed law. He told
a congressional committee:
“We believe that the outlite of the program we have
. Fecommended....hits largely been filled out and incorporated.”
Much of organized labor has already- become aware of the
threat contained in the measure.
’ posal as a “massive 27-page bill supposedly designed to curb
cémmunist unions,” Frank Slaughter, reasearch director of
the AFL Labor League for Political Education, said of it:
“In practice it would give a fishing license to the Me-
Carran Act Control Board to probe into the affairs of unions
everywhere and decide which unions and employees it wished
to purge. It could order out of business any union that ever
advocated anything the Communist party advocated, includ-
ing income taxes and publie schools.
“No bill in recent years has so clearly represented the
pattern characteristic of totalitarian regimes.”
CIO national counsel Arthur- Goldberg also condemned
the measure. He said: ~
“We don’t want the unions regulated by the government.
We don’t want the government taking over the unions.”
~ . Here's what the bill would do, section by section: .
1. It would write into law the assumption that the big
corporations have long scught to sell to the American people
—that certain unions are dominated by communists and are
‘therefore a menace to national security.
It would give the McCarran Subversive Activities Con-
trol Board, through a dummy panel of retired federal judges,
the power to decide which unions are “communist dominated”
and would crder the leaders of such unions. to leave their
posts. These provisions would have the effect of outlawing
designated unions on a local, district and national level.
Under the provisions, opposition to Taft-Hartley, since it
“parallels” a position of the Communist party, could be ample
-evidence of communist control if the employers wish to break
a upton.
. It destroys all legal procedure in actions to frame
tae loader’ s, and bluntly asserts that “in any such proceed-
ing’the rules of evidenée shall NOT be controlling.” ;
3.°1t gives the McCarran Board the right to break
strikes. Section 4 of the law provides that in the case of
4 © Friday, April 24, 1953
-UNION FOES.
After describing the pro- ,
PR SOR ANS " ate Me
Pictured above are House Speaker Joseph Martin. and °
Sen, Robert ‘Taft, two men who are inthe forefront of the attacks on
organized labor. The Goldwater. Rhodes bill, discussed: on this page, is
per haps the most. vicious of these attacks.
any strike, slowdown, stoppage or lockout, the Board shall
have the right to summon labor leaders, hold hearings (not
governed. by the rules of evidence), and then declare the un-
ion involved to be communist-dominated.- The union then -
required to. withdraw all auppixt for the strike and coal
operations,
4. It ‘breaks union contracts whenever such setiehy sults
the companies, This is done by invalidating any ccntracts
with unions designated’as communist by the McCarran Board.
5. It “abolishes Bill of Rights protections for witnesses
appearing before the McCarran Board. Specifically, it bars
these witnesses from. invoking the 5th Amendment against
self-incrimination. This paves the way for perjury frame-
ups since the Board could then make use of paid labor spies
and informers to contradict forced testimony.
6. It sets up blacklists which would have the effect of
barring active unionists from getting jobs anywhere in the
country..
7. It sets up fines of $10,000-a day for any organizations
or leaders who violate,the law, such violations to’ be deter-
mined by the McCarran Board, itself. It also provides jail
sentences of 5 years for each day of violation of the law by
individuals,
8. It gives the NLRB y power to decide what unions can be
on the ballot in representation elections, and to order.an elec-
tion regardless .of eauiatey iad regardless of the desire of
the workers.
In short the Goldwater- Rhodes bill verde establish a
“labor front” to replace free trade unions, It would make it
impossible for workers to ask for wage increases, strike, fi \ ,
grievances or organize to improve their economic conditions~”
This is the most serious threat ever to face the American
working people. The corporatoing are united to put this
~measure across. All labor unions must meet this attack by
“a uniteddrive to acquaint their membership with the pro-
visions of the Goldwater-Rhodes bill, and to mobilize. the
workers to defeat it.
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
”
ASSESSES USNS OU RR Tar
Sara ST
ees
Te:
2
hae:
sacar
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ETL CENA RE EET
same oe ai are pal ae a ce
a
S PAYING FORTHE TURKEY?
The answer of course is that GE WORKERS ARE PAYING FOR THE TURKEY with plenty of gravy
and trimmings.
We're paying for it out-of the huge profits we've piled up for GE with our work—better than $1 an hour
per worker-last year. . :
And while GE's dishing out turkey for its stockholders, it’s offering stale peanuts to its workers in the
form of a few cents hourly increase.
6; What’s more, the company is willing to give us the peanuts only if we promise not to get hungry again
‘or a long’ time. GE terms for accepting the 1.79% wage increase are that we five up our right to bargain
on our contract in September.
GE doesn’t want to bargain collectively. It wants to dictate to. union members just as it can to un.
organized employees. But here in Schenectady, we've fought for 20 years to build our union. We didn’t
fight so that the company can lay down its terms and say “take them or lump them!” | :
GE doesn’t want to bargain collectively because it wants to hold on to its record profits and to pile up
even more millions by its program of speedup and rate cutting.
GE doesn't. want to bargain because it doesn’t want to give the increases deserved by all workers .—
especially the day,workers, skilled craftsmen and women. se
GE: doesn't want to bargain because it wants to steal the 2 paid holidays which fall on Saturday this year.
But UE members have a different: idea. They. want to bargain for wage increases, improved pensions
and better conditions. | Ts ;
UE members are ready to fight along side of all GE. workers for their right to bargain and to win ‘the
things they want and need, . ;
This is our fight! Let’s mobilize to win it now!
Issued by
- Locil 301 —representing- 20,000 GE workers “in Schenectady
i:
&
“MEMORIAL DAY — May 30
INDEPENDENCE DAY — July 4
days to stir the hearts of a
Americans—except, it seems, execu- FHS
tives at GE
GE ‘HAS MADE TREMENDOUS PROFITS in 1952, over $416,000,000 dollars —
the highest profits in all GE history. These ‘tremendous profits came out of .
the workers' production, an average take for the company of $2,578.0n each and every’
reduction” worker*, Yet out of these tremendous profits, the company won't even
pay for: two holidays. This is a 2 miserly attitude.
fe
Consider the facts involved, in actual dollars and cents.
GE-has made $2,578 profits on each production worker,
This is about $1.25 an hour profits. In contrast, the two
holidays would cost the company $0.002 an hour — just
2/10 of one cent! The cost of the: two holidays is hardly a
flea-bite on the company’ s profits,
UE has contracts with over 400 companies providing for 7 or more paid holidays,
and including payment for holidays that fall on Saturdays. These companies are not as
‘wealthy as GE which boasts of its 21 points for workers! welfare but provides less than
other prominent companies on holidays.
‘Last year GE paid for seven holidays; this year, because of Satundays, GE wants to
pay for only five. Why does GE stand on a technicality when so little cost would do so
much good to so many people? —
GE refuses to pay for two holidays. It really takes a BIG corporation to be so
SMALL and PETTY.
SHOW THIS LEAFLET TO YOUR FELLOW WORKER
8The company lumps salaried workers with supervisors. and management, For this reason it is difficult wo mabe estimates
of profits on salerted workers,
issued by
UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO “AND MACHINE WORKERS OF AMERICA (UE)
Eleven East 51 Street New York 22, .N.-Y;
uy UE Publication Now Bo TT wo. 264 6.4.53 Printed in U.S.A.
