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United Automobile Worker
-
1955-12-01
-
Vol. 18 No. 12
-
Te ay
VOL.
18—No.
12
DECEMBER,
1955
;
D
E
V
E
I
H
C
A
R
E
G
R
E
M
O
AFL-CI
LABOR EYES NEW HORIZONS
See Page Three
To all Members and their families...
Our warmest and best wishes for a happy Christmas
. . and for your health and well-being
MLL
MCL MOLT LA MLL
See Pages Six and Seven
7
Page
6
UNITED
December,
WORKER
AUTOMOBILE
1955
——
.
HOW CAN anyone tell
i the story of the CIO in a
half hour? Actor Melvyn
Douglas, above, left, at least
brought the feeling of it to
- the final CIO Convention as
» he narrated a pageant which
» spanned the two decades of
its history. The Workmen's
| Circle Chorus helped with
the background music. Many
a CIO member cried as he
recalled those hectic, turbulent,
wonderful
desperate,
early days.
Kee KK
AN
when
ENCORE,
CIO
left, came
President
Walter
P. Reuther took a dare and
sang, “Joe Hill,” along with
Joe Glazer, education direc-
tor of the Rubber
at the final
the CIO.
Workers,
convention
of
UAW PRESIDENT Walter P. Reuther delivers the keyGu
the 7ist Regimental Armory in New York City in front of thi.
right on the platform is Emil Mazey, secretary-treasurer of i
threshold of the beginning of what I know will be the mositi
American
labor moyement,”
Reuther told the delegates.
“WE
movement, and we are building it well, because the policies th
and
they are socially
and honorable.”
t a program
HIT OF the AFL-CIO Convention was the Kohler Workers Chorus which traveled by bus to presen
833 members, their wives
at the second convention session. The chorus, composed almost entirely of UAW Local
y-month-old strike,
and children, came by bus all the way from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to dramatize their twent
We are building on a founbi
responsible.
A STUDY
in lights and cameras was thi
ing lights in New
York’s vast 71st Regimentat"
was on the other side of the platform,
™
December,
'
WITH
A
resounding
thud,
oe
JACOB
President
AFL
7
Page
WORKER
AUTOMOBILE
UNITED
1955
POTOFSKY,
Clothing
president of the Amalgamated
Work-
the gavel on the final
ers, presents a CIO plaque to President Walter P. Reuther honoring him
yention. Next order of business—the merger of the
two great labor organizations.
The UAW president is head of the Industrial Union Department of the
new merged labor organization which has some seven million members.
George Meany brings down
session of the American
Federation
of Labor
for his dedication
Con-
and leadership during
terms as CIO
his two
president.
‘gagpeech standing on the rostrum in
weStessive unity backdrop.
At the far
NAW. “In truth we stand on the
uous chapter in the history of the
usbuilding
AFTER THIS came the new beginning. CLO President Walter P. Reuther brings the final
CIO Conyention session to a close with a man-sized gift gavel while Secretary-Treasurer James
a new and united labor
Carey
aflhave established are morally right
“id
the
of principles that are both sound
throws
up
close of the
starting December
his hands
separate
indicating
conyentions,
the end
of
a
dramatic
the delegates joined
chapter
in
labor
After
history.
for the historic merger
conyention
5,
THIS
donated
by
the
WEDDING
to the new
Bakers
the
played
at
in New
York
Union
cake was
AFL-CIO
and dis-
convention
hall
City.
ee
rs
wr itery
7 wInory.
of television and
newsreel
cameras against
A similar battery of newsreel
and
TY
the ceil-
equipment
THE
NEW
Director of Organization, the UAW’s
own
John
vention with the two chief planners of the metger, AFL-CIO
dent Walter P, Reuther,
W,
Livingston, discusses the AFL
President George
Meany and UAW
Con-
Presi-
:
|
C
cember,
Page
NEW YORK—No grony » here was more entkusiastic
about labor unity than the Kohler Workers’ Chorus,
rs in it agreed it’s ‘‘wonderful.”’
The youngst
The 54-yoiee chorus, fo rmed after UAW Local 833
to
forced
was
the
hit
bricks
THis is WHY 2000
i
bus from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to sing at the AFLCIO Convention.
Their big day in New York included a standing
ovation from the delegates after their four-number concert, pictures with a gover nor, a coast-to-coast TV appearanee in which they received a record player and
‘oodles’? of other. presents and a-quick and well-chaperoned look at the big buildings and bright lights.
They heard AFL-CIO President George Meany call
their strike a ‘‘symbol’’ fo r all labor. Meany also said,
“We shonld determine at this convention that come
what may tliese strikers shall not lose.”
They saw a booklet telli ng the story of their parents’
struggle distributed to all delegates and noted it contained an introduction by Peter Schoemann, president
of the Plumbers’ and Pipe Fitters’ Union. *
They got copies of a resolution—later passed—urging all members of the AFL-CIO to refrain from buying
Kohler plumbingware until Local 833 gets a just contract.
but happy group of youngsters piled into A4wo busse s for the long frip-back to
Sheboygan.
On the way they stopped in Toledo for
breakfast. with Local 12 a nd members of the staff of
Vice-President Dick Gosser and in Detroit where they
lunched at Solidarity House and entertained Solidarity
House workers with several songs.
Next
morning
a
DELEGATES to the inaugural AFL-CIO Convention in New York got the KohlChecking the UAW
er Story from this display in the 71st Regimental Armory.
display here are Harvey Kitzman, Region 10 director, left, and Emil Mazey, secretary-treasurer of the UAW.
4
In Columbus
Livingston Resigns;
Takes AFL-CIO Job
UAW
dent
The
Fifth
and
Annual
CIO
International
Bowling
Tourna-
with
the
The
tournament,
to all
CIO
week
“Pay raises come from union
wage clauses — not Santa
Clauses!”
Sa
Wage Survey of Truck,
Trackless
Trolley Industry Slated
LANSING,
Michigan—UAW
ternational, Vice-President
T. Gosser, director of the
Richard
Union's
Truck, Trailer, Bus and Trackless
Trolley Council, told the Council's
regular
semi-annual
meeting
here
last month that the UAW International Executive Board has authorized
dustry.
Results
published
a wage
be supplied
the
survey
of the
of the survey
in a loose-leaf
industry.
to all
The
local
book
ends
in-
members,
CIO
Council.
which
is open
will
starting
be
February
held
4,
1956, through and including
March
4, 1956, at the Hillcrest
Lanes, Columbus, Ohio. The tournament
has
the
moral
support
sanction approval of the American Bowling Congress (ABC) and
the Women’s International Bowling
Congress
(WIBC).
Winners will
both the men’s
visions
In-
Michigan
in
team,
be
and
decided
women's
doubles,
in
di-
singles
and all-events competitiop.
The
tournament will be conducted on
a 70
per
Prize
cent
fees will
per cent in
fund
which
$9,500.
trophies.
handicap
be
basis.
returned
the form of
last
year
100
a prize
totaled
will also receive
Winners
An
entry fee of $4.25 has been
set for each of three events—
team, doubles and singles.
All-
events
competition
is optional
at
be | $1 extra per person. Closing date
to for entries is Monday, January 9,
unions jn 1956.
will
book
will
be
brought up to date periodically,
Ed Cahill of UAW
Local 32,
Cleveland, Ohio, was elected secretary-treasurer of the Council to
Succeed
Harry
Stump,
who
re-
signed. Stump had held the post
since the Council's organization in
1939,
All
entry
further
information and
blanks can be secured by
as Direc-
duties
his new
assumed
officially
Livingston
W.
John
CIO as this issue of The United
Automobile Worker went to press.
i
to
going
Before
tion, Livingston resigned his UAW
Presipost in a letter to UAW
Reuther.
dent
“It
a feeling of sadI submit my resigna-
with
is
ness
that
tion
as
vice-president
be
and
fewer
20
last
more
with
filled
regrets
in
years
the
International
level.
in
those
“My
so completely
is
20
revolved
his
of
his
fulltime
“The
and
the
bilities
working
post
of
anticipation
for
will
attention.
challenge
men
through
exciting
contacting
ton,
the
Columbus,
Hotel
Ohio.
271. Homade
by
Deshler
Hil-
my
the
as
post
possi-
cause
of
union
or-
they
are,
ing brings,” he said,
“Words
cannot
express
telephone
ward
deep
diminish
the
of
LOrain 8-4000, extension
tel reservations can be
Michigan,
the
require
new
my
advancing
ganization,
not
new
feeling
to-
the Auto Workers nor the
sense of sadness that part-
feelings,
isfaction
My
is
to
life’s
greatest
believe
those
that
and
which would affect UAW members in Michigan has resulted in a stiff protest by
UAW President Walter P.
of its mem-
free
the
it means so much to
that I take from it
I leave. I know,
how-
it stands.
whom
with
you, Walter,
sat-
over
my
sincere
Joseph A. Nayarre to disallow
it
I
their continued
UAW
The
for
wishes
for
cooperation
personal
best
I
appreciation
and
friendship
my
and
members,
Board
Executive
success.”
Board
Executive
resignathe
in accepting
this
accepted
have
“We
noted
tion:
with
moye
luetance
lightly
and
a
pride,
surrender
a
that
know
to
proud
in the new
so capably
AFL-CIO
and
union
No
leadership,
proven
of
combination
of
man
but
this
we
vital
re-
can
are
post
will be fitted
so well.”
has
ther
National
United
U.
S.
President
been
Labor
Cerebral
Secretary
Mitchell
Walter
appointed
Committee
Palsy
of
the
of the
campaign.
Labor
is Committee
P. Reuto
|-
The rate boost was proposed by officials of the Michigan Hospital Service Plan,
which is the name under
which Blue Cross operates in
Michigan.
In a letter to Governor
Williams and Commissioner
Navarre, Reuther suggested
that they order a complete
review of the factors which
caused unnecessary inflation of Blue Cross costs.
such
Palsy Unit Names Reuther
UAW
Insurance Commissioner
State
officers
fellow
my
To
and
Williams
Mennen
G.
Governor
urged
who
Reuther,
ever, that I leave it the assurance of my constant and continuing devotion to those principles
their
Union that it is difficult for me
to conceive of life away from it.”
Livingston said he- must leave
his UAW position because the duties
behalf
nation
than
more
extend
has
around
world.
“Because
me, I fear
and
at the
years
the
bers,
on
leadership.
my
leadership
locally and
of UAW-CIO,
life
experiences
than
record
“rates
Cross
Blue
in
crease
its
and
strength,
23 per cent in-
A proposed
my best wishes for the continued
success of our Union under your
could
life
human
any
in
fine
its
have served so long and through
critical days; I extend
so many
it is not possible that any 20-year
period
progress,
its
“To
In-
UAW Protests
Rate Hike Plan
Of Blue Cross
the life of our Union, which also
measures my life in the Union, I
haye made some contribution to
for which
I think
UAW.
Union,
ternational
of the
do
14,
posi-
new
his
contacting
the UAW
Recreation
Department, 8000 East Jefferson,
Detroit
AFL-
the
for
of Organization
tor
Vice-Presi-
YORK—UAW
NEW
ment
for
men
and
women
is
sponsored by the UAW
Recreation Department
in cooperation
Bus,
ONE OFF Kee
tired
Bowling Meet
Starts Feb. 4
Trailer,
FAMI
THEIR
AND
by
came
ago,
months
20
9
Unity
Kids Okay
Kohler
WORKER
AUTOMOBILE
UNITED
1955
James
chairman.
“require
outside
an
the
they
that
proposed
also
He
to
Plan
agency,
in the fields of health
in
call
qualified
services
and prepayment, to conduct
studies and make recommendations with a view to finding
a valid solution to the reeurof assuring
problem
ring
high
quality prepaid hospital care
at reasonable cost.’’
The increase, Reuther said,
would be by far the greatest
since
would
the
cost
plan began and
a family approxi-
for hos-
mately $9.10 a month
pitalization alone,
Pressed Metals Members
Win 23.8-cent Package
Plus Other Improvements
PORT
HURON,
Members
at
work
ratified
ment
689, who
Local
Pressed Metals plant,
a new three-year
estimated
an
providing
the
cents
23.8
of
package
for
of UAW
Michigan—
workers
500
almost
per
at
hour
the
local plant.
President
Local
to
According
contract
new
the
Clyne,
Wayne
similar to
plan
contains a GAW
AMC,
A GOOD SUBSTANTIAL CONTRACT
the signing of the new Ex-Cell-O master
to UAW
Region
1A Co-Director Ed Cote.
also means a lot of paper work, as can
contract. The new agreement is worth
(Full details of Ex-Cell-O contract on
be clearly seen in this view of
more than 23 cents, according
Page 2.
plus
nomic
and
pension
1,
permissive
increases
September
tion,
full
improved
other
gains,
plan,
retroactive
seniority
eco-
to
arbitraset-up
Page
AUTOMOBILE
UNITED
10
WORKER
December,
Strike Shuts Detroit’s Dailies,
But Unions Print Substitute
Court Nixes
Price Fixes
In Michigan
For the first time in Detroit’s history, all of the city’s]!
daily papers of general circulation were shut down early
this month by a strike of newspaper workers. Because newsthe
topnotch,
but
anything
are
industry
their
in
conditions
that
publicity
little
strike
received
outside
of Michigan.
Affected. by the walkout of Local 9 of the International Stereo-
Union
Electrotypers
typers and
were the Knight-owned morning
paper, The Free Press, the
Hearst-owned Detroit Times, an
afternoon paper, and the Detroit
paper.
also an afternoon
News,
the
en
without
are
which
plates
metal
contract
the
charging
ex-
Detroit
Associ-
bargain
to
failure
with
out
had
Publishers’
Newspaper
ation
placed
walked
printed,
their
pired,
the
cast
and
presses
printing
newspaper
no
which
be
after
who
craftsmen
skilled
can
highly
Stereotypers,
The
and with attempts to institute
intolerable speedups and “open
shop” conditions.
Members of the other so-called
“mechanical unions,” whose conlines,
picket
Stereotypers’
the
ed
respect-
expired,
also
have
tracts
as did most members of several
other unions, including the Newspaper
Guild,
force.
in
still
whose
quickly
was
are
action
strike
layoff
by
followed
non-striking
to
given
notices
contracts
The
Free Press and Times employes.
To
help newspaperless
De-
troiters,
by
the
a
daily
tion,”
the
strike
21 unions
paper
called
have
“for
“The
established
Detroit
porter.” The paper is
and edited by laid-off
men
sation
working
unions
of
Trades
dura-
Re-
written
Guilds-
without
compen-
Allied
Printing
is supported
and
affected
the
the
Council.
by
the
Negotiations between the publishers and the Stereotypers are
but
continuing,
little
progress
was reported
as The United Automobile Worker went to press.
Nat'l Bearing Council
Elects New Officers
NEW
YORK—Ted
of
Other
the
Trojanowski
Council,
officers
elected:
Kenneth
Wells of Local 197, Plainville,
vice-presiCouncil
Connecticut,
dent; Walter Zajdeil of Local 140,
financial secretary-treasurer; Karl
Waite
of Local
art
Local
recording
John
of
Alley
14, Toledo,
secretary;
of
696,
Tom
Dayton,
Local
338,
has
Ohio,
Stew-
Ohio;
James-
town, New York, and Allen Jackson of Local 696, trustees.
Regional
and
UAW
the
Practices and
Department
Third
and
state-wide
Civil Rights
Fair
in the Pantlind
ing
Ho-
from
Headquarters
gan,
wa:
lind
Hotel,
it
Grand
Conference Call by UAW
the
Fai
President
UAW
Practices
Regional
Depart-
Directors
Ken-
Prac-
Keep Security System
Within Proper Limits,
UAW Counsel Urges
al
WASHINGTON—The
security
fense
program
Department
ited
to
workers
significant
Joseph
L.
Washington
Hennings
stitutional
program
with
security
Rauh,
access
has
told
on
Rights.
in a direction
to turn
the
coverage
by Senator
to
the
Con-
the
from
of about
three
mil-
in private industry
all workers in the
do not question the neces-
sity for a program
protect the nation’s
designed to
military se-
crets against Soviet espionage,”
he stressed.
“But we do question the scope
and fairness of the Defense Department’s procedures for carrying
call
this
out
attention
dangers
objective,
to labor
program.”
to
the
and
we
potential
inherent
in this
in
a
case
The
by Argus
involv-,
a
De-
Amer-
house. The
new
UAW Trustee Peterson
Elected Councilman Inter-
Pen
hearing.
N. ¥.—UAW
BUFFALO,
national Trustee King Peterson,
former bargaining committeeman
from
Local
Ford
425,
Buffalo
As-
sembly plant, was elected recently
to this city’s Common Council by
opRepublican
his
defeating
ponent.
Election
to the
Common
Coun-
Peterson
Brother
cil promotes
from the office of Supervisor for
the 5th Ward, a position which
he previously held.
local
cently
and
816.
A
was
UAW
Each
held
Locals
its
retiree
Company
ean
programs,
manufactur-
products
at
the
had far-reachbig firms de-
enforcement
and
the Toastmas-
Division
of McGraw
Company.
on the
begin
sell
court’s
de-
for the conThe decision
prices as re-
to realize
well
on
many
products.”
below
the
that
they
inflated
nationally
advertised
UAW Mourns Death
Of Labor Leaders
Durkin and Tobin
Two veteran labor leaders passed
away
on
late
the
last
eve
of
General
month,
the
practically
merger
President
conven-
Martin
P.
Durkin of the Plumbers and Pipefitters
re-
here
119
also
rector Russell R. Letner and members of the regional
urged the Locals to
tired members’ club,
of
the importance
participation in the
by
factory-fixed prices forced upon
them by the manufacturers. This
case shows once again how high
the margin
of profit has been
of their
was
bound
trade prices. They
are:
Electric, W. A. Scheaffer
tailers
banquet
870,
the
“This is a victory
sumer in Michigan.
will result in lower
presented with a pen and pencil
set,
Speakers included Region 5 Di-
ical action
with
to discontinue
tion,
retired members
unions
by
—
not
because
cision, International Representative Al Rightley, in charge of the
UAW’s Co-op activities, said:
Retirees Feted
honoring
was
Commenting
and that
Texas
desired
price.
Electric
DCO
DALLAS,
it
ter Products
as Mr. Mott...
SLL
U. S.,” he said.
“We
a
would
pres-
lodgéd
Distributors,
a
sell
of fair
General
gan, and Somerset Ridge, Bermuda. Mott, a former GM
AC Spark Plug Division executive, is GM’s biggest
stockholder.
The 820,000 shares he had before the recent three for
one stock split were worth $128,227,500 the last time
The Auto Worker checked the stock market. His capital gain and dividend income for the year are going to
amount to almost as much as the combined total wages
AC’s 10,000 employes.
Mott’s stock increased $37,920,900 in value since GM
announced its three-for-one stock split last summer. The
stock brought another $5,330,000 in dividends. That
makes a total of $43,250,000 in dividends and capital
gain.
AC’s approximately 10,000 workers would have to
put in 1,769 hours of work (in the neighborhood of 10
Butler
measure
cided
10,000 to 1
months) to make as much
includes some overtime.
introduced
program
lion workers
to “virtually
lim-
other than
(R., Md.) in a recently
ent
be
Subcommittee
bill, he said. That
De-
information,
Jr. UAW’s
counsel,
proposed
expand
the
should
time has come
The
industri-
of
decision
October.
which has already
ing effects. Three
It turns out that the best way to make money is to
be rich,
Take the example of Charles S. Mott of Flint, Michi-
Carter, Region 1C; and Kenneth
Robinson, Region 1D, signed the
Call for the Michigan Regions co-
Fair
a
Thé High Court this month refused to reconsider this decision,
STS
A
a
LA
to
“fixed”
corner,
neth Morris and George Merrelli,
Region 1; Edward Cote and J
seph McCusker, Region 1A; Wi
liam McAulay, Region 1B; Robert
sponsoring the Third
tices Conference.
for
firm
er
Above, two cops
bers of the Stereotypers Union.
watch three pickets at the Times’ main entrance,
while other strikers picket side entrances around the
Walter P. Reuther, director, and
William Oliver, co-director, of the
Union's
ment.
of
contract
THE HEARST-OWNED DETROIT TIMES is one
of the Detroit dailies shut down by a strike of mem-
Michi-
in
Inc.
price
the
a
in the Pant-
announced
so-called
of
last
been
Hall
any
20, 1956,
Rapids,
that state,
The Court had ruled earlier
that the wholesaler could sell
“fair traded” merchandise at
8 a. m. to 9:30 a. m. at Con-
ference
had
motion
Accredited delegates may register Thursday evening, January 19, |
1956, from 6 p. m. to 10 p. m., or
January
knell
ican Fair Trade Council, Inc., and
the
Sunbeam ‘Corporation
had
‘joined Argus in its unsuccessful
which |
January 22, 1956,
morning,
down
troit wholesale
tel, Grand Rapids, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, January 20 through
Friday
death
in
re-hearing
Cameras,
Practices
Conference
a
appeal
the
court
State Supreme Court this
refused to grant a motion
handed
of
Anti-Discrimination | ¢
are co-sponsoring
is to be held
for
Fair
Union's
price-fixing
The
month
Directors
the
the
putting an end to
“fair trade’’ prices.
On Fair Practices
January 20-22, 1956
Michigan
highest
sounded
for
Michigan Conference
that
of Local 140, Van Dyke, Michigan,
was elected president of the UAW
National
Bearing
Wage-Hour
Council at a recent meeting here,
it was announced by International
Vice-President Richard Gosser, director
Michigan’s
admit
to
hate
publishers
paper
1955
staff. Letner
set up a reand stressed
the retirees’
Union's polit-
Union,
Two
days
sters
Union,
later,
tus Daniel
apolis.
Durkin,
tary
61
of
after
died
was
83, was
top
prolonged
officers
messages
those
of
S.
Secre-
at the
age
illness.
American
among
in Indian-
U.
Labor,
a
Emeri-
of the Team-
former
of Labor.
were
President
succumbed
of the
The
in Washington.
J. Tobin
a
bin, who
dent
died
of
To-
a vice-presi-
Federation
of the
who.
condolence
families of the deceased
the unions involved.
UAW
to
sent
and
In a telegram to Peter
the
to
T. Schoe-
mann, who succeeded Durkin as
head of the Plumbers, the UAW
officers
sympathy
expressed
and
their
called
deepest
Durkin
“a
loved and respected leader” who
seryed “his fellow man, his Union
and his country well.”
The UAW officers also sent a
wire to Teamsters’ President Dave
Beck,
Tobin’s
expressing
noted
their
passing.
that
Tobin
regrets
The
at
message
had
“labored
long in the vineyards of democracy, and (had) faithfully served
his country, his Union and his fel-
low workers.”
Die Cast Council Calls
For Retirement at 58
NEW
Casting
meeting
YORK
Council,
here
—
last
The
at
its
UAW
month,
Die
annual
adopted
a resolution calling for the lowering of the retirement age for
WEEK-LONG STRIKE at the Mergenthaler Company, Brooklyn, by members of the Linotype Unit of
Local 770 convinced the Company that the
UAW
Union
meant
business.
Daily
picket
lines
like
the
one
above
brought
a package
settlement
of approxi-
mately 30% cents per hour, one of the highest packages negotiated in the country. It includes a sound,
fully-funded pension plan, 11 cents across the board.
workers in the die cast industry
to 58, it was announced by International Vice-President Richard T.
Gosser, director of the Unioh’s Die
Cast Department.
December,
UNITED
1955
AUTOMOBILE
WORKER
Four UAW Locals
Continue Strikes
Business Profits Zoom
As Farm Income Drops
American farmers are in the midst of a gigantic economie squeeze play with strong indications that the squeeze
will continue just as long as the Republican-Big Business
Administration and Secretary of Agriculture Benson are calling the plays. The farmers are suffering from low income
and high farm equipment prices, while big American cor-
At Revere, Lear
More than 5,000 employes
of Reyere Copper and Brass)
Ine., members of three UAW |
locals, are on strike in the}
Midwest and New England
because of the Company’s refusal to meet the 1955 pat-
porations are wallowing in the highest prices and fattest
profits in years. This is the strange contradiction of the current ‘‘prosperity’? which the GOP is bragging about so tern.
Major contract issues still
loudly.
in dispute include wages, penThe Benson-GOP line is that low prices and shrinksion improvements and the
ing farm incomes are not hurting the farmer, but the
Guaranteed Wage.
Negotiahigher prices they have to pay for farm equipment and
tions are continuing.
other commodities are hurting them. Another RepubliOn strike are Local 168,
been
have
prices
higher
that
one
the
is
torm
can brains
New Bedford, Massachusetts,
ts
forced on the farmers due to the higher wage contrac
Local 477, Chicago, and Local
that big, bad unions haye made their employers sign this
174, Detroit. The latter struck |
October 27. The other two Loyear.
eals went out November 9.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
With an election year in the offing, Seeretary of AgriGrand Rapids, Michigan—
for
blame
culture Benson is trying desperately to shift the
Some 1,800 workers at instalthe failure of his farm program. He’s picked the unions lations of Lear Inc., here are
who have negotiated wage increases for their members as continuing their strike, which
the scapegoat. This, apparently, is the GOP line as they try started October 22. They are
to get out from under the guilt for their bungling.
members of UAW Local 330.
Region 1D Director Ken
HERE ARE THE FACTS
Robinson said the Company
The truth is that farmers haye been hurt far more by
has not only failed to meet
falling prices of the products they sell than by rising prices
the Union’s 1955 economie deof the things they buy. However, with farm prices and inmands, but is trying to weakproducts
l
industria
of
prices
rising
e,
downgrad
the
on
come
en the local working agreefarmnation’s
the
for
tougher
even
situation
tough
make-a
ment. He said management is
ers.
trying to eliminate plant-wide
Prices of industrial products are being increased in a
seniority, cut the number of
wave of profiteering by corporations which already are
stewards and’provide for manmaking extortionate profits and paying dividends greatdatory overtime, among other
. things.
er than the farmers’ total income.
— to
Manufacturers are attempting—and so is Benson
The Company makes elecmake farmers believe that labor’s 1955 wage contracts are tronic equipment for aircraft.
responsible for the piratical price increases of steel, autos,
trucks, tractors and other farm machinery. This is a fraud
designed and intended to swing the farmers’ justified re-
bankers—
sentment against profiteering corporations and
and Benson—to wage earners and their unions.
PROFITS-DIVIDENDS
BREAK
RECORDS
The profiteering pattern of 1955 spreads out from the
price inereases announced by U. S. Steel Corporation in July.
Corporations are using the 1955 wage contracts as a false
front, behind which-they try to pin the blame on the workers for the price gouging which they are inflicting on their
customers.
This outbreak of profiteering comes at a time when
profits and dividends are already at the highest levels
in our history.
Here is a condensed record taken from reports published
by the Council of Economie Advisers who live in the Exeeutive Offices with the President himself (when he’s in Washington). They ought to know.
Side by side with the figures on the booming prosperity
for corporations, other figures reveal what has been happening to farm operators’ net income.
Corporation
Dividends
Farm
Year
Profits
Before Taxes
Paid By
Corporations
Operators’
Net Income
Avg. 1945-49
$26.0 billion
$ 6.3 billion
$14.4 billion
43.0 billion
10.9 billion
10.2 billion
Avg. 1950-54
37.9 billion
Avg. 1955
9.3 billion
13
billion
Note that the dividends being paid to stockholders this
year exceed the total net income earned by all the farm op-
erators of America, This is the first time that has occurred
since the years of the great depression
WHY
FARMERS
Poetic Justice
NEW CASTLE, Indiana
—Chesley Juday, plant
manager of the Perfect Cir-
cle Corporation plant here,
may fancy himself a “Big
Wheel’’ inside the factory,
but he evidently doesn’t
count for much in the city.
Juday, a city council
member for two successive
terms, sought re-election
last month and was badly
beaten. One of 18 candidates,
thus
he
ran
joining
a poor
last,
pro-Company
Mayor Paul McCormack in
defeat.
Juday was generally believed responsible for
amassing an arsenal of
arms and ammunition in
the plant which. was later
used by scabs to fire on
UAW pickets, McCormack
helped bring the National
Guard into the city.
SEASON'S
GREETINGS
OBJECT
Waxer
A Michigan UAW member has won his battle with the
Army and has had his name cleared, with the acknowledged
help of several attorneys, including UAW General Counsel
Harold Cranefield.
the
UAW
does—that
Con-
gress expose this scandal so the publie can place the responsi-
bility where it properly belongs?
month
to have
sympathizers.
munist
relatives
One
ances.
Kelly’s
Waxer’s
with
was
name
through a
ing
ARMY
of
letter
and
U.
Senate
stories
the
United
Last
lowed
er’s
matter
whether
it's
spring, summer, or winter, the
manager Is always looking for
a fall guy!"*
up
name,
celving
"No
month,
an
by
also
In
clearing
addition
honorable
entitles
him
ions
GI
ing
to
save
I hope
other
my
poor
case
Gls
Army
the
had
Bill
Is go-
a lot
of
its policy
dicharges,
on
the
and
grant-
only
will
the
case
throughout
any
phase
the world,
of unionism
tional—of interest to other
unionists,
re-
“I'm glad it's over,” Waxer said|
when he was notified of the de-|
“and
General
—local, national or interna-
fol-
benefits, the Army sald he could
be retained in the Army reserve.
cision,
on
discharge,
to
said
C,
bers of all its affiliated un-
Wax-
to
Cranefield.
UAW
Charles
essay contest open to mem-
press
Army
and
Fort
The International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions has announced an
Worker,
the
attorney
at
Essay Contest Open
To UAW Members
the Army had been
Dr. Kelly, Army Sec-
Automobile
Detroit
stationed
the civil rights of all citizens,
investiga-
in
first
to
his rights as a GI, and to protect
the rights of other veterans and
group.
S.
who
protect Waxer as a veteran and
member of the Union, to protect
APOLOGIZES
a
attorney
associations.
The UAW entered
linked
been a supporter of the Communist-dominated American Youth
for Democracy (AYD), a now-de~campus
a Louis-
consider a draftee’s behavior
while in the service, rather than
his pre-induction activities or
he wrote when
recommendation
Waxer, then a student, was tryThe
ing for a Navy commission.
Army alleged that Dr, Kelly had
funct
Lusky,
was
changed
Dr.
sity.
Dr.
re-
never offered any proof of any
of its charges against Waxer.
has now
He said the Army
Univer-
Wayne
of
Waxer
Cranefield
profes-
history
Detroit's
at
sor
these
of
my
interested in his case while
Counsel
per-
was
to Louis
Lockwood
acquaint-
casual
Kelly,
H.
Alfred
or
to
became
Knox;
teachers,
were
to
referred
sons
thank
said he was particularly
ville, Kentucky,
been ComThe
to
ATTORNEYS
grateful
charge” because of unfounded
charges that he had associated,
prior to his induction, with per-
sons alleged
have
for themselves.”
Waxer
dis-
a “general
given
been
I also
THANKS
490, Highland Park,
had been separated
service last May 31
ler Local
Michigan,
from the
and
ward
Chrys-
of
member
a
Waxer,
trouble.
a lot of people who came
defense without any hope
six months.
of about
a delay
which
demand—ags
last
of
retary Brucker publicly apologized
to the professor, as reported
in}
the
September
issue
of The
tary.
to
“Wax-
when the Department of the Army
granted 27-year-old Sanford Waxer an honorable discharge, after
showed that
wrong about
the scapegoats for his own dismal failure, This is pictured so dramatically in the $3 billion shrinkage of farm
income during his term of office ag Agricultural Secre-
fail
written
was
er Case”
the
to
final chapter
The
tion
It also makes crystal-clear why Secretary Benson is
trying so desperately to make workers and their unions
But it doesn’t explain the big puzzle. Why does Benson
fail to direct his fire against profiteering corporations? Why
Case
Army Finally Clears
Ex-Gl From Michigan
When
ness and shrinking farm income makes it very clear why
farmers object—and should object strenuously—to the hikedup prices they are forced to pay to grasping, profiteering
manufacturers for the commodities they buy.
Benson
The
Actually, Dr, Kelly had been instrumental in getting AYD banned
from the Wayne campus.
The striking contrast between soaring profits of big busi-
does
REOF UAW
DIRECTOR
PAT GREATHOUSE,
GION 4 (second from left), receives an Award of
Merit during a testimonial dinner honoring the veteran Chicago UAW leader. More than 1,800 civic and
labor leaders, including UAW President Walter P.
Reuther, U. S. Senator Paul Douglas (D., Ill.) and
Democratic leader and presidential contender Adlai
Stevenson, jammed the Sherman Hotel’s ballroom to
GreatLeft to right:
pay tribute to Greathouse.
house; Ellsworth Smith, committee secretary, and
Dr. Edward Sparling, president of Chicago’s Roosevelt
University.
|
Essays, limited to 1,500
words, should be submitted
to the ICFTU at 24, rue
du Lombard, Brussels, Belgium, not later than January 31, 1956, in envelopes
marked,
tion,"’
‘‘ Essay
Competi-
Page
UNITED
12
UAW Proposes and Common Council Okays—
A proposal to help Detroit’s old-age pensioners as well as
the city’s municipally-owned transportation system was admonth
last
vanced
by
Ratification
contract
The
Reuther,
Walter
President
UAW
said
Reuther
President
UAW
in
after
York
New
the
Council, and particularly Councilman Connor, who introduced the resolution, for providing the $50,000 appropriation
to
the
insure
sure
am
“T
while
DSR
the
reduced
fare
plan
out.
will bring joy
action
the Counceil’s unanimous
is tested
into the household of every old-age pensioner in the city of
Detroit.
“T trust the DSR Commission will-waste no time in fol-
lowing
fares in
tion of
to do so
the Council’s suggestion by instituting the reduced
time for the Christmas season. With an appropria$50,000 behind it, it would be folly for the DSR not
immediately.”
HALF-EMPTY
BUSES
trips
downtown
go to church.’”
MORE
At
the
both
should
be
able
to
afford
to
in
NEEDED
which
older
and
women
would
do
“We can help solve both problems by permitting people
on pensions or Social Security to ride DSR buses for five
cents,
between
the
hours
of
9:30
a.
m.
and
the entire day on Sunday,”’ his letter added.
4
p.
m.
and
for
De-
agree-
ment became
21, 1955.
effective
November
new
Detroit
Gasket
for
plan
fare
duced
citizens to lead richer, fuller liv
Reserves
Should
Organized
A
a worker
be
he
because
of the United States?
unemploymen t compensation
Reserves
Michigan
Considerable improvements were
made in the insurance coyerage
Blue
the
includes
now
which
family
$5,000
Shield
Cross-Blue
tions,
penalized
time
were
He
ruled against
employ
him
plant
in
as a plastic
Fisher
moulder
Although he had never done this
job before, Prechtel accepted.
of
sion
facts
Prechtel,
belongs
to the
referce
thinks
“a
called
shameful
and
doing
GM
CRACKS
DOWN
the
distortion
patriotic
of
deci-
the
“contrary
penalize those
to join the active
enough
reserve programs of the
of the Armed
When Prechtel tried to collect | branches
unemployment compensation bene-| Bommarito declared.
“The
facts
using
avoid
the
work
are
the
draft,
offered
that
Naval
did
to him,
hours,
chosen
to
Reserve
NOT
to
refuse
is merely
and
quibble
which
eree willing to go
sort of thing.”
The
UAW
berg’s decision.
is
has
over
found
along
with
appealing
were
included.
Special
wage
increases
in
At Perfect
12
a refthis
Stern-
SetCASTLE,
Indiana
reached on a/new
was
Perfect
Circle
dry
UAW
members on strike in various parts of the country,
violence
strikers
in
of
in
were
Company-in-
which
several
wounded
shots fired from within the
brought
The agreement
cent
an
year
and
a 7-cent
hour
wage
automatic
a
wage
the
foun-
Corporation
site
“here,
spired
THESE UAW RETIREES at the Local 154 Drop-In Genter are busy with Christmas toy projects, a scene which is being repeated in Dro} p-In Centers everywhere.
The toys will be distributed before Christmas to the children of Kohler strikers and
Circle
workers
increase
increase
reopener.
new
by
plant.
a 10-
and
next
Pen-
sions, vacations, and insurance
benefits were increased.
with
agreement,
and
settlement
Local
are
4,
troit;
members
Belding;
Local
Local
1114,
the
Marine
1280, Alpena.
Each
negotiated separate
other
UAW
‘De-
City
Local
and
Local Union
local supple-
and
seniority
regarding
ments
of
Gasket
608,
Muskegon,
1264,
| Local
Detroit
the
by
Covered
matters,
‘President Names
‘Leedom and Bean
'To NLRB Spots
|
|
|
C.—Two
D.
WASHINGTON,
National Laby President
appointments to the
bor Relations Board
Eisenhower seemed to bear
the President
reports that
Weeks
NLRB
of
tion
Leedom,
Boyd
last
ber since
an
was
chairman
mem-
NLRB
March.
Eisenhower appointee
Bean, a Boston GOP
of
posi-
vacant
the
to
Promoted
out
was
Sinclair
Commerce
of
Secretary
advice
policy
labor
the
heeding
other
The
was S. S.
attorney
NLEB trial examiner, who
named to the Board as a
and
was
member.
According
gressional
from
Con-
Commerce
Sec-
to reports
sources,
the
Bean
sponsored
by
Secretary
Mitchell. Steward
and
retary
said
by
accepted
to
choice
Labor
Roth-
Mitchell's
been
have
was
solicitor,
departmental
his
personal
Reached
coyering
five
non-economie sections have been
improved generally over the previous individual contracts.
man,
NEW
tlement
contract
of
along
provided
are
the
was
Agreement
pro-
clauses
standard
and
holiday
expected
that
the
back
pay
checks will be paid before
Christmas.
The full union shop is included
is |
being
penalized
because
of the
greed of the profit-swollen General Motors Corporation, which
has
paid
to approximately
one
month
following
expiration date of
each local agreement, and it is
yarious
Forces,
Prechtel
and
the
over-all
wage
increases
which
vary among the five plants. All
wage
increases are retroactive
»
are
to
half-holidays
term
ers
pRNALTY
FOR
PATRIOTISM
3
\
ne
Sternberg’s
decision
and
the
August,
he
was
re-employed
on
|Company’s attitude
the day shift as a jig and fixture
to public policy and
apprentice, a job he still holds.
Two
over-
and
cents per hour for hourly-rated
eight
and
employes
female
cents per hour for skilled work-
a slur on a young workhis
best.
to
serve
his
er
country.”
premiums
provisions.
added
year
UAW
International
Representative Angelo
Bommarito,
who
appeared before the referee in behalf
shift
vaca-
the
in
also
viding annual
improvement
faccost-of-living
and
increases
tor
threethe
during
adjustments
a Detroit
another
plan;
section,
General Motors worker because
he belonged to the U. S. Naval Reserve.
Sternberg?
Referee Samuel
so.
recent
the
plan.
Motors
American
income
GM Worker Draws Penalty
For Doing Reserve Duty
to
similar
basis
deferred
a
on
established
plan
of Bounds
Out
benefit
unemployment
tary
senior
enable
would
pensioners
supplemen-
a
and
plan,
pension
RETIRED COUPLES LIKE THIS ONE must spend
most of their time at home because they rarely can
afford 80 cents bus fare to go to a drop-in center or a
public park. UAW President Walter P. Reuther’s re-
NOT
other UAW
the
of
Inof 28 cents hourly.
ment
cluded in the settlement are a
most of their traveling, Reuther declared, city buses are op-} However, when he told the per-|
sonnel man that he had to report]
erating well under capacity.
night
for
three
| every Tuesday
:
; |
|hours of Naval Reserve
“The DSR needs more passengers in the late morning
training, |
the job offer was
rescinded.
In}
and early afternoon, and our older citizens need cheap
|
transportation in those hours,’’ he said.
em-
raises
wage
contains
contract
and fringe benefits which total
an approximate package settle-
duplicator on the afternoon shift.
men
1,975
three-year
new
The
Body
RIDERS
hours
and
national
some
plants
five
The
cil.
Reuther pointed out in his letter to Cobo that high trans- of the Michigan Employment | fits for the July-August period, he
portation costs keep many elderly people who are living on Security Commission held re- ran into trouble. Although the
MESC
claims interviewer had detight budgets, at home, while city-owned buses run half- cently that Donald C. Prech- } termined his continued eligibility
«
empty during non-rush hours.
of UAW |for benefits, GM asked for a retel, a member
Amalgamated Local 157, was | view. The second ruling again fa*‘America has made great strides toward giving these
| ineligible to receive unemploy- |vored Prechtel. GM appealed to
senior citizens the security and the dignity they so richly
| the referee, who ruled that Prech| ment compensation because he | tel was not entitled to benefits for
deserve,’’ Reuther wrote. ‘‘However, the great majority
had
to attend
Naval
drills for
of them still must guard their pennies carefully.”’
the period in question
three
hours
one
night
a week.
went
out
Too often, he told the Mayor, are they restricted to their Sternberg said he was therefore |
Referee
Sternberg
of his way
to make
untruthful
homes or rooms simply because they can’t afford to travel.
“not available” for full-time work.
and
derogatory
remarks
about
“A bus trip to the doctor and back costs 40 cents,’’ Reu- APRIE LAYOFF
Prechtel, saying that the claim‘‘Transportation costs to visit relather’s letter continued.
Prechtel, a production inspector | ant, who is 21, had enlisted in
tives or friends or drop-in centers keep elderly citizens con- in the Die and Machine plant of | the U. S. Naval Reserve in 1952
“to avoid being drafted,” that he
fined to home. If a pensioner wants to sun himself he ought GM's Fisher Body Division, was
to be able to afford transportation to a park. Often he can-| !#id off last April. He filed a claim| had “refused the work offered to
for unemployment
compensation | him on July
21,” and
that his
not. He should not be compelled for financial reasons to walk and began receiving benefits
| reserve status restricted his
in the snow along a bus route. His wife should be able to
Last July, GM offered to re- } availability to work.
make
new
Gasket and Manufacturing
was
reported
by EdCompany
of
co-director
J. Cote,
ward
UAW Region 1A and director of
the Union’s Detroit Gasket Coun-
being
to commend
wish
I nevertheless
is instituted,
a plan
a
troit
informed of the Council's action:
“TJ am extremely gratified to learn that the Common
Council is in favor of reduced fares for pensioners. While I
am sure the DSR will gain rather than lose financially if
such
of
covering
in
ployes
plan could easily be carried out in many other cities as well.
In a letter to Detroit's Mayor Albert E. Cobo, Reuther
Suggested that persons living on Social Security or other
forms of old age pension be allowed to ride the buses of the
city’s Department of Street Railway (DSR) for a five-cent
fare during non-rush hours. The normal fare is 20 cents.
Just before The United Automobile Worker went to
press, Detroit's Common Council unanimously passed a
resolution requesting the DSR Commission to initiate the
suggested reduced fare plan for pensioners on a trial
basis. The Council also appropriated $50,000 to~ insure
the municipal transportation system against any possible
losses due to the plan. The resolution was introduced by
Councilman Edward Connor who had introduced such
a motion two years ago which wasn’t acted on.
1955
Gasket Workers
Okay New Pact
Worth 28 Cents
for Pensioners
Fares
Bus
Reduced
December,
WORKER
A UTOMOBILE
Kay
Philip
Member
NLRB
Rodgers also had been considfor the
as a candidate
ered
chairmanship,
but
appointment was
“compromise”
a
Chairman
whose
He w
law.
justice.
Leedom
Guy
Chairman
succeeds
Farmer
term expired last summer
a former South Dakota
ernment
World
thought to be
Rebetween
factions.
publican
former
Leedom
the
and state Supreme Court
Bean was a military gov-
official in Germany
War
until 1960,
U.
His
term
after
runs
<jmliillilaliiaal.
- Item sets