4
March 5, 1948
Knickerbocker News
Turns Down UE Ad
Here’s another example of the so-call-
ed “Freedom ofthe Press”—-freedom of
the Big Business press to refuse to print
a union statement even as paid adver-
tising.- os
The Knickerbocker News (Frank Gan-
nett’s Albany paper) last week refused
without explanation to print a half-page
advertisement submitted by UE District
3. It was an open letter to Governor
Dewey calling on him to use his influ-
ence to induce James H. Rand, Jr., presi-
dent of Remington Rand, to live up to
_his signed agreement with UE, in order
to help avert “a major industrial con-
flict.” .
Of course the. Knickerbocker News
ints *LhevantiFunion-ads-of-the-Nationalk<-y~
Association of Manufacturers, Rem--
Rand, GEIS and the rest. :
The Albany Times-Union (Hearst) ac-
cepted and printed the $190 UE adver-
~ tisement.
301. Dance Will Aid
Garry Waldron Fund
The Activities Committee of Local 301
has announced plans for a.dance Mar.
20 for the benefit of Garry Waldron, 301
member who lost both legs “in World
War II. The affair will be at the Stan-
ford Heights Fire Department, Stop 3,
Albany-Schenectady Rd.
There will be two orchestras and both
round and square
dancing, from 9 p.m,
to 1 a.m. A donation
of 60 cents will en-
title anyone to ad-
mission. Shop stew-
ards will handle the
tickets.
Waldron was
wounded in the Bat-
tle of the Bulge and
was taken as a pris-
oner of war. He and
his wife, also a 301
member, live in a
veterans’ project in
Albany St. The pro-
ceeds of the dance
will go toward a fund to build a house
for the disabled veteran.
Movies for Children
The first of-a series of movie parties
for children of Local 801 members will
be at 10:30 am., Saturday, Mar, 13, at
301 Hall. Animated cartoons and com-
edies will be shown for an hour. The Ac-
tivities Committee plans to serve ice
vream and cookies. °
Waldron
weet
i see that hoycth, Floor
Sreman iS. out to break
all product ion records:
Ba NEWS -DERVICL
374 -ELRESS.
TDwPE
rea uth
Still Hunting
The 3801 Food’ Committee is still
searching for new quarters for the Food
Center.
UE Broadcast
Arthur Gaeth’s radio broadcast, spon-
sored by the national UE, is at 7:30 p.m.
every Wednesday over WSNY and
WROW.
Embarrassing Question
Put to GE ‘Missionary’
Some rather amusing reports
have been received about efforts of
GE foremen to carry out their new
duties of trying to sell “anti-infla-
tion” to the workers in their shops.
_4An assistant general foreman
made an attempt at this GE “mis-
sionary work” this weelt by asking
a woman shop steward whether she
is saving any money.
“How can you on what GE
pays?” she snapped back.
Mr. Boulware hadn't given’ him
the answer to that question!
MAKE YOUR SHOP 100% UE
Higher Rating Asked
For Woman Inspector
Business Agent Leo Jandreau has rec-
ommended to the Executive Board that
it take to the national grievance level
the case of a woman inspector in the
Wire Division, Bldg. 109, who is rated
as a “Die room checker” at $1.18, though
her duties are fully those of a Class H
inspector at $1.26. :
The job was examined jointly by Jan-
dreau and Louis Male, general superin-
tendent. Jandreau found the woman
used a microscope to inspect dies, set up
and used a precision instrument for
checking wire, and was charged with
considerable judgment and responsibility
‘in passing on the work of 37 machines.
Despite these facts, the company re-
fused to change the classification. It
appeared to be a case of rating the job
low because it was done by a woman in-
stead of going by the requirements of,
the job.
Polio Fund
Total March-of-Dimes collections made
through Local 301 came to $3,143.66, the
union office reported Wednesday.
0
THE VOICE OF LOCAL 301 - - - UE. RO &MWOA.
CG. 10.
SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
Vol. 6 — No. I
Lady, You
EAT Too Much!
ca
GE Tries to Force
Use of T-H Board
GE representatives on Tuesday again
urged UE to submit to the Tatt-Hartley
Labor Board.
UE, along with the Mine Workers,
Steel Workers, and many other unions,
has refused to:get entangled with the
Taft-Hartley Labor Board. Many com-
panies have recognized UE for newly-
organized groups by agreeing to a
speedy informal check or election con-
ducted by some impartial outsider,
Tuesday the company was informed
that the GE workers at Lexington, Ken-
tucky, were preparing to strike if the
company did not agree to bargain.
George Pfeif, company spokesman, said
the would insist on a Taft-Hartley elec-
tion because another union, the AFL
Wlectrical Workers, had claimed xepre-
sentation. Leo Jandreau, 801 business
agent and District 3 president, pointed
“,out that in Waterford there is no other
union, and still the company is demand-
ing a Taft-Hartley election.
“That is our policy,” Pfeif said.
The union pointed out that before
Check-off at Westinghouse,
But GE Still Refuses Plan
While General Electric balks at the
UE’s proposed one-year voluntary dues
check-off authorizations, the plan is in
effect at Westinghouse and more West-
inghouse workers have signed the au-
thorizations than had been’in the union
before that.
Westinghouse, second largest company
in the electrical industry, agreed to
standing check-off authorizations by the
individual members, with a seven-day -
period once a year when the members
can cancel the authorization, This com-
pany also posted notices in the plants,
of two days when the union stewards
would request the authorizations during
working hours. ‘
The other major companies in the
electrical and radio ‘field also have
agreed on the check-off.
But GE says it’s not “legal”,
Taft-Hartley the company wanted noth-
ing to do with government boards, and
had a policy of by-passing government
agencies. — oes 4
March 12, 1948
UE-GE Argue
Over Piece
Work Prices
GE negotiators, in the first weet’s
bargaining, asked for removal of the
contract clause providing that prices
must be-set sa piece work earnings
will be the same after a change of
method in a job with a standard price.
The clause is one of the main piece work
guarantees in the contract..UE_is_askin
that it be strengthened by providing
that where the change of method means
a speed-up, increased earnings shall be
* possible,
Temporary Prices :
The company opposed a_ proposal,
which UE negotiators pressed vigorous-
ly, that temporary prices automatically.
become standard in six months. George
Pfeif, chief company spokesman, said
this was not practical for manufacturing
reasons. However, he indicated the com-
pany might modify its position if the
union would yield on the “same earn-
ings” provision, The union said “No”.
The company also proposed to change
seniority by providing that workers with
less than five years’ service be placed in
three categories (up to one year, one to
three years, and three to five years),
and that differences in length of service
within each category would not apply in
lay-offs. The union pointed out that
straight seniority was the only guaran-
tee against favoritism of any kind. It
claimed the present seniority provision
was too weak,
Discussion of contract proposals went
into the second week, with the company
(Continued on Page 2)
Can't Blame This
1 earns
On ‘High Wages’
The United States Supreme
Court in a decision Monday held
that GE, Westinghouse and 10
other electrical companies enguged
in price fixing in violation of the
anti-trust law,
The case concerned price-fixing
on “dropout fuse currents” which
are useful in protecting an electric
circuit from dangers arising from
a short circuit or other overload.
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
March 12, 1948
UE Demands GE Install
Decent Pension System
The fight for a decent pension system
at GE is still a major point in the UE
contract negotiating program. The union
takes the stand that the slight conces-
sion made last week by the company,
affecting workers who retired before
Sept. 1, 1946, is entirely inadequate.
GE announced last week that pension-
ers who retired before Sept. 1, 1946 are
now to come under the minimum guar-
antee of $12 a year for every year of
service. Previously the minimum applied
only to employees retiring after that
date.
Joseph Dermody, UE international
representative and secretary of the GE
Conference Board of UB, said this
minimum_proyides #25_a_month, or $300.)
a year, for pensioners with 25 years
service,
“The $25 a month won't even pay rent
in most cases,” he declared.
Dermody pointed out that many GE
pensioners ‘have been forced on relief
rolls and some ‘have retired to poor-
houses because of inadequate pensions.
He called on GE “in fairness to all its
employees” to work out with the union
a pension plan which will guarantee
“security and dignity” to retired work-
ers. GE insists that pensions are not
a subject for negotiation with UE.
Local 301 has been in the lead among
GE locals in exposing the plight of pen-
sioners: and pressing hoth for larger
payments and for equal treatment for
employees who -retired before Sept. 1,
1946. Schenectady pensioners were the
first to form a UE pension organization.
GE announced the next pension check
would be issued on the new basis and
that in the next 10 days checks retiro-
aetive to Sept. 1, 1946 would be sent to
those on the pension roll.
Weekly UE Broadcast
Arthur Gaeth, news commentator,
presents his weekly broadeast, sponsored
by the national UE, at 7:30 p.m. every
Wednesday over WSNY and WROW.
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
Unive Evrerrican, Rapio & Macnine
Workers or America, GIO
Scrrnectapy GE Locat 301
[SSS WET 2 =
Published by the Editorial Committee
William Templeton, Chairman
Mary McGCartin, Secretary
William Landau Victor Pasche
Clayton Pudney
Editorial Office ~ Electrical Union News
301 Liberty St. + Schenectady, N. Y.
Telephone 3-1386
Peet ir
‘BOY,
= 126 |
AP MILLON [BE ALLIES INTUS
You anp | must
FIGHT AGAINST
INFLATION !
,
SCHENECTADY PRINTING GO,, INC,
UE-GE Argue
Over Piece Prices
“(Continued from Page 1)
expressing strong opposition to all the
main union proposals. Pfeif said he
would give further’ study to points raised
on transfers, on piece work day work:
practices, and on discrimination .He op-
posed a élear-cut provision against dis-
crimination because of sex, race, color,
erced, or national origin,
The union pressed for an eight-hour
pay vuarantee for any. regular shift,
which would affect three-shift operation.
Pfeif objected to paying for “time not
worked,’ The union committee pointed
out that there was a practice of paid
lunch periods in Lynn.
Pfeif also opposed any improvement
in the holiday provision, He asked that
workers be obliged to work overtime
when requested, and painted to the re-
fusal of Schenectady Turbine men last
summer to work overtime during the
work shift dispute, as the reason for
wanting such a clause. Leo Jandreau,
301 business agent and District 3 presi-
dent, said thé company could not ex-
pect the men to cooperate if the com-
pany would not,
Pfeif opposed any change in the “con-
tinuous process” clause under which
some workers do not get regular Satur-
day and Sunday overtime rates. Con-
tinuous process workers at Westinghouse
get the same overtime as the others.
Pfeif also wanted to limit the applica-
tion of call-in. and reporting time pay.
Plant Wage Structure
Pfeif did not take a definite position
‘on local negotiation of a plant wage
structure, but argued that Schenectady's
Local 801 wage structure proposal
meant a veneral increase .Jandreau
pointed out that was not so, and that
the proposal would correct injustices.
Pfeif claimed the -union .brought the
structure out of line by winning raises
for some jobs..He denied there was dis-
crimination against women on wage
rates, but contended it, was right to pay
some jobs less than common labor, Jan-
dveau cited examples of highly-skilled
women’s jobs with low rates.
Waterford Rates Cited
The company also defended the dif-
ferences in rates between plants. When
the union cited Waterford, in the same
area as Schenectady, getting lower
rates, Pfeif said he did not know the
Waterford situation.
Pfeif opposed improved vacations and
pensions on the ground of cost. (See
separate story on pensions).
Union proposals for automatic pro-
gression to the job rate on all jobs, and
for certain guarantees for piece work-
ers, also were opposed.
The company also took the position
that job definitions should not be used
in bargaining on rates, and were intend-
ed to “identify”, but not cover the jobs.
March 12, 1948 ~
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
3
U.S. Labor Unions
Face New Threat
By RUSS NIXON,
UE Washington Representative.
Some idea of dangers ahead for labor
is found in a very significant United '
Press story in the. New York Times. It
bears re-emphasis, .
Under a hearing “Strikes. Forbidden
in Key Industries” the following story
was printed Feb. 16, 1948:
“Washington, Feb. 15—A top Federal
labor. official said to-
day that the Goy-—
ermment ‘cannot and
will not permit’ big
_ strikes in coal, oil,
atomic energy, tail-
“This official who
: did not wish to have
Nixon his name used, de-
clared that the Ad-
ministvation would use the national
emergency section of the Taft-Hartley
.abor-Management Act to halt strikes
in essential industries.”
“Labor and management cannot be
allowed to endanger the Marshall Eu-
ropean Recovery Plan with work stop-
pages. They have got to settle their
differences. without strikes.”
This is a real threat, It gears with
the advance warning of the Director of
Federal Mediation Service, Cyrus 8.
Ching (former Personnel Director, U. 8.
Rubber Company) to the United Mine
Workers that the Government would not
tolerate a soft coal strike this spring.
This is more than a “straw in the
wind”, It suggests repetition of Presi-
dent Truman’s breaking of the Rathroad
Strike and his arrangements to break a
Maritime strike in 1946. Such
brenking activities must be expec!
from a government that is a complete
alliance of Big Business—the Military
and the Missouri gang.
Additional Requests
For Blood Donations
A local 801 member whose mother had
to have several blood transfusions has
asked for the assistance of union mem-
bers in repaying the blood bank at Ellis
Hospital.’ Several other requests have
also beenrreceived recently at the union
office. .
Meanwhile a 801 committee is investi-
wating the possibilities of setting up a
blood bank at the hospital for the use
of 801 members. ~
Holds Industry Responsible
For Most Workers’ Injuries
Industrial figures just released show
that more workers were maimed and
crippled last year in the United States
than the total number of GI’s disabled
during four full years of fighting. Last
year 2,059,000 were disabled at their
jobs. In addition 17,000—more than a
full Army division—were killed.
The Mar. 1 issue of “In Fact”, which
printed these figures, declared: “Most
industrial accidents are the result of
industry’s refusal to pay the cost of
adequate safety equipment or to make
machines safer by slowing their speed.”
The article points out that “many
official reports have always placed the
blame on greedy businessmen,” but that
the Big Business newspapers “have al-
ways shown a luctance_to
sponsibility.” These commercial
newspapers echo the National Associa-
tion of Manufacturers’ cry for more
production. They play up stories xbout
loss of production caused by strikes or
occasional absenteeism. But they nearly
all ignore the chief cause of absence by.
workers from their jobs, — accidents
which could have been prevented by
management. :
GE Policy on Time
For Changing Clothes
When job conditions make it actually
necessary to come in before starting
time or to stay late, in order to change
clothes, the company will pay for the ad-
ditional time, George Pfeif, head GE
negotiator, told the union committee
last week. He questioned whether any
worker had to stay late for that reason.
He said it alveady was the. practice to
pay for such requived additional time.
Workers affected by this problem
should, take it up with their foremen
through their shop stewards.
301 Radio Program
The weekly radio program of Local
301 is at 7:30 pam. Monday over WSNY,
301 Membership
Meeting Tuesday
A report on contract negotia-
tions will be made to the monthly
301 membership meeting Tuesday.
The second shift will meet at 1
pam, at the union hall.and the first
and third shifts at 7:30 p.m,
After all business is concluded at
each session, the new UE movie,
“The Great Swindle”, willbe
shown, .
GETOTE AND
301 Asks Office Job
For Woman Assembler
The union is trying to persuade GE
management to give Carmel Casino, as-
sembler in Bldg. 69, an office job. After
12 years in the shop she has been advised
by her physician to shift to. office work.
During her spare time she studied at
Siena College where she has obtained
her Bachelor of Science degree.
Management insists it can find no
place for her in office work. It: admits
there are frequent vacancies, but claims
that there ave always better trained peo-
ple to hire. The union pointed out that
Miss Casino showed her ambition and
ability by completing her college course
and that her service record ought to en-
title her to ari opening in the office force.
Shop Stewards Will See
New UE Movie Tomorrow
The new UE movie on wages, prices
and profits, “The Great Swindle” will be
shown tor the first time in Schenectady
to Local 301 shop stewards and their
wives and. husbands at 7:30 p.m. to-
morrow (Saturday) at the union hall.
Refreshments will be served.
Nine Cent Raise
Burglar alarms in Canada will con-
tinue to operate as the result of a wage
settlement averting strike action at the
Dominion Blectrie Protection Co. UE
Local 612 won DEP workers in Toronto,
Montreal, Hamilton, Longe and Ottawa
ww Nhie-cints an hour wage increase on a
reopener in their contract,
