Pegs
4
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
April 29, 1949
Asking City Council to Join Fight Against Taft-Hartley Law
Scene at Schenectady City Hall April 18 when a delegation from
Local 301 tried in vain to get the City Council to take a stand .
against the Taft-Hartley law. Vice President William Hodges, one
of 10 speakers from the union, is shown urging the Council to act.
UE Will Appeal
in Atomic Case
The National UE. will file an ap-.__
peal immediately from the dismis-
sal of its suit against the General
Electric Company and the Atomic
Energy Commission for conspiring
to break the UE contract with GE.
David Scribner, UE attorney,
said the union will carry its case
to the U, S. Supreme Court if:
necessary. UE has asked $1,000,-
000 damages and a court order re-
straining GE and the AEC from
barring the union from represent-
ing workers on atomic projects.
The national CIO joined in the
suit against GE and AEC.
Federal Judge F. Dickinson
Letts at Washington, D. C., grant-
ed the request of GE and the AEC
to dismiss the suit. Under the
ruling UE would never have a
chance to prove its charges against:
GE and the AEC in court. The
judge said the court had no juris-
diction in this case over the ac-
tions taken by the AEC,
This is the same as saying that
the actions of the AEC and of GE
iu this case “are above the law
and the constitution,” Scribner
said. . “However, constitutional
guarantees cannot be set aside. Nor
can workers be legally deprived
of. their constitutional rights to
protect their wages and working
conditions through their freely
chosen union.”
Judge Letts’ decision concerns a
legal jurisdictional question en-
tirely and in no way passes on the
truth and merit of the charges
brought by UE. It is an assist-
ance, however, to GE and the AEC
in their efforts to attack consti-
tutional rights of workers and of
the union under the phony excuse -
of “security.”
Who Said What
A strange maze of statements
and denials last week surrounded
the question of whether or not
James B. Carey, CIO secretary-
treasurer and former UE president,
had gone to-top GE officials for
help in fighting the present UE
officers, °
W. V. Merrihue of Schenectady,
manager of employee and com-
munity relations for the GE ap-
paratus department, was quoted
in the Pittsburgh Press of April
14. This paper is part of the big
Seripps-Howard chain, and is
violently anti-UE, The paper said
Merrihue told a meeting of the
Pittsburgh Personnel Association
that “our fight to get out from
under the domination of the left-
wing UE we expect to consummate
this year.”
Mentions Jim Carey
The same paper said Merrihue
told reporters:
“Jim Carey, secretary-treasurer
of the UE, came to us before the
last UE convention. He apparently
wanted to get our help in breaking
the Commie hold on the union. But
we didn’t confer with him. We
don’t meddle in internal affairs of
the union. We don’t want the
employees to think we want to
break up their union.” |
After a published attack by
Carey on Merrihue’s statement,
Merrihue issued a statement,
quoted in the Schenectady Union-
Star April 16, saying:
“Carey is correct—he never did
approach me,”
The earlier story quoted Merri-
hue as referring to “us,” not “me.”
The CIO News said that Carey
| To Whom,— Why? |.
Discussion Continues
On Jobs of Welders
Revised job descriptions for
welders were offered by A. C.
Stevens, assistant to the works
manager, to the union grievance
committee and welders’ shop stew-
-ards. last week.- ~The issue had
heen moved up to Works Manager
Lewis Male, but Stevens reopened
it at his level.
Stevens said the new descrip-
tions would raise the classification
of 91 day work welders (this would
not necessarily mean raising the
rates for 91, as the company does
not recognize all as being quali-
fied). He said it would leave 111
men where they are now, and
would reduce the classification of
40, but not reduce their rates.
The welders’ stewards immedi-
ately protested that the new de-
seriptions did not meet their
principal claim, that high pressure
welding was recognized in the past
as “special”, carrying the $1.62
rate. They also objected that the:
“preferential” rate of $1.675 for
outstanding combination men
would be given to virtually no one
under the proposed descriptions,
The union took time out to con-
sult the welders before stating its
position on the proposed descrip-
tions.
denied making any such appeal to
GE. It quoted Carey as follows:
“J have suggested repeatedly
that these large manufacturers
keep their hands off, and especially
that they stop giving aid to the
Communist Party by discharging
vigorous anti-Communist members
of UE.
“The apparent fact is that they
(GE officials) would rather do
business with Communists than
with bona fide militant American
labor leadezs,”
Tickets on Sale
For Field Day
Shop stewards this week started
selling tickets for the 301 field
day June 19 at Hans Grell’s Groves
2390 Albany St. Once again a’
automobile will be the big prize
awarded. It’s a 1949 Studebaker,
two-door sedan, Other prizes will
be five toastmasters, five mix-
masters and five radios,
Gordon Belgrave and Edward J.
La Bombard Jr., co-chairmen of
the Activities Committee, have an-
nounced that the program is be-
ing planned to make field day a
real family outing. There will be
games and entertainment for chil-
dren of all ages, as well as for
adults.
People interested in booth con-
cessions should contact the union
office. There is a $10 fee for a
concession.
Magician Needed
The GE Foremen’s Associa-
tion brought the personnel di-
rector of Endicott Johnson Shoe
Company to demonstrate hyp-
notism to GE foremen.
Of course, Endicott Johnson
has a notoriously successful
anti-union record. Just the same
several shop stewards have sug-
gested that for what foremen
are expected to do with their
groups these days, GH should
have brought in Mandrake the
Magician and hypnotized the
whole plant at once.
Did You Know?
Before UE was organized at
General Hlectric, it was the pracy
tice to dismiss men with long servis
ice by laying them off without ve-
gard to seniority,
NEEDED—— HIGHER WAGES FOR JOB PROTECTION
ine eens ere me nN ae
ECTRICAL
THE VOICE OF LOCAL 301. - - - - UER&MW.A
Vol. 7 — No. 18
SCHENECTADY, MEW YORK
May 6, 1949
Turbine Division
Assemblers Hit
A widespread downgrading and
lay-off of assemblers in the Tur-
bine Division, based on a general
speed-up, was announced last week-
end by the division,
When the union argued the move
in the Works Manager’s office
Tuesday, Frank Schaaff said the
move was not because of lack of
work, but because “we are get-
ting better production,” and that
“more such “cutbacks” must be ex-
--peeteds----- =~
59 Assemblers Involved
The move involves 59 assemblers
cr Stators, fields, and tanks, em-
“ployed in 49, G0, and the new Tur-
bine building,
At-present the 59 include, on the
thiee shifts, six AA assemblers,
10 A men, 34 B men, and nine GC
men. If the move is completed, the
number of AA men will remain the
same, but the A men will be re.
duced to eight, or two less; B men
will be reduced to 26, or eight less,
and C men will be increased to 13,
or four more. Six men will go out
the gate, leaving a total of 53.
Some A and B men will be moved
to B and C jobs. The division had
first said some B men would be
dropped to D, but this was later
withdrawn.
Union Protests
The union committee pointed out
that this was not merely a speed.
up, but that obviously the Turbine
supervision expected that A and B
men downgraded to B and G vat-
ings would continue to de the same
work as before, but at lower pay.
Schaaff said his office would see ‘
that such a thing did not happen.
Discussion of the question is con-
tinuing in the shop.
Present at the discussion of the
ease were Board Members William
Stewart and Ray Flanigan, Shop
~ Stewards Salvatore De Pietro-and -
Ernest Fainelli, and the grievance
committee of Board Members
James Cognetta and Anthony Is-
posito and’ William Kelly, assist-
ant to the business agent.
ore GE Lay-Offs
_-) New lay-offs at the GE plant at
“Bridgeport, Conn, have brought
total employment down to 4,500
from an original 9,000, Latest lay-
offs were in the home laundry and
eable divisions.
y
GET RID OF
THT-HARTLEY,
MISES oF
se,
anenkigprien oF
Stewards Congratulate
Klein for Stand on T-H
The shop stewards’ meeting
Tuesday night unanimously voted
to senda telegram to Congressman
Arthur K. Klein, of New York City,
Democrat, congratulating him for
proposing that organized labor en-
gage in a one-day work stoppage
to back up its demand for repeal
of the Taft-Hartley law.
The motion also. included sending
a telegram to CIO President Philip
Murray asking that he answer
Congressman Klein’s communica-
tion,
President Frank Kriss, Business
Agent Leo Jandreau and Board
state New York Congressmen Apr,
28 at Washington in efforts to
press for Taft-Hartley repeal. They
were not able to see Congressman
Bernard Kearney.
Jandreau said they were inform-
ed that the Truman Administration
had the necessary votes to pass
the Lesinski bill by a majority of
80. This was a bill to repeal Taft-
Hartley and restore the Wagner
Act with certain amendments,
He reported there had been a
SNe
GE Will Lay Off
500 at Trenton
The General Electric Company
plans to lay off 500 workers at its
Trenton, N. J.. plant Monday and
to cut production 50 per cent.
The Associated Press quoted
Harry Kilbey, works manager, as
blaming the slash in production
and personnel on “mounting in-
ventories and a falling off in busi-
ness generally.” The plant makes
washing machines.
Kilbey also said production cur-
tailment will affect 70 employees
at the Mt. Vernon plant which
turns out sub-assemblics for Tren-
ee.
sell-out, however, and that top
Democrats agreed to additional
amendments which would make the
bill about as bad as the Wood bill.
National AFL and CIO represen-
tatives were reported as taking
part in the meeting agreeing on
these amendments.
The House of Representatives
Tuesday passed the Wood Bill,
which is practically Taft-Hartley
under a new name, Representative
Kearney voted for it,
UE Meeting
On Plans for
GE Contract
The GE Conference Board of UE
met Wednesday in New York City
to draw up proposals for reopening
of the GE contract. The proposals
will come before a membership
meeting before being submitted to
the company. ©
The six delegates from Local 301
took with them unanimoiis instruc:
tion from..Tuesday night’s meeting
of shop stewards to support the
recommendation of the UE Gen-
eral Executive Board to seek an in-
crease of $500 per year per em-
ployee in wages and other benefits;
They also were instructed, by
unanimous vote of the stewards, to
make the following proposals:
A 35 hour work week at 40 hours’
pay.
A negotiated wage structure,
Immediate organizing through
the GE Conference Board of UE of
a fight against the speed-up and
fo. the settlement of grievances
throughout the GE system.
These three proposals were put
from the floor and were based on
suggestions of workers in Building
1?
The GI Conference Board mect-
ing was still in progress when this
week’s EU News went to press,
R presenting 801 were Business
Agent Leo. Jandreau, President
Frank Kriss, Marshall White, and
Board Members Dewey Brashear,
Anthony Esposito and William
Stewart,
Jandreau told the ‘stewards ‘that
‘UE leaders had-made“ unsuccessful
efforts to get the Steel and Auto
unions to. work out a coordinated
wage campaign,
Ford Strike Scheduled
A United Auto -Workers strike
of 60,000° workers was to start
yesterday at the Ford plant, De-
troit, over the speed-up issue.
The Local 600 Executive Board
ordered the strike after the nation-
al UAW secretary-treasurer, Emil
Mazey, reported that Ford had
slowed down work to a point ac.
ceptable to the union.
JOIN THE UNION
2
ELECTRICAL
UNION NEWS
- Gov. Dewey's Phony Disability Act
The Local 301 membership meeting in April voted unanimously
to press for the repeal of the phony disability act passed by the state
legislature this year. The meeting also voted to work for enactment
of a real disability benefit program.
Marshall Perlin, 301 attorney,
called the bili signed by Governor.
-Dewey “the biggest steal, fraud
and phony ever perpetrated on the
+ people of the State of New York.”
He predicted that insurance com-
‘panies would make millions of dol-
. ~ lars on it.
It provides for payments to
‘workers who because of injury or
sickness not arising from their
work are-unable to perform their
work, Jobless workers who were
in. covered employment within a
certain period also are eligible.
Most of the burden of financing
the payments is placed on the
workers themselves. Although
disability benefits will not be paid.
until after June 30, 1950, workers, -
have to start contributing Jan. 1,
1950, up to six cents a week, and
after June 80, 1950, have to: con-
tribute at a higher rate, up to 30
cents a week.
Employers pay the same rate as
workers for the first six months,,
but don’t have to pay afterwards
unless the fund needs replenishing.
Insurance experts have figured
that the program can. be financed
without culling on employers for
extra contributions. The whole
program could and should have
been financed through the “merit
rating” rebates allowed to big em-
ployers of the state on their unem-
ployment insurance contributions.
Workers are to receive 60 per
cent of their weekly wages from
a minimum payment of $10 to a
maximum of $26 a week, for a
maximum of 18 weeks.
Disability benefits don’t” start
until after the eighth day of dis-
ability. If a worker suffers an-
other disability period after three
months*he has to undergo another
week's waiting period.
Press Again Twists
Facts to Hit UE
Misrepresentation continues to
be the standard newspaper weapon
against UE.
In a story about so-called “right
wing” activities, the Gazette on
Tuesday referred to a “right wing-
ers’ convention next weekend in
Dayton, Ohio.” It said that “two
delegates will go to Dayton from
Schenectady Local 301.”
This is an outright falsehood.
Local 801 has picked no delegates
to any such meeting. If anyone
goes from Schenectady he will not
. represent Local 801. His expenses
will not be paid out of local union
funds, for such funds are spent
only for official union representa-
tion.
The story also said UE President
Albert. Fitzgerald “was once a
member” of the big Lynn GE local.
° President Fitzgerald is a member
of that local now, and its former
president. The Lynn local has just
designated him a delegate to the
next UE Convention,
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
Uniten Eiectrican, Ravro & MACHINE
Workers or Amenrtca, CIO
Scuenecrapy GE Loca 301
~
Published by Editorial Committee
Mary McCartin, Cliairman
Arthur RB. Bertini, Seeretary
William Christman. .. Frank D'Amico
Victor Pasche
Editorial Offiee
Eectrnrcan Union News
301 Liberty St, Schenectndy, N. Y.
Telephone 3-1380
Stockholders Heat
About GE Speed-up
The heightened speed-up of re-
cent weeks was referred to official-
ly by President Charles BE. Wilson
of GE in his address tothe annual
stockholders’ meeting here Apr. 19.
Speaking of the change in busi-
ness conditions, Wilson said:
“A vital part -of our expansion
program was devoted to increas-
ing our efficiency and lowering our
costs, to streamlining our facilities
as well as increasing them.
“We are now in a position to
‘ eolléet some of these dividends
and compete hard and agegressive-
LY: wnat
The workers who have been sub- |
jected to speed-up methods, partio-
ularly in Turbine, will recognize
what the string of big words real-
ly mean.
Electricians’ Rate
The company was advised this
week by Business Agent Leo Jan-
dreau that the electricians had vot-
ed to accept the one-step raise for
helpers, and other minor improve-
ments, offered by the company.
Jandreau also advised the company
that the Executive Board had re-
peated the union’s position that ail
craft rates and other wage inequi-
ties must be corrected, and that the
union would continue, to press its
demand for the negotiation of a
complete wage structure for the
plant.
ATTEND YOUR UNION
MEETINGS,
CONGRESSMAN DRIPP
Cote . ‘ rr
ro
"WONT YOU STEP IN? YOURE WELCOME TO INVESTIGATE US."
Why Doesn't Somebody
Put on a New Record?.
Anyway, UE must still be doing
a good job for American workers.
The House Un-American Activi-
ties Committee recently announced
that it is about to hold another
“investigation” into the UE, with
public hearings this month. Could
it be timed for when wage and
hour negotiations get down to
brass tacks?
The Associated Press piece on
the “probe” wound up with the
statement that the Un-American
committee “says it has solid proof
of the Communist Party member-
ship of at least two members of
UE who are active in important
plants.” And here, we thought they
were going to show that the Com-
munists had just about talcen over
every major. UE plant.
Free the Trenton Six
The Executive Board is cireulat-
ing “Free the Trenton Six” peti-
tions in the shops. The petitions
urge Governor Driscoll of New
Jersey to intervene in the case of
the six Negroes sentenced to death
ab Trenton on a framed murder
charge. This legal lynching was
condemned in the recent resolution
on civil liberties passed by ‘the
March membership meeting.
Welders’ Grievance
Back to Male Level
The issue of job requirements
for the various welders’ classifica-
tions went back to the Male level
last week, when shop stewards rep-
resenting welders rejected the pro-
posal made by A. C. Stevens, as-
sistant to the works manager,
The main dispute‘is over pres-
sure welding, particularly on pipe
work, The men contend that this
has been recognized as receiving
the “special” or $1.62 rate in the
past. Stevens said pressure weld-
ing in itself does not constitute a
higher skill.
The men also claim that when
required to do both are and gas
welding, the rate is $1.62, while
Stevens said $1.565 is the proper
bracket. The company proposal
also defined the “preferential” or
$1.675 job in such terms as to bar
virtually all men from that rate.
On Strike for More Pay
Workers at the Richardson Boat
Company at North Tonawanda,
members of UE Local 808, have
been on strike since April 1, Th
walked out when the compan
turned down theix demand for a
wage increase. An overwhelming
majority voted to reject the com-
pany’s proposal to postpone wage
negotiations until September.
May 6, 1949
‘More Awards Made
In Accident Cases
The ‘following workmen’s com-
‘pensation: awards were made re-
cently to members of Local 301 for
accidents. at the plant, in. cases
handled by the union~ attorney,
Marshall Perlin.
$2,380 to Dominick Eplite, por-
ter in Building 66, for an injury
to his. hand last June 15 and $544
for injury to a. toe last Sept. 9.
$1,561 to Frank Liberatore,
welder in Bldg. 16, for an injury
to his left hand August 26.
$1,310 to John Carr, carpenter's
helper at Campbell Avenue, for in-
jury to his left leg June 12, 1947.
No hearing had been held until a
claim was filed through the union.
. $256 to Patsy Sipone, machinist
helper in Bldg. 60, for a toe injury.
$175 to Louis Comanzo, dispatch-
er in 78-A, fora facial scar result-
ing from an accident July 16,
$150: to Clifford Tidball, crane
lower in Bldg. 66, for a facial
scar resulting from an accident
April 8, 1948, a
$150 to George Vrooman, turbine
test in Bldg. 60, for a facial scar
incurred-Sept.. 9.
$150 to Henry Mace, engine
lathe operator in Bldg. 18, for a
facial scar incurred Dec. 14, 1940.
No claim was filed until the union
opened the case some months ago.
$125 to William Sticht, machine
operator in Bldg, 49, for a facial
scar incurred August 27,
Pay Raise Obtained
For 'Lab' Assistant
Through union negotiations Ber-
nard Valachovie of Building 87
has received a change in classifica-
tion which has brought him a raise
of five cents an hour and assures
him of automatic progression.
Valachovie, recently elected a
shop steward, had been laboratory
assistant, Class EH, for two and a
half years without having his
classification changed or a rate
increase. Board Member Anthony
Villano and a union committee tool
up the matter with the manage-
ment.
The company agreed to change
Valachovie’s classification as of
April 18 to Class D, with a raise
of five cents to $1.28. This places
him on a progression basis and he
will automatically get to $1.82 in
two months,
cut
g OUR HEARTS WE GIVE OUR
R EMPLOYEES LIBERAL VACATIONS
e32 UNION SAW
UE NEWS SERVICE
301 Calls for Extension
Of Veterans’ Jobless Pay
The Local 801 membership meet-
ing in April unanimously voted
to demand that Congress extend
the veterans’ unemployment insur-
ance benefits: for two years, with
increased benefits and longer eligi-
bility periods. If not extended,
the GI bill will run out June 1,
The resolution adopted pointed
out that many of the approximate-
ly 5,000,000. unemployed workers
in the United States are veterans,
“men who never have had an op-
portunity to fully. develop their
skills before going into military
service,” /
“With the new lay-offs that are
taking place on a_ nation-wide
basis, the veterans are particular-
ly affected in that they usually
have less seniority and have not
been placed in highly skilled jobs,
so that they are one of the first to
feel the impact of this unemploy-
ment.”
The resolution, recommended by
the Executive Board, also called
for an adequate federal bonus.
Craft Workers Protest
At GE Syracuse Plant
About 200 UE skilled workers at
the General Electric plant at Syra-
cuse walked off their jobs Tuesday
afternoon to attend a union meet-
ing on grievances concerning craft
rates. The same group, including
tool room - workers, electricians,
carpenters and other crafts, left
their jobs Thursday of last weelt
for a similar meeting.
The rate disputes have dragged
out for months and have gone to
the top New York level,
To Laid-off Workers
Laid-off workers are warned
again that when sent to the em-
ployment office they are usually
subjected to pressure to accept
openings on less desirable jobs,
even though they may have sen-
jority rights to jobs in their
own line.
Building 1 company represen-
tatives frequently hint to a laid-
off worker that the job offered
to him is the best he can hope
for and he had better take it
to protect himself. Sometimes
this is true. Often, however,
Building’1 is concealing the fact
that the laid-off worker may
have bump rights in his own
classification. If a worker once
accepts a lower-rated job, it be-
comes very difficult to change
the situation. If in doubt, con-
sult your shop steward or the
union office before accepting a
lower-rated job.
Lynn Beats Raid
By Splinter Group
An effort to break off a small
unit of 170 workers from UE
Local 201 at the Lynn, Mass., GE
plant was recently beaten,
For over a year an outfit called
the International Die Sinkers Con-
ference has been trying to get a
foothold in the plant where the 16,-
000 workers are represented by UE.
The Taft-Hartley Board cooperated
by ordering an election for die
room workers, UE was not on the
ballot, of course, as the union will
not deal with the anti-labor board.
The die room workers voted
against the raiders,
Stewards Approve
Statement on ClO
The shop stewards’ meeting
Tuesday night by a substantial ma-
jority voted approval of the state-
ment adopted by the UE General
Executive Board Apr. 24 criticizing
national CIO officers for departing
from the original CIO policies of
“organizing the unorganized and
advancing the interests of its mem-
bers.”
The statement, printed in part
in last week’s EU News, called for
a united CIO campaign for jobs
and a higher standard of living.
Tt asked that CIO offiicals back
such a program instead of “using
the funds and energies of the CIO
for raiding and union-busting ac-
tivities.”
The statement went into detail
about the disruptive activity of
CIO officials in interfering with
the rights of autonomous CIO un-
ions and in attempting “to keep
the people out of the fight for their
own legislative program.”
“All of this has made almost im-
possible a united fight of labor tc
organize the unorganized for wage
increases and against layoffs”, the
UL Board said. “It has placed in
jeopardy the entire legislative pro-
gram the people voted for last
Fall. :
“It will, if permitted to continue,
lead to the destruction of the CIO.”
Report 2,539 Jobless
The Schenectady county offtee of
“the Unemployment Insurance Di-
vision reported’ that 2,589 jobless
workers were registered with it
as of Apr. 22, Apz, 15 figure was
2,818,
