4
Ae Uy
~. ELECTRICAL UNION NEW
April 2, 1948.
Stewards to Hear Report Tuesday
On UE-GE Contract Negotiations
Reports will be made on the GE contract negotiations at the meet-
ing of shop stewards of all three shifts at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the
union hall. In view of the deadlock between GE and UE on all major
proposals of the union, the Executive Board has stressed the importance
of full attendance,
Local 301 delegates to the GE
tonference Board of UE: will re-
port on the meeting of the Confer-
ence Board scheduled for Monday
in New York City. The Conference
Board will hear full reports.on the
contract sessions, will have a thor-
ough discussion and make recom-
mendations. The 301 representa-
tives are Leo Jandreau, also on the
negotiating committee; Andrew
Peteson and Marshall White.
Julius Emspak, general secre-
tary-treasurer of UE and a charter
member of 801, will speak at the
stewards’ meeting. ’
Secession Moves
Defeated by UE
EYorts of Carey-Block followers
to split off two Orange, N. J. shops °
from UE have been defeated. UE
hus signed an agreement with
Thomas A, Edison Industries, Inc.
. covering these shops with the im-
proved UF contract already nepgo-
tiated for five other Edison shops.
James Conroy, former member
of UE Local 1237 in New York
City and a leader of the so-called
“Demoeratic Action” group, organ-
ized the raid on the two UE shops.
Conroy called for an election under
the ‘Taft-Hartley Board, but the
workers at one plant voted against
him 102 to 58 and at the other
plant, 441 to 310. UE was not on
the ballot, as it will not'use the
Tatt-Hartley board. Immediately
after elections, the company signed
the UE contract.
UE recently won an improved
contract at the Schrader Valve Co.,
3rooklyn, in spite of efforts of the
United Automobile Workers, CIO,
to start a secession movement.
UE has obtained an injunction at
Hartford, Conn, to keep former of-
_ficers of a UE Local at Niles-Bem-
end-Pond Co. from turning the lo-
cal‘s funds and properties over to
UAW. A mecting of the local had
voted to alfiliate with UAW. Many
mink-und-file protests have been re-
ceived at the UE office about the
way the vote was railroaded.
UE is expected to apply for an
injunction against former officers
of the local at the Royal Typewriter
Go., Hartford, which switched to
UAW. The Carey-Bloeck group led
both the Hartford secession moves.
' ‘The 801 Executive Board this
week protested to CIO President
| se meorneaiea a syRUAceLInMnnmyy Rayhmtmcenven gegen ee
301. Will Organize
Soft Ball Leagues
Plans: for forming both a
women’s. and a men’s softball
league were approved by the
Executive Board Monday night.
It is expected that each league
will have eight to 12 teams. Ar-
rangements have been made for
ball diamonds and for purchase
of softball equipment.
The Activities Committee has
called a meeting of all members
softball plans for 7 p.m. Tues-
day at 801 Hall. Anyone inter-
ested but unable to be present
is asked to contact the union
office,
Social Security Advice
To Workers Nearing 65
Stanley R. Putnam, manager of
the Social Security office in Sche-
nectady, has asked the EU News
to print a reminder for people ap-
proaching 65, the age at which
they are eligible for old age benc-
fits.
It is important for those who
have been working in employment
covered by the Social Security Act
to write to or call at the nearest
Social Security office upon reach-
ing the age of 65. In the event of
the death of anyone’eligible for
Social Security payments, the
nearest surviving relative should
contact the office promptly.
The area Schenectady office at
188 Wall St. covers residents of
Schenectady, Montgomery and
Saratoga counties. :
Putnam reported that the loss
of benefits due to delayed filing of
elaims has considerably decreased
during the past year.
Local Adds 750 Members
The 801 drive for new members
passed the 750 mark this week.
That means an increase of approx-
imately 5 per cent in membership
since the campaign started in Feb-
ruary. Until May 1 workers may
join the union without’ paying the
initiation fee. :
Philip Murray against the UAW
raiding of UE locals. Copies of
the letter were sent to the Capital
District CIO Council and the UAW
locals in this district.
of the-union--interested-in-=the +
Union Fights Attack
On Rights of Guards
UE is fighting an order. by the
U. S. Atomic Energy Commission
removing guards on the GE atomic
energy project from the protection
of the union.
The company notified Local 301
Monday that because of this order
it was obliged to take 14 guards,
now at the Peek Strect plant, off
the check-off. The commission’s or-
der said it was based on an inter-
pretation of a section of the Taft-
Hartley law providing that the
Taft-Hartley Labor Board cannot
certify a unit which includes
guards as well, as production work-
ers,
The law does not say guards can-
not belony to the same union as
production workers. It refers
only to a labor board procedure.
The company has not challenged
“the guards right ty vein the wns
ion. The company spokesman said
he agreed with the union that the
guards had the right to remain in
301, but that the company was
obliged to. carry out the orders of
the government agency.
Union attorneys are convinced
that the Atomic Energy Commis-
sion ruling has no basis in law,
and is merely another attack on.or-
ganized labor by the government.
Local 801 is filing a grievance
under the contract, as the start of
procedure to reverse the ruling.
2 More Chances to Buy
Food at Local 301 Hall
Stock left over from the 3801
Food Center will be on sale at re-
duced prices for union members
and their families from 5 p.m. to 9
p.m. today (Friday) at the union
hall. The food and kitchen supplies
also be on sale at the hall Tuesday,
from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., before the
shop stewards’ meeting, and later
in the evening after the meeting.
The 801 Food Committee is still
hunting ‘for new quarters where
the Food Center can be reopened.
wi nbws atevice
374 ELER Bar
Joos at New York
Meeting with GE
Fred Joos, 71, represented the
UE-301 Pension Organization at
the UE contract, negotiating ses-
sion with GE in New York City
Tuesday. Before he was retired in
August, 1946, after 26 years serv-
ice with GE, he was a maintain-
ence and repair man in Bldg. 53.
He could speak from first hand
experience about
the need of the
minimum $120
a month pension
which UE and
the Pension Or-
ganization are
demanding. He
has been trying
to support his
wife and him-
self on $86 a
month from GE,”
plus $36 a month
Social Security’
Two months ago he had to sell his
two-family house “in order to
Fred Joos
_ keep alive.”
Joos ‘handed GI. representatives
the following resolution which. the
UE-301 Pension Organization
adopted at a special meeting Mar.
27, : .
“Whereas, thousands of GE pen-
sioners, forced to retire after many
years of faithful service, are re-
ceiving such meager pensions that
they exist-on the borderline of
starvation, or are forced to depend _
on charity, and ore
“Whereas, the condition of these
pensioners has been made much
worse by the climb in the cost of
living, and :
“Whereas, GE pensioners in
Schenectady organized the UB-301
Pension Organization to back the
ULE’s fight for a decent minimum
pension for us,
“Now, therefore, be it resolved,
that the UE-301-Pension Organi-
zation declare that -the recent
change made by the company in
favor of men and women already.
out on pension is pitifully low and
a mere gesture, and that we insist
that the U’s demand fora min-
imum monthly pension of $120 is
reasonable and should be granted.”
$50 for Printers’ Strike
A donation of $50 for the Inter.
national Typographical Union
strike in Chicago was voted by the
801 Executive Board Monday
night. .
Pensioners’ Meeting
The UE-801 Pension’ Organiza-
tion will meet at 2 pam, Wednesday
at 301 hall,
THE VOICE OF LOCAL 301 - - - - - UER&MWA ~~ 2. GLO.
Vol. 6 — No. 15
SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.
April 9, 1948
GE Stil
=
GE Defies Order
Of Arbitrator
‘She General Electric Company
as refused to reinstate three girls
at its East Boston lamp plant, as
ordered by an arbitrator’s decis-
ion. Instead it has started court
proceedings to try to have such
firings declared outside the scope
of arbitration,
GE’s action is a violation of the
contract with UE, the national
UE charged in a letter last week to
J. W. Burnison at the national GE
office, The contract states that
an arbitration decision “shall be
final and binding on both parties.”
Q In trying to excuse the GE's
ailure to reinstate the girls im-
mediately with full back pay, Burn-
ison told the union that the com-
pany’s refusal “cannot work to
the detriment of the three employ-
(Continued on Page 2)
consider further activities, =
Jandreau said the GE Confer-
GE Confirms Giving
Foremen Pay Increases
~ Confirmation of the union report
that widespread raises had . been
granted to foremen was given by
the General Electric Company in a
statement to the Schenectady Gaz-
ette Monday night.
denied there had’ been’ “flat pay
increase,” but this denial merely
confirmed what the union _ had
learned.
The Gazette quoted a “campany
spokesman” as saying that “many
persons” had attained positions of
greater responsibility, and that the
raises were merit increases under
a review plan.
UE negotiators had stated that
raises for foremen were so wide-
union said it favors raises for fore-
men, but asked what became of
the company’s -repeated defense
( efuses to Bu
GE Propaganda saws
- Jandreau Tells 301 Stewards
Deadlock On Many Points
Failure to make progress on wages and other principal issues in
four weeks of negotiations means that steps to obtain concessions from
the General«Electric Company are now up to the membership in the
locals, Leo Jandreau, Local 301 business agent and president of District
8, told the 301 shop stewards Tuesday night.
- The stewards, at their biggest
meeting in two years, decided to
meet with their respective groups
to inform them of the deadlock and
pany’s real aim was to break the
union so the company could do as
it pleased with wages and condi-
tions.
ence Board of local UE delegates
“Monday picked a committee of 26
delegates to go and tell the com-
pany’ committee how the workers
felt, -but the company was not
moved. ‘The Conference Board put
the question of local activities up
to the locals, :
Wage Issue GE Smoke Screen
Jandreau said that the com-
pany’s inflation argument against
wage increases was nothing but a
smoke screen, and that the com-
“The-mem hers..wan't_lot GH-gat
away with it,” Jandreau said,
In the past week there has been
a flock of rumors, all supposed to
come from top management offices,
to the effect that the company was
about to offer a 7-cent raise, or 10
cents, 1244 cents, or 15 cents. Ob-
viously the rumors are false, and
are intended to, lull the workers to
sleep.
Can Easily Pay Raises
‘Jandreau pointed out that the
company was making such huge
(Continued on Page 2)
-... And the Truth
that a raise for the: workers would |
be “inflationary.” -
ae
ATT OTY
Soe
NTE B ITE
_April_9,_.1948
MONDAY MORNING: FoREMAN GETS
par FALK FRoM PLANT SUPER-
ri BEANS, /BEANS,
WEDNESDAY:
BEEF STEAK
ale Bees Ne 3B
EXPOUNDS THE.
SUPERIONITY OF BEANS OVER |
THURSDAY: STATES THE MORAL
REASONS | WHY WORKERS SHovLp
MILITANTIN REFUSE A RAISE |
TUESDAY: TRIES TO EXPLAIN How
NOTHER WAGE INCREASE WouLD OnLy
MAKE WORKERS POORER.
NOW, Bow 90.1)
\ PLAIN, THs
FRIDAY: COMPANY REALIZES THE
Roe OF FOREMEN AND GRANTS
- THEM A RAISE...
AW FELLERS,
PLEASE
‘o THE Bovs?
Longer Vacations
Western Electric Company, with
over 60,000 workers, gives three
weeks’ vacation after 15 years’
service, That’s what ULE is asking
from GE, instead of the present
three weeks after 20 years. UB
is also asking GE for four weeks’
vacation after 25 years. Long
service employees in the federal
government vet a month,
BUILD THE UNION
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
United Electrical, Radio & Machine
Workers of America, CIO
Scuenectrapy GE Locat 301
Published by Editorial Committee
William Templeton, Chairman
Mary McCartin, Secretary
William Landau Victor Pasche
Glayton - Pudney
Editorial Office
Evectrica, Unton News
301 Liberty St., Schenectady; N. Y.
Telephone 3-1386
arer arene
GE Defies Order
Of Arbitrator
(Continued from Page 1)
ees involved if the union is ulti-
mately successful.” The girls were
fired last August. Apparently GE
thinks it won’t be a “detriment” to
zo without wages indefinitely —
till a final court decision is handed.
down.
In a letter to GE locals of UE,
Joseph Turkowski, UE internation-
al representative, pointed out that
the company’s stand in the East
Boston case reflects its whole at-
titude toward arbitration.
“They consistently refuse to ar-
bitrate matters covered by the con-
tract beeause they do not want
their judgment subject to review
by a third party. Since the passage
of the Taft-Hartley law, the com-
“pany has fought hard against any
challenge of their right to dis-
at will, except for union
activity. ,
Turkowski said that in its 1948
Fi MAW saning my yate vrei MIWRH ree ntaeue nee me py
Lf
UE-GE Contract
Sull in Effect
Because of the deadlock in nego-
tiations, many members have ask-
ed whether or not UE now has a
contract with the company. The
answer is “Yes.” The contract has
an annual April 1‘termination date,
but since neither the GE nor the
UE served notice of termination,
the contract continues at~least to
April 1, 1949.
The: present bargaining is under
another contract clause, providing
for negotiating contract changes
annually.
contract proposals, GE seeks the
right to dismiss people under five
years’ service without regard to
‘seniority. Those with over - five
years service could be discharged
without recourse to the arbitration
machinery, if the company’s pro-
posals about arbitration became ef-
fective, he warned.
GE Still Refuses
Increase in Pay
(Continued from Page 1)
profits that it could easily pay a
substantial raise without raising
prices. He said that while GE talk-
ed about “inflation,” it refused to
make concessions on points that
have nothing to do ‘with the com-
pany’s own inflation theories, in-
cluding ‘holidays, seniority, griev-
ance procedure, compulsory arbi-
tration of grievances, and check-
off. He said the company wants tu
weaken seniority and the piece
work earnings protection, and was
moving parts of old plants to new
locations with lower wage rates,
and refusing to negotiate for these
new plants when the workers ee)
organized.
There was some progress on
lesser issues, Jandreau reported,
but on the main issues the com-
pany is sitting back because it has
not fel sssure from the shops.
April 9, 1948
ELECTRICAL UNION"NEWS
Stewards Approve Vote
Against Brophy Order.
The shop stewards’ meeting
‘Tuesday night approved the action
uf Local 801 delegates to the Capi-
tal District CIO. Council in voting
Mar, 24 against. the Council’s com-
plying with orders in a letter from
John Brophy, national C1O diree-
tor of industrial union councils.
Brophy ordered all councils — to
take positive action in opposition
to a third party and in support of
the Marshall plan and forbade per-
sons favoring a third party or op-
posing the Marshall plan from
serving as a Council officer, board
member or committee member.
A written report from the dele-
gates who cast 8301's vote, Gordon
Belgrave, John P. Brauneisen, Sid-
ney Friendlander, Frank C. Kriss,
William Mastriani, Allen I. 'Town-
_send, George Walker and Joseph
AWIHITUECK; Wis Submitted to the “7
stewards, It said in part:
Council Unity Involved
“The Capital District Council has
remained united around issues on
which the various locals were in
agreement. Previous to the Bro-
phy letter, the council had voted
‘unanimously to leave any position
on the third party to the member
locals. This was agreed to by dele-
gates who strongly favored the
Wallace movement, as well as by
supporters of the Murvay-Brophy-
Hollander position of backing the
Democratic Patty, because the del-
egates wanted to continue the use-
ful work of the council.on wages,
hours, and other community issues.
“The Brophy letter attempts to
dictate how local delegates shall
cast their votes-——thereby invading
the freedom of the local union
members. It goes beyond that and
would dictate how individual mem-
bers shall act, even as individuals.
“The Brophy letter is aimed to
“destroy both the unity of the local
council and elementary trade union
democracy. That issue is clear, re-
wardless of how members may feel
on the Wallace candidacy or the
Marshall plan.
Delegates Follow Instructions
“A motion to approve the letter,
oppose the third party and sup-
port the Marshall plan, was de-
feated on a roll call vote of the lo-
cals present. In accordance with
the specific instructions of our last
membership mecting, the 301 dele-
ates. voted against the motion.
+} The result of course is to leave the
Council uncommitted on the presi-
dential campaign, but committed to _
maintaining democracy in the CIO
and to an effort to maintain the
GIO Council as a united body, serv-
AAPOR LPR OVENS Im LOA wane senenr
Pensioners Are Guests of 3O1 at Party
es GE arkehs took fine off from their financial
party Mar, 27 at the union hall.
Committee_provided_refreshments.and..entertainment
The 301 Activities
Last Chance eToday |
At Food Bargains
Members of Local 301 will have
theiy last chance to buy stock left
over from the union’s Food Center
from noon until 9 p.m. today (Fri-
day): at 301 hall. All prices have
been reduced. :
Here are some of the bargains:
Grated tuna...... 30 cents a can
Cleaning tissues............2 boxes, 21c¢
Fels Naptha soa ..2 bars, 15¢
Swerl Oc a package
Chase and Sanborn
Coffee
Raisins
Pie crust mi
Figs (imported).
Dates.
47e a pound
.10¢ a box
10¢ a box
30c¢ a pound
1Be a box
.86¢ a can
2 cans, 25c
jars, 19¢
Toilet tissue... 2 rolls, 15¢
The Food Center will be reopen-
ed) when a new location ean be
found.
ing the interests of the CIO mom-
bers in the Capital District.”
The report also stated that a 3U1
delegate, Joseph Krone, announced
at the Council meeting that he
would not cast his vote, despite the
instructions of the membership.
Krone left the Council meeting’ be-
fore the voting, Later the Sche-
nectady Union-Star published a
letter from him attacking the 301
delegates for their vote. The dele-
gates’ report pointed out there
were misstatements of fact in the
Krone-letter.. The Executive Board
has. notified Krone by letter that
he should follow instructions of the
membership in voting, or resign as
delegate.
Membership Drive
Beats '47 Figures
The Local 801 organizing
drive. this year has brought in
856 new union members so far,
compared with only’ 853 at this
time in last year’s drive.
During the 10 day withdrawal
period in late March the union
received .84 resignations. De-
ducting these 84 from the total
membership figures, there’s a
net gain of 772 for the cam-
paign period so far.
_ In the withdrawal period in
March, 1947, there were 126 re-
sipmations.
Union Softball Teams
Now Being Organized
Four softball teams are now be-
ing organized for a 801 men’s
league and Helen Quirini has start-
ed organizing a girls’ team. The
men organizing teams to date are
Edward J. La Bombard, Jr, Bldg.
7; George Judway, Bldg. 18; Stan-
ley Bishop, Bldg. 69, and Manuel
Fernandez, Bldg. 269.
Plans for the softball. leagues
were outlined at a meeting called
by the Activities Committee Tues-
day night. Michael De Celli of
Bldg, 60, well known in Schenee-
tady athletic circles, volunteered to
help form the teams.
Equipment is available at the
union headquarters for, union mem-
bers who want to start in practic-
ing now. If-there’s no team being
organized in a building where a
member is interested in the sport,
the member should contact union
headquarters.
Stewards Support.
Fight of Miners
A resolution supporting the
members of the United Mine
Workers in their fight for a pen-
sion plan was unanimously passed
by the Local 801 shop stewards’
meeting Tuesday night. Miners
have voluntarily stopped wouking
in protest against their owners? re-
fusal to negotiate a pension plan
as called for by their contract,
“President Truman has entered
the fight on the side of the mine-
owners against the miners,’ the
301 resolution declared, “by seek-
ing an injunction against the min-
ers under the notorious Tatt-Hart-°
ley Law.”
The resolution condemned “Pres-
ident Truman’s repeated — strike-
breaking activities” and demanded
that the injunction be dropped.
The Capital District CIO Council
and the national CIO are to be
asked to take similar action.
“The miners’ fight for a pension
plan is the same as our own de-
nund for adequate GE pensions,”
the stewards stated.
Boulware Advice Bounces: «:
Back at GE Foremen
Foremen in Bldg. G9 veeently
solicited the workers there to buy
tickets at $2.50 each for a dinner
in honor of George Gerding, as-
sistant foreman transferred to
Bldg. 286.. _
They were greeted with lots of
evacks like this: “How can we save
our money the way Boulware tells
us to if we spend $2.50 for a dinner
ticket?”
