UAW Solidarity
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- Title
- Date
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UAW Solidarity
-
1970-05-01
-
Vol. 13 No. 5
-
\
OLIDARITY
Tews
Wotes
and
at
lines
picket
Informational
(branches of Fruehauf Corp. are
albeing expanded to bring additionial pressure on the strikebound
«#firm to settle its long dispute with
(260 members of UAW Local 889
in Detroit, reports Reg. 1B Dir.
¥Ken Morris. UAW members are
Fruehauf
picketing
uieurrently
iuésales and service outlets in Desitroit, Saginaw and Grand Rapids,
‘ii{Mich.; Los Angeles and Ontario,
«Calif. and Toledo.
é
UAW
AT
S
CONVENTION
BIGGEST
in
housing
of
state
grim
The
Vol. 13, No. 5
‘jthe U.S. is reflected in reports issued by both the Dept. of Commmerce and the Dept. of Housing
the
Development:
Urban
n4and
ujnumber of one-family homes sold
diin
the
U.S.
is down
28
per
cent
9 below the figure of one year ago.
After
more
than four grapeless
years,
discriminating shoppers are now able
to
buy
grapes
with a union la-
bel, following union
recognition
won from some
growers in California’s Coachel~
la Valley. Farm
CHAVEZ
' Workers Leader Cesar Chavez
-, said the union label would be the
J
\
re
symbol
black thunderbird
union’s
}
A sardonic point by Columnist
4
Bill Gold in the Washington Post:
fi,
Motors has cut the pay of its
president from $794,934 a year
to $765,858? They had been paying him for a 40-hour week until
somebody thought to look in the
flat-rate book and found that the
job is supposed to take only 39.9
hours.”
» «Did
}
General
that
notice
you
UAW Canada’s longest strike
ever seemed about to end just
days short of two years, as Solidarity went to press.
340
Some
251,
members
Ont.,
Wallaceburg,
of
Local
struck
U.S.-owned North American Plas-
tics for a first contract May 18,
1968. According to UAW V.P. and
McDirector Dennis
Canadian
in Wallace“Victory
Dermott:
burg
was
dear
the
to
hearts
of
tens of thousands of Canadian
members, especially those in Big
Three auto plants who by law
were forced to handle goods supplied by strikebreakers.”
Following is the latest monthly
Strike
of the UAW’s
summary
Fund income and expenditures, as
issued by Sec. Treas. Emil Mazey:
Total fund assets,
$103,545,571.03
Feb. 28
Add dues income
3,437,598.76
$
for March .
Add earnings on
733,370.69
$
investments
Total
accountable
Disbursements
March
Total resources,
31
March
At
were
6,700
the
end
for
of
$107,716,540.48
244,285.73
>
$107,472,254.75
March,
29 strikes in effect
members.
there
involving
a
“8
a
i”
r
Rony
;
Pi
5
pH
on all boxes of grapes.
:
:
‘
eH
within a circle against a red flag,
stamped
}
/
an
Li
e
:
:
“A
2
|
Te
i
BR
EW
igus
&
JES
a
ae
gece
gag) lige i
<@
n:
mak
30-007
:
EB .
May, 1970
Convention
Charts
the UAW's
Future
dreamers with
bearing badges
came like young
pee
eyes on the horizon,
that read DELEGATE.
UAW convention time in Atlantic City,
NwJ.:
A time of color and excitement far from
the shops and timeclocks of Des Moines,
Dallas and Detroit—a time of exciting decisions fashioned proudly by young, middleaged
and
up-in-years
men
and
women
uniquely called together to do something
about the world in which they live.
They'll return to their machines and familiar neighborhoods, the horizon not quite
distant,
so
their
confided
dreams
to
others
and now closer to blossoming into reality.
UAW convention time:
A time that exudes hope.
A time that inspires inner pledges.
A time of unselfish concern for the wide,
wide world outside: the slums of nearby
Philadelphia and all cities, their trapped
inhabitants, the struggling farmworkers and
small
farm
owners
between
Atlantic
Tribute to Great Men
They saw and heard soft words from
former Chief Justice Earl Warren and they
acclaimed him for the paths he smoothed
for democracy’s sake.
City
and
Philadelphia
and
beyond—for
the
wretched tens of millions in lands most UAW
members will never see.
A time for pride because, after all, these
delegates would write another chapter in the
glorious history of workers anxious for justice, for peace, for brotherhood—not just for
themselves but for everyone. And it’s that
And for a brief hour, a shadow moved
around the huge convention hall: Mrs. Coretta Scott King stood before the delegates,
accepting a posthumous award—the UAW’s
highest award—for her husband and words
like “we shall overcome” and “free at last”
were like whispers on the conscience.
Excitement at the sight of her, then tears
as memory crowded in. Open tears for many,
shed without shame. For many others, the
} SOLIDARITY
kind
Official
publication
of the
International
Union,
United
Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America.
jitorial office:
8000 E.
Jefferson
Ave..
Detroit.
Mich.
482
Yearly subscription to members:
60
cents;
to non-members:
POSTMASTER:
mailing 1.
to
a
Send
) E.
Form 3579 attached directly under
Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich.
48214
yaid at Washington, D.C. 20002. Pub26 16th St..
N.W..
Washington,
D.C.
EMIL
Vice
Treasurer
MAZEY
Presidents
Leonard Woodcock,
Pat Greath
Jack
Edwards,
Douglas
A.
Fra
Dennis
actly
President
P.
REUTHER
Secretary
Ken
.
McDermott
Olga
Bannon,
M.
Nelson
Madar
and
Regional Directors: 1—George
li, 1A—Marcellius
Ivory, 1B—Ken Morris, 1C—Don Merrel
Ellis, iD—Kenneth W.
Robi
—Bard
Young,
2—William J. Casstevens
2A—
alter Murphy, 3—Raymond H. Berndt,
4—-R
-Ken Worley.
6—Paul Schrade
Canada—Den
Gerber,
Paul
I
nott,
9A—Charles
M.
8—E.
Kerrigan,
T.
Michael,
10—Harvey
International
Trustees
Lawson,
Ann LeFebyre
and Blaine
Publications
Director
9—Martin
Kiteman
Marrin
Ray
News
Jerry
Staff members:
Alvin
pert,
Frances
D'Hondt,
Mantyl:
Karl
and
Member
Martin
Editor
Dal
Bobbic
Barbee,
Simon AlHartford.
Howard
Lipton
er
Guild,
AFL-CIO
Page 2—UAW
:
SOLIDARITY—May,
where
urging—an
Se
choke,
Mrs.
King
that
stands.
appeal—for
hood and a gentler world.
just
glisten
That
was
six
peace,
for
brother-
for All People
Black and white and Indian and Oriental,
from big cities and little towns you never
heard of, they searched their conscience,
they looked at America and Canada and then
at the rest of the world. They saw people.
And so an unselfish union cast its program
in the image of people:
Full
DIRECT
MAIL CIRCULATION
April, 1970: 1.846.458
0
that
A Program
Director
Adams,
Jerry
tears
years ago at another UAW convention. He,
too, accepted
the UAW’s
Social
Justice
Award, given posthumously to his brother,
John, who just two years before that had
smiled and waved and talked to UAW convention delegates from the same podium.
More shadows.
As if recalling those dreadful, violent days,
delegates underlined their decisions with an
Department
and Editor of Solidarity
Ogar
Thaddeus
Assistant
of
the eyes and leave you alone except for the
shadow: the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., back to finish his journey, back to stay
in men’s hearts. In your aloneness, that’s
your hope and your promise.
The UAW in convention:
Senator Robert F. Kennedy had stood ex-
$1
WALTER
universal look that makes a UAW convention.
The UAW in convention:
Delegates gave near-unanimous approval
to a collective bargaining program and the
leadership is geared to pilot a course toward
greater security and equity.
equality
realized they have
their hands, too.
for
women—and
a civil
rights
women
battle
on
There’s
for men
still some
distance
and women
to full justice
of minority races and so
delegates said: “Professions of democracy
are meaningless unless they are accompanied
by effective and impartial action by the
government and the people to assure that
the constitutional, legal and civil rights of
individuals and minority groups are fully
protected—including the minorities of opin-
ion as well as those of race .. .”
A UAW member’s own security is frail,
he knows, unless it’s shared, unless it’s broad
and means no one lives in poverty, jobless,
with children hungry—doomed to miss a
proper
education
which
doomed—period.
means
(in this age)
Spell Out Principles
So UAW members in convention swept all
360 degrees of man’s interests and man’s
crises:
e
Inflation must
be fought,
but not at the
expense of men’s jobs; not by heaping burdens of unfair taxation and scandalous interest
rates on
the
innocent.
e Because men yearn for dignity,
that make for full employment must
sued.
e
The
young,
bursting
policies
be pur-
with
ideas
and
special
and
must
must
be
made
hope, must be heard.
e The old must be respected for their con-
tributions;
their
needs
are
be met.
e The air we breathe must be cleansed
and kept clean; the water we drink and fish
and watch reflect the moon and stars must
be made
pure
again.
e The
best
of health
available
to everyone:
care
never
again
must
any
child, any mother—any person—suffer because society has kept the dollar sign affixed to health care.
And peace.
UAW President Walter P. Reuther put it
this
way:
“While
problems
more
,
difficult
plague
urgent
disarmament.
than
our
and
the
Every
complex
domestic
society,
no
problem
noble
effort
to
problem
of peace
is
and
elim-
inate the ills of our society can come to
with the irrational
in a moment
naught
triggering of the H bomb...”
The UAW
paths to the
in convention: charting new
horizons of better tomorrows.
1970
ee
i
FOR THE WORKER
AND THE FAMILY
Parts Suppli
| Plants Supy
PEN
FEQERA!
REINSURAree
PRIVATE
PENSIONS
Convention Mandates
Contract Goals
e Minimum
pension
benefits
month after 30 years of credited
gardless of age.
of $500 a
service, re-
e Improved and humanized working conditions, with the worker being assured of
the right to help shape his job environment.
e Effectively meeting problems which confront
workers
as
a
result
of
Subcontracting Proposal
bargaining
de-
program
signed to move UAW members and their
families into the 1970s was hammered out
by delegates to UAW’s convention held in
Atlantic City April 20-24.
demands
the
overwhelmingly,
Adopted
formulated by the 3,142 delegates include
substantial wage increases, the “30 and Out”
pension program providing minimum benefits of $500 a month after 30 years of service, regardless of age, improved working conditions and other important proposals.
The delegates also demanded restoration
of the full cost-of-living protection formula
and its improvement. Additionally, they made
cost-of-living
the expected
it clear that
“overage” of 21 to 26 cents an hour, due
auto workers at expiration of the current
agreements, must be added directly to the
wage rates.
‘Matters of Highest Priority’
“These are all matters of the highest priority,” said UAW President Walter P. Reuther,
referring to these and other demands. ‘You
are mandating your bargaining committees
and the leadership of this union to fight for
these demands.”
Described by Reuther as “the most important resolution to come before the convention,” the bargaining program is targeted at
upcoming
negotiations
implement
tural
for
workers.
auto
and
Contract
agricul-
bargain-
ing at the Big Three—General Motors, Ford
and Chrysler—is expected to get underway
in July.
delegates
But
from
contracts generally
told the convention
aerospace
e Correcting problems caused UAW members as a result of work being subcontracted
out by their plants, including establishment
of the right to strike against subcontracting
abuses.
e Equal opportunity for all workers to get
higher level jobs, both higher skilled bluecollar and white-collar.
e A solution to the problems of skilled
trades workers, such as use of outside conin
improvements
tractors,
training programs, grappling
apprenticeship
with problems
of lines of demarcation and achievement of
pattern contract bargaining in jobbing shops.
© Working on solutions to the special problems of white-collar workers, foundry workers and other specialized groups within UAW.
e A year-end cash bonus to enable workers to share in the profitability of the company for which they work.
¢ Improvements in benefits covering early
retirement, basic pensions for present and
future retirees, and survivors.
e Extension of the UAW-won prepaid prescription drug program to the retiree and his
surviving spouse.
e Full company payment of the Medicare
premium.
© Cost-of-living protection for retirees.
e Liberalized pension vesting provisions.
¢ Improved SUB for low seniority workers and improved income maintenance and
short workweek benefits.
ITN
Establishment
system
subject
of
an
to local
inverse
option.
seniority
e A family dental care program.
e Family coverage for such out-of-hospital
doctor’s services as home and office visits.
Insurance
technological
change, such as job losses and bargaining
unit erosion.
@ Overtime
to be voluntary
for each
worker.
e Preferential hiring rights in “customer
company” plants for displaced parts and supplier firm workers.
COLLECTIVE
e
Benefits
e Improved group life insurance and week-
ly sickness
and
accident
benefits,
with
joint
union-management administration to insure
fair and equitable claims adjustment.
© Closing loopholes and gaps in existing
fringe benefits such as pensions, SUB, insurance and health care, and elimination of deficiencies in other programs such as jury
duty and bereavement pay.
e Longer vacations, with workers being
encouraged to take vacation time off instead
of pay in lieu of vacations.
e A vacation bonus.
© More paid holidays, including an unbrok-
Christmas-New
en
week
holiday
paid
Year
and more long weekends.
e Workers on necessary continuous sevenday operations should be covered by the same
premium pay principles as all other workers.
e A
cedure.
faster,
effective
more
pro-
grievance
Program
Canadian
e Continued cooperative work to find answers to special problems of UAW’s Canadian members.
e Establishment by the corporations of a
fund to assist UAW members and their families to further their education.
e Ending pollution by the auto and related industries of man’s living and working
environment.
“No worker in this union, whether he is
the lowest paid production worker or the
highest paid engineer or skilled trades worker, can find the answer to his problem in isolation,’ Reuther said.
“We can find the answers to these problems only if we put together the basic solidarity of this union. We are all going to go
out
are
of
this
going
essary
to
convention
to fight
get
these
on
arm
the
in
picket
demands
in
arm
lines
and
1970.”
we
if nec-
rf A
H
locals, whose
do not expire until 1971,
their members recognize
that economic gains for aerospace workers
are tied to improvements which will be won
by UAW members in major negotiations this
year.
adopted
was
resolution
bargaining
The
overwhelmingly by a vote of over 99 per cent
of the delegates. Here are its major points:
©
Substantial
¢
Improved
for all UAW
creases
International
c-o-l
do
e
provisions
not
across-the-board
include
The
members.
cost-of-living
Union
21-to-26
protection,
assistance
to locals
such
wage _
whose
a clause,
cents
in
with
winning
contracts
cost-of-living
in-
now
‘‘over-
age’’ must be added to direct wage rates, the
convention said in a companion resolution,
May, 1970—UAW
SOLIDARITY—Page
3
|
are
noise
using
and
pollution
to develop
Curtis
THOROUGH
AFTER
793,
DEBATE
a
Calls It ‘Unity’ Program
One
dent
of
Amalgamated
444,
Local
Canada, who said: ‘‘This program
to weld
ple here
together
this union
so
Windsor,
is designed
all
that
in taking
to unite
be able
will
presi-
Brooks,
Charles
was
supporter
peo-
on
the corporations.”
Another was William Adams, president of
the 4,000-member Ford Local 897, Buffalo,
N.Y. who told the convention he “strongly
urged adoption” of the demands.
Adams, a skilled tradesman
in a local
where, he said, one-third of the members are
craftsmen,
said
skilled
trades
workers
“will
continue to walk the picket lines united with
Robert
Kinerk
of UAW’s
Local 662, Anderson,
long been in support
pension demand.
“Our
for contract
workers”
production
the
younger
GM
Delco-Remy
Ind., said the local “thas
of
the
members
’30
may
the importance of this program
look
at
retirement
as
gains.
and
not
Out’
realize
because they
something
far
in
the
move
us
future,” he said. “If you help us get this pro-
gram
over;
through,
we'll
move
you
out
won’t
and
have
you
to
can
take
over.”
Backs 30-and-Out
Jack Wagner, president of GM Local 599,
Flint, Mich., urged the convention to make
this
demand
the
‘number
one
priority.”
Earl Coleman of UAW’s GM Local 933,
Indianapolis, Ind., and Wayne Medders of
Ford Local 1250, Cleveland, O., each spoke
in favor of the proposal to restrict management’s use of outside contractors.
Each made the point that employment of
outside contractors for such work can result
Page 4—-UAW
SOLIDARITY—May,
1970
in layoffs of UAW members. “It not only
brings layoffs of our people but there is nothing right now that we can do about it,’” Medders said.
Art Fox of Ford Local 600, Dearborn,
Mich., unsuccessful in his bid for the UAW
opposed
the resolution.
“We're asking for a 50 per cent across-theboard increase for all UAW workers and no
UAW worker to work for less than $5 an
hour,” Fox said.
Another opposition speaker, Mike Singer
of Ford Local 588, Chicago Heights, IIL,
said, among other things, that the 1970 program should include a demand that overtime
be made voluntary and that it should be “one
of the main
Delegate
issues”
Maurice
in the next negotiations.
Pape
of
International
Harvester Local 57, Ft. Wayne, Ind., said
he was “against the resolution in part because I don’t think it goes far enough on
the pension program.”
‘Merit
Total
Suppor
Jack Poudrier of North American Rockwell Local 887, on the other hand, told the
convention that its “collective bargaining
goals for negotiation with the auto empire
merit the total support of not only auto and
other locals but of sister aerospace and agimp locals of UAW.
“We in aerospace are well aware that the
gains achieved in auto workers’ contracts
help open the door for similar strides in
aerospace workers’ contracts,”’ Poudrier said.
“We are indeed well aware that in bargaining, we must maintain an indivisible union.”
The convention’s decision to pinpoint pollubrought
demand
tion as one bargaining
favorable comments from Thelma Livingston
of Chrysler Local 51, Detroit, and Wilbert T.
Roberts, Amalgamated Local 509, Los Angeles, Calif. They labelled pollution “the most
serious issue of our time.”
Supports Pollution Stand
Sister
dedicate
Livingston
elimination
itself
in
said
coming
the
UAW
stop management
from
“must
negotiations
of pollution on the job. We
hearing
Hartfield
Benton
causes
also
many
disabilities.”
of Auto
Harbor,
Mich.,
includes
workers
Specialties
urged
the
Loca
con;
comparable
wage
cheaper
wage
area
gaining
resolution
area
because
and
this
goes
takes
to
aj
our}
jobs and our pension benefits away from us.”
Reuther told the delegates that the bar-:
Gets Enthusiastic OK
presidency,
which
and
vention to “get an agreement whereby the
Big Three will not job out work to a com-;
pany that moves out of Michigan or out ofi
m
a
r
g
o
r
P
g
n
i
n
i
a
g
r
a
B
0
7
'
HEY WERE all there—3,142 delegates
representing UAW’s auto, aerospace, agricultural implement and other workers—and
the
they had shaped
they left no doubt
union’s 1970 contract demands and are supporting these enthusiastically.
In the nearly four hours of discussion of
the bargaining resolution, many delegates
favoring passage spoke of the gains it targeted for achievement and the problems it
sought to solve for all UAW members and
their families.
Those opposing it, with few exceptions, pinpointed their criticism on one or two specific
proposals in the program.
dumping
|
to
must
forcing our members
to perform work assignments which destroy
the ecology,” she added.
Roberts said: “We have the problem inside the plants which includes chemicals we
“is
comprehensive
and);
realistic, and reflects the needs and hopes2
and aspirations of our rank-and-file mem-}<
bers and their families.
“If we are united, we improve the pros-pects of translating the words into actionf
and into meaningful contract achievements.”|'
Following Reuther’s words the conven-}
tion voted on the demands. There were only \|:
about
30 dissenting
votes.
OVERWHELMINGLY
WIN
T
proclaim-
and
parading
of
signs,
of
chanting,
and
cheering
of
ing,
Top International
Officers Re-elected
day
a
WAS
slogans and singing, of hoopla and of whoop-
| ing it up for candidates for UAW leadership
offices.
Splashed toward the huge, high dome of
Atlantic
City’s
of many
Below
colors.
them,
a rain-
like
auditorium
vast
bow cut up into floating clouds were balloons
a
Secretary
P. Reuther,
113, Woodcock,
Continental
in the
to work
59, went
now
Local
Motors
auto industry in 1933 when he joined an AFL
UAW-CIO.
the
of
part
became
later
which
Union
Labor
Federal
Treasur-
by the vast numbers
and obscured
of
member
director.
1D
Competitive Shop departments, he is responsible for negotiations with the agricultural
implement industry giants and other major
companies.
er Emil Mazey and the other union officials
just nominated to the top UAW offices.
A slate of opposing candidates also had
been nominated. But whatever demonstration their supporters had planned was overshadowed
A
as Region
terms
four two-year
singing,
of
line
steady
served since 1955 as a vice president of the
International Union. Before that, he served
Greathouse has served as a vice president
since 1956. Director of the American Motors,
sometimes
delegates,
marching
shouting,
eight and nine abreast, stepped gaily around
the convention floor and up across the stage
where many sought the hands of UAW President Walter
The UAW's
Vice Presidents
VOTE
CALL
IN ROLL
charter
A
Ford Assembly
Greathouse
plant in Chicago,
served as director of UAW Region
his election as vice president.
a member-at-large of
53, has been
Fraser,
4 before
Director
Regional
Former
the
at
551
Local
of
member
and
Organizing
Implement,
Agricultural
of delegates who paraded and cheered and
held aloft their signs and banners in support of the “Reuther team.”
International Executive Board
the UAW
since he was elected to that post in 1962. He
Victory Margins
years before that and earlier served for eight
the con-
the roll call was completed,
When
vention had re-elected Reuther to the UAW
presidency with 14,202 votes to 230 for his
* opponent, Art Fox of Local 600. Mazey won
re-election with 14,065 votes while his challenger, Peter Kelly of Local 160, received
294.
Reuther came to Detroit from his native
West Virginia in 1926 and went to work at
Ford. He soon became active in various
drives to organize workers into unions and
lost several jobs because of that activity.
He was one of the founders of the UAW
and attended the infant union’s first convention in South Bend, Ind. in 1936. He was first
elected to the UAW executive board at that
in 1942
vice president
became a
convention,
and was first elected president in 1946. This
is his 13th term in that office.
Mazey was elected president of Local 212,
Detroit, in 1937. He won his first race for a
UAW International office in 1946, when he
was elected to the union’s executive board
while actually thousands of miles away from
the convention hall. (He was on the lonely
Pacifie isle of Ie Shima, serving in the U.S.
Army.)
Mazey was first elected secretary treasurer
in 1947 and has been re-elected to that post
at every subsequent
convention.
Re-elected vice presidents were Leonard
Woodcock and Pat Greathouse. Elected to
the four vice presidential posts newly created
by the convention were Ken Bannon, Nelson
Jack
Madar.
Edwards,
Vice
Fraser
Douglas
Olga
and
Votes
Presidential
Their votes ranged from 14,150 to 14,257
while those of their challengers—Teresa Carpenter, Local 248;
James A. Parker,
Local
Herb
158 to
Also
Bob McFarlin, Local 212:
Local 669; Mike Singer,
588; Rudy Sulenta, Local 216, and
from
Zalopany, Local 1264—ranged
297.
designated a vice president was Den-
nis McDermott, Canadian regional director.
Under a constitutional change approved by
of the union’s
as an Interna-
the delegates, the director
Canadian region also serves
tional vice president.
In addition, Paul Lawson
as an International UAW
Local
member of Budd
held
Pa.,
has
yak
of Local
ceived
14,316
Woodcock,
Motors
and
that
votes
163.
post
since
for
of the
Aerospace
re-elected
trustee. Lawson, a
813, Philadelphia,
to 291
director
was
1957.
Elmer
union’s
He
re-
Horn-
General
departments,
has
four
for
assistant to Pres-
administrative
as an
years
1A
of Region
as co-director
served
ident Reuther.
Fraser also is director of the union’s
Chrysler, Skilled Trades, and Technical, OfdepartOrganizing
Professional
fice and
ments.
Bannon, director of the union’s National
Ford Dept. since 1947, had served as a board
member-at-large since 1962. He also is director of the union’s Bendix and Borg-Warner
Depts., and the Ex-Cell-O, Federal Mogul,
Midland-Ross
Norris,
McQuay
Houdaille,
and Modine councils. He will be 56 next
month.
A member of Ford Local 400, Bannon and
a Ford rank-and-file negotiating committee,
assisted by Reuther, put together the first
company-wide negotiated pension plan in the
auto industry in 1949.
Edwards, 52, also had served as an International Executive Board at-large member
since 1962. Director of the union’s Independent Parts and Suppliers Dept., and codirector of its Manpower Development and
Training
Local
Die
other
900,
Edwards,
Dept.,
Casting
Forge
and
and
departments
First
the
heads
also
of
member
a
union’s
Foundry,
and
departments
councils.
Board
on
Woman
Miss Madar was the first woman elected
to the International Executive Board when
she won an at-large seat at the 1966 conBefore
vention.
ternational
tor
for
that,
Union’s
19 years.
She
she
had
Recreation
been
Dept.
is a member
796.
As head of the Dept.
Resource Development
In-
the
direcLocal
of
and
she
of Conservation
for the UAW,
union’s wide-rangfor the
responsible
is
ing battle against pollution and destruction
ef natural
cently
of the
resources.
She
also
established Consumers
union and the servicing
heads
the
re-
Affairs Dept.
section of the
Technical, Office and Professional Workers
Dept.
McDermott, 47, was elected Canadian re1968 convention.
gional director at UAW’s
Sub-regional director for eight years before
that, he served as UAW’s chief negotiator
implement
agricultural
the Canadian
with
industry and won recognition as an expert
on arbitration and labor law.
He started work as an assembler and weld-
er at
the
Massey
plant
in Toronto
in
1948.
He served Local 439 for five years as chief
steward and three years as recording secre-
tary, and was appointed
Union staff in 1954.
to the International
.
DENNIS
McDERMOTT
May, 1970—UAW
SOLIDARITY—Page
5
REGIONAL
ELECTIONS
INE regional directors were re-elected by
acclamation, seven incumbents won in
roll call votes and two new directors were
elected by regional caucuses held during the
22nd Constitutional Convention,
George Merrelli won re-election to the directorship of Region 1 in a five-way contest.
He received 689.412 votes to 57.296 for his
Robertson.
H.
George
opponent,
nearest
Merrelli, 59 and a member of Local 235, has
been a member of the International Executive Board since 1955.
Region 1A Director Marcellius Ivory received 417.585 votes to 405.391 for Robert
Battle III, vice president of Ford Local 600.
Ivory
was
elected
last
year
at a special con-
Ken
Morris-was
1948.
was
tive
E.
tion
Robinson, 48, was returned by ac-
clamation to the directorship of Region 1D,
covering western and northern Michigan. He
first won election to the post in 1955. Robinson, who has served on numerous state and
community organizations and is active politically in Grand Rapids, was appointed to
the Region 1D staff in 1944 after his union
work in Local 801 at Hayes Manufacturing.
Also re-elected by acclamation was Bard
Young, head of Region 1E. Young first was
elected to the post in 1962. He was appointed an international representative in
June 1944. Young joined the UAW in 1939
and helped organize Wolverine Tube.
In Region 2, headquartered at Cleveland,
Ohio, Billy Joe Casstevens captured the directorship from Dan Forchione. Casstevens,
41, received 412.152 votes. Forchione, 44,
who had been director since May 1968, received 386.837 votes.
UAW
the
as
international
BERNDT
JOHNSTON
Page 6—UAW
a
Organize
28
board from the time it was organized in
1938. He was appointed as an international
representative in 1941.
Charles H. Kerrigan, 57, was re-elected by
acclamation as director of Region 9A. Kerri-
gan has been director
1941. He joined Local
of the region since
365 as an aircraft
worker and was elected a local officer, serving until 1941 when he was elected to head
the region.
In Region 10, Harvey Kitzman was reelected to the directorship which he first
won in 1949. Kitzman received 397.892 votes,
compared with 48.107 for Eldred Mielke.
Kitzman was instrumental in organizing J. I.
Case Co. in Racine, Wis., into Local 180 and
served
as president of the local for 11 years.
SCHRADE
He
has headed the region serving Indiana and
Kentucky since 1947. Born in South Bend, Ind.,
Berndt went to work for Studebaker in that
city and was elected president of Local 5.
Helped
at
repre-
director.
as
acclamation
by
Elected
ber of General Motors Local 595 in Linden,
N.J., Gerber served on the local’s executive
sentative and as an elected official of Amalgamated Local 12.
In Region 3, Raymond H. Berndt, 59, was
re-elected
Aircraft
and was
Martin Gerber, 53, was re-elected director
of Region 9—a post he first gained in 1944
at age 28. Gerber received 989 votes against
58 cast for William Farrell. A charter mem-
Director
an
He became active in Local 439 and
appointed an international representain 1948.
T. Michael was re-elected by acclamaas director of Region 8. He helped or-
First
gion 2A. Ross received 324.066 votes, against
198.928 for his opponent, Elmo Parrish. Ross
first was elected regional director in 1949. He
went to work for International Harvester
Co. in Springfield, Ohio, in 1934 and became
president of Local 402 at that plant.
Walter Murphy, 58, was re-elected by acclamation as director of Region 2B. A former
administrative assistant to the late Vice Presalso has
Murphy
Gosser,
Richard
ident
served
served
elected president of Local 842 in 1950. He
was appointed in 1955 to the Region 8 staff.
re-elected as director of Re-
Ross was
Schrade
ganize workers at the Fairchild
plant in Hagerstown, Md., in 1942
Casstevens, who becomes the youngest of
the regional directors, was appointed an international representative in 1962 under Region 2’s then director, Pat O’Malley. A UAW
member for 17 years, Casstevens served as
recording secretary, steward and committeeman of Local 45.
Ray
Aviation,
Dennis McDermott, who also was elected
a UAW
vice president, was re-elected by
acclamation to a second term as director of
the Canadian Region. McDermott, 47, started
work as an assembler and welder at the
Massey-Harris plant in Toronto, Ont., in
Opposition
Youngest
American
seven years on the UAW staff, including a
span from 1957-62 as administrative assistant to Reuther.
since 1955, Morris served six terms as president of Amalgamated Local 212 in Detroit.
In Region 1C, covering the Flint area, Don
Ellis won the directorship over challenger
Jack Wagner. Ellis succeeds E. S. ‘“Pat’’ Patterson, who suffered a disabling stroke last
January. Ellis received 649.589 votes; Wagner 403.391. Ellis, 52, is a former president
of AC Local 651 in Flint. A UAW member
for 29 years, he served as assistant regional
director since 1954.
Kenneth
ELLIS
North
member
board
A
1B,
In Region 6, Director Paul Schrade was reelected. Schrade received 588 votes, compared with 18 for his nearest opponent, Philip
Reyes. Schrade, 45, first was elected director
in 1962. An officer for 10 years in Local 887,
by acclamation
re-elected
Region
of
as director
No
MORRIS
ternational representative in 1951 and was
named assistant regional director in 1959.
vention to head the region on Detroit’s West
Side. He succeeded the late Joseph McCusker.
Ivory joined the UAW in 1937 at Local
236 and has been a member and elected official of Locals 36, 400 and 600, employed at
different times in three Ford plants in the
Detroit area.
Directors
Canadian
U.S. and
UAW's
\
Local
Robert Johnston was re-elected as director
of Region 4 which covers Illinois, Iowa and
Nebraska. Johnston received 1,170.291 votes,
compared with 67.618 for his nearest opponent, Dave DeBarre. He has been director
of the region since 1956. Johnston helped
organize Local 79 while working in the foundry of the John Deere Spreader Works in
East Moline, Il.
Kenneth L. Worley, 45, won re-election by
acclamation
as director
of Region
5. He
has
been director since 1967. Worley, who worked
as a stockman at the Chrysler Parts Depot
in Kansas
WORLEY
SOLIDARITY—May,
1970
City,
Kan.,
was
active
in the
ership of Local 855. He was appointed
lead-
an in-
KITZMAN
| The Young in Age
Join Hands
with the
Young in Spirit
WAS obvious at UAW’s 22nd Constitutional Convention that its young members
have begun forging its future. There were
more of them in Atlantic City than at any
convention since the early years of UAW and
they made their impact felt.
None appeared to be conservative in ideals
and objectives. And many were dressed up
in mod clothes.
But appearances can be deceiving when it
ie
comes
beards,
jeans,
blue
bell-bottom
to
sometimes shoulder-length hair, wide ties or
miniskirts. Behind the splashes of colorful
clothing frequently worn on and off the job
by the half-million UAW members age 30 or
of
generation
is a new
there
younger,
thoughtfulness and dedication to the labor
movement.
Time
time
after
during
convention,
the
young delegates sounded forth their idealism,
their impatience and—surprising as it may
have been to some of the older generation—
their gratitude and respect for the hardfought organizing and bargaining battles
waged by their elders.
The impatience of the young was voiced
by 22-year-old Jim Kosik, a member of the
“Mod Squad” delegation of Local 148 at the
Beach,
Long
plant~in
McDonnell-Douglas
Calif.
“People want results and we’re trying to
deliver,” Kosik said. He was asked what is
the unique contribution of youth to the UAW.
Kosik, whose brown hair falls near his
shoulders and who wears bell-bottom jeans
and moccasins, answered: “It’s performance
politics. I got involved in the UAW because
of the way I was treated in the shop. The
supervisor called me an SOB. We got the
whole crew together and wouldn’t obey the
supervisor’s orders. They got rid of the supervisor.”
The dedication of the young was voiced
by Linda Synnott, 20-year-old recording secretary of Local 1474 at Daal Specialties, a
seat-belt manufacturer in Collingwood, Ont.
with a
a pretty blonde
Miss Synnott,
sprinkling
freckles
of
her
on
face,
said
she
became active in her union to counter “this
young
many
among
attitude
I-don’t-care
people.”
Idealism was voiced during the convention in a rousing speech from the floor by
28-year-old Elliott Anderson.
“We want to help this union build,” said
three-term
Anderson,
president
of Local
James Schuler, Elliott Anderson and Susie Hillygus talk over convention matters
It cited youth-related projects of the UAW,
Conference of Young
including the UAW
Members April 14-16, 1969, in Detroit; strike
of the
establishment
classes;
information
Family Education Center at Black Lake, and
opportunities for youth involvement in the
Community Action Program and the Alliance
for Labor Action.
“There is the further need—and again we
have the means to meet it—of making common cause with democratically progressive
youth in general, whether on the campuses
or in the surrounding communities,’ the
resolution said. It mentioned UAW involvement in programs of civil rights, equal opportunity, farm worker organizing, peace,
community unions, battling environmental
pollution and arms limitation.
Interest in the welfare of older UAW members rippled through the ranks of the young
obmost
expressed
concern
members—a
viously in their wearing of ‘30-and-Out’”’
hats and buttons.
Susie Hillygus, 26, a conventioneer from
Local 893 at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown, Iowa, talked of a strong youth movement in Region 4. She said Region 4 youth
conferences
were
a major
force
in launching
a march on the state capitol to protest the
of elderly patients in nursing
treatment
homes.
Young
UAW
members
not
only
joined the march but helped recruit elderly
persons in the campaign to gain laws guaranteeing good treatment of the nursing home
patients.
“The young people are more concerned
than ever,” asserted James Schuler, 30-yearold president of Local 838 at the John Deere
tractor plant in Waterloo, Iowa. Schuler said
the youth movement in his local began five
years ago “when the younger people saw it
was possible to get elected to office.” Now,
five of the ten executive board members of his
30 or younger.
7,600-member local are age
Many of the young UAW leaders see their
responsibilities in broad human terms involving the total welfare of the communities and
world in which they live.
Among such young members were 30year-old Pat Dillon, vice president of Local
94 at the John Deere plant in Dubuque, Iowa.
Dillon has been a key figure in an effective
to boycott nonunion grapes in
campaign
Dubuque.
Al Calvillo of Local 148, Long Beach,
Calif., 30-year-old regional chairman of the
Community Action Program, spoke of his
work in aiding Spanish-speaking citizens to
register and vote.
Michael D. Lyons,
29-year-old
bearded,
vice president of Local 1535 at the Northern
Electric
plant
Toronto
area.”
Bramalea,
in
Ont.,
described
his roles in Canada’s New Democratic Party
‘and in “working to form union-student coalitions in 22 high schools in the metropolitan
During one break in convention proceedings, Reuther outlined his views on the roles
to be played by young UAW members.
Talking informally with a large group of
local union editors, he said that young mili-
tants, working within the UAW, “have access to what I consider to be the most powerful, the most responsible instrument for
social change that any worker in the world
can
get
access
to.
organization
tremendous
this
“Here’s
called the UAW,” he said. “And here’s an opportunity for a young fellow to get in there
and help us do these things that he’s impatient about.
“We want to end this tragic war in Vietnam. We want to get on with the black
revolution. We know we’ve got to make one
America. You can’t have a black America
and a white America—you can only have one
America. We want to do something about
cleaning out the ghettos and building decent cities.
“And, I think what we have to say to a
young fellow,” said Reuther, “‘is, look, don’t
try to do it outside of here as though we
were a part of the establishment and that
we're
hopeless.
Come
get
teeth into it and
is a chance.”
in
here
with
us
and
get
because
your
here
807
at Burlington, Iowa. ‘We want to help it
increase. We want to make it a magnificent
union.
We
dedication.”
give
our
you
hearts
our
and
Calling for establishment of youth departments at the International and local union
levels,
Anderson
asserted
the
that
young
members ‘will work for this International
Union. We all have stars in our eyes, as
Brother Reuther did when he was 27 years
old and he spoke out on the issues at the CIO
convention and he had a tremendous task.”
Carried
by
a
unanimous
near
vote,
the
ef
resolution on “Young Members and Youth”
commended the International Union’s leadership “for opening a dialogue with young
Americans
munities,
in the
and
on
work
the
places,
campuses.”
in our
com-
MICHAEL
D. LYONS,
Local
1535
caf
KENNETH
~
PERRILIAT,
May, 1970 —UAW
Local
76
SOLIDARITY—Page
7
Reuther Urges ‘Total Fight’
for Key ‘70 Proposals
ABELING the auto industry as a ‘“‘golden
goose” fat with profits, Walter P. Reuther
has east his weight behind setting ‘highest
priority” on 30-and-Out pensions and two
other major economic demands in 1970 bargaining.
In a keynote speech interrupted 26 times
by applause, the UAW president told the
constitutional convention that the top-priority contract demands should be $900-minimum monthly pensions after 30 years of;
work;
a
substantial,
across-the-board
wage
increase, and restoration of full cost-of-living
protection.
The loudest and longest thunderclap of
applause during Reuther’s speech boomed
through the Atlantic City Convention Hall
after he tugged at a red, white and blue “30and-Out” button on his lapel and asserted:
“T am aware—and I have my button on—
that there is tremendous support and enthusiasm in this union, and I share that with you,
for winning in 1970 a $500 minimum, 30years-and-out retirement program.”
‘Rat
Leaning
Race
in
the
forward
at
Plant’
the
microphone,
Reuther told the 3,142 delegates, ““We have
understood this demand. You do not have to
be a social psychologist to know why it is
that there is a deep human urge on the part
of a worker who has been bucking a line for
30 years and who wants to get out of the
rat race in the plant.
“T understand that,” he asserted, his voice
rising. “Frankly, had I been bucking the line
for 30 years I would have been raising hell
about that a long time ago.”
Reuther said 30-and-Out is “the kind of
demand
around
which
this union would
mobilize” and added that the technical work
bolstering the bargaining goal already has
been done.
Urging a “total fight” for all three demands
“because they all relate to the basic needs
of our total membership,”’ Reuther set high
priority on basic wage hikes as a means to
boost the purchasing power of young workers
with growing families.
Restoration of full cost-of-living provisions
is necessary to guarantee protection of real
wages, Reuther said, noting that UAW members “are still the best-protected group of
Wage
earners
living.”
He described
in
the
world
as “the
on
the
final down
cost
of
payment
of the 1967 contract” the “catch-up” provision in the cost-of-living clause with the auto
companies. This provision is expected to yield
from 21 to 26 cents hourly, effective Sept.
Record
Turnout
There were more local union delegates registered at the 22nd Constitutional Convention here than at any
other convention held in the 35-year
history of the UAW.
The final report of the Credentials
Committee showed that 3,142 delegates
from 1,069 local unions and 22 retired
workers advisory councils had registered for the convention.
Committee Chairman Charles Meeks
of Local 696 reported that the voting
strength of the convention at the time
of the final report totaled 14,507 votes.
Page 8—UAW SOLIDARITY—May, 1970
15, and UAW bargainers will insist that the
money be “socked in our pay envelopes”
before
talks about the new
bargaining
high-priority
Other
contracts
begin.
demands,
Reuther said, should be improved working
conditions, better health and safety conditions, an end to compulsory overtime and
corporate action to eliminate ‘the pollution
in the plants, the pollution of the communities by the plant and the pollution of the
community by the products we produce in
those plants.”
Needs,
Goals,
Aspirations
Throughout his 77-minute speech, Reuther
linked the needs, the goals and the aspirations of the UAW’s 1.8 million active and retired members to the broad climate of economics,
U.S.
and
environment
Canadian
and
citizens
politics
live.
in
which
Acknowledging that the economic climate
today “is not overly favorable,” with more
than 100,000 auto
asserted that “no
able to hide behind
try to deny us...
workers laid off, Reuther
corporation is going to be
Mr. Nixon’s recession and
. equity.”
He traced the “fantastic” profits of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, saying their
combined earnings of $35 billion from 1947
through 1969 gave the firms a return 14
times greater than their total investments—
despite recessions.
“There is no other industry in the world
that is even remotely comparable in terms of
the
profit
capability
of this
industry,”
Reuther said. He said the 1970 negotiations
will deal with the future and vowed that ‘‘we
are going to get our share of those bigger
and better things that lie ahead in the automobile industry’s future.”
‘Prepared
to
Fight’
Calling for a “balanced collective bargaining program,’’ Reuther said “we must
deal with the needs and the problems of all
of our members—the old and the young
members, the production workers and the
skilled workers,
and
the office and
the tech-
nical workers, not just the workers in the
Big Three but the workers in the parts plants
and in Ag Implement and thus lay the basis
for moving into our aerospace negotiations
next year.”
A groundswell of table-thumping, whistling
and applause filled the hall after Reuther
declared that if the corporations deny UAW
members
their equity through good-faith
bargaining, ‘then the membership and leadership of this union will be prepared to fight
for that equity on the picket lines in 1970.”
Touches of sadness echoed in the union
leader’s words as he spoke of the nation’s
“great and troubled times.”
Urging rejection of “the irrational forces
of violence,” Reuther said: ‘we have lost
too many friends and America has lost too
many noble sons.
“John Kennedy is gone; Martin Luther
King is gone; Morris Adler, who was the
chairman of our Public Review Board, is
gone. Bobby Kennedy is gone. All of them
were destroyed in a moment of madness and
violence,
“We have got to stop violence in America,’ Reuther asserted, “before it destroys
our society.”’ He called for each human being
to “work with renewed commitment and
renewed courage and with greater compas-
sion
to wipe
out
injustice,
to eliminate
all
forms of discrimination and to provide equal
opportunity for every American. Unless we
can facilitate peaceful social change, then
we are inevitably going to get violent social
change.”
He pointed to the big cities where ‘the
rightists, the affluent and those who have all
of the advantages are calling for order, and
the poor and the disadvantaged are crying
for justice.”
Reuther said the Vietnam war “is wasting our resources” and “is tarnishing our
moral credentials in the world.
“But I want to make it clear that while
we in the UAW work to end that tragic war,
and we work to build a just peace in the
world, we condemn those Americans who
burn the American flag and march behind
the Viet Cong flag.
Reject
Reckless
Attitudes
“We reject the concept that says in order
to be anti-war you have to be anti-American.
That kind of reckless attitude, we believe,
is destructive and counter-productive.”
Citing a “direct relationship, between the
bread box and the ballot box,’’ Reuther
said:
“Who fails to vote? Not the families of
management who have a 99 per cent batting
:
average at the polls.”
He said the ‘millions of workers, people
who have serious problems, they are the
people who fail to vote, and the great and
wonderful thing about a democratic society
is that the lowest-paid worker has the same
power at the ballot box as the highest-paid
corporation executive.”
He reminded delegates that the UAW is
supporting legislation for reconversion of
aerospace and defense industries, in which
thousands have been laid off, to peacetime
work. “But unless we get our friends back
in Congress, that legislation will go down
the drain.”
}|
|
|
Delegates Make
a Bargaining Table Issue
ONG
BEFORE
deteriorating
issue
the
environment
of our
rapidly
the
became
ri\‘in thing” with politicians, the UAW was
iafighting the battle against pollution in the
community
|
.
Pollution
And
now,
on the legislative
and
with
the
front.
support
unanimous
of
the
‘ithe 22nd Constitutional Convention,
4) UAW will insist that the problem of pollutaition become a collective bargaining issue.
' | The resolution on restoring and protectaiiing the environment emphasized the immediaijate need to force industry
sibility
jwastes
for
cleaning
its processes
up
and
“‘to accept respon-
the
pollution
products
ajjated.”
I
It pointed out that continuous
yifover the years by industry “has
have
and.
cre-
pollution
now cre-
9/jated an environmental crisis of catastrophic
yi(proportions in
yu ilive.
‘|
“The UAW
filimplications of
diitable, because
the communities
in which
we
will insist gn discussing the
this crisis at the bargaining
it affects us as workers, citi-
t\zens and human beings, and because it bears
ijjapon the future of our families and com‘timunities.”
|
Declaring
-that
‘‘public
interest
takes
‘(precedence over private profit,” the resolution called for enactment of an Environ‘imental Bill of Rights guaranteeing every
‘(person the inalienable right to a decent eniivironment.
It also called for establishment of a Nagitional
Environmental
Commission
with
y(broad powers “to compel industry to reiqjspect the natural environment in all respects.
“Tax penalties must be used to end present processes of pollution with strict controls to prevent the development of new
ones,” the resolution stated.
Other recommendations urged
by the con-
vention to halt the pollution of our air and
water included:
e An immediate ban on all hard pesticides and phosphate detergents.
e Stricter standards governing the emission of carbon monoxide, sulfur and nitrogen
oxides, hydrocarbons and other polluting
substances.
e Imposition
of
a
rigid
timetable
on
the
auto industry to develop a pollution-free engine.
The resolution demanded that oil tankers
be subject “to the-strictest national and international
regulations
to minimize
ger of oil spillage.”
Reminding the convention
the dan-
that
a
1909
U.S. treaty with Canada forbids either country to-pollute the Great Lakes or other
waters,
444
Charles
urged
Brooks
delegates
of
to
use
Windsor
this
tool
Local
‘to
take on industries that are responsible for
water pollution.”
Many delegates complained of the dirty
smoke and noxious fumes that permeate
their work environment and voiced the fear
that constant exposure to in-plant pollution
would eventually lead to emphysema.
Under the heading of a natural
policy, the resolution called for
resources
establish-
ment of a federal recreation service and extension of land acquisition programs.
It urged adoption of strict regulations to
enhance
natural
beauty
in
highway
design
and
barren
and construction, and in urban and metropolitan planning to ‘rid the country of the
visual pollution caused by billboards, junk-
yards,
and
land
by strip mining.”
disfigured
laid
Wi LLL
_ UAW Affirms
—
Commitment
to Organizing
Mp ONVENTION
union’s total
delegates
reaffirmed the
commitment to organizing
ithe unorganized and spelled out several
icific goals related to organizing.
spe-
The resolution which was adopted also
called for mobilizing the union’s total re‘sources in support of ALA’s organizing program
and it urged the NLRB
to avoid
jexcessive delays in collective bargaining and
‘in protecting workers
from
unfair labor
‘practices.
The resolution urged UAW to negotiate
'\*mutual respect’ clauses into collective barjgaining contracts, These clauses would recogjnize
the
right
of
non-supervisory
and
{non-management
employes
presently
unjrepresented
to
join
appropriate
UAW
ibargaining units, and the right of the UAW
|to encourage such organization.
“Our
changing
work
force,
changing
|technology and changing society call for us
to expand our organizing methods and techjniques,’”’ said the resolution.
The convention commended the effective
work of the UAW Organizing Dept. and the
TOP Dept. “for their efforts in bringing
organization
since
to tens of thousands
the last constitutional
of workers
convention.”
President Reuther, in his written report
to the convention, noted that UAW organizers brought more than 75,000 new members into the union since the 1968 convention.
A resolution on TOP white collar organizing pledged support to a continuing white
collar organizing program
and called for
continuing efforts to modify laws affecting
organizing
the
in this segment
of the work
force.
Vice President Pat Greathouse, director of
Organizing
Dept.,
told
that through organizing we
to work to build the union.
Organizing
is important,
only
to add
new
members
the
and
are
he
convention
continuing
said,
to bring
“not
new
ideas into the union, but also to protect the
jobs of our members where companies are
attempting to move.”
He referred to the resolution’s aim of
UAW-negotiated clauses of mutual respect:
“We find that the companies where we
have a collective bargaining
relationship,
where they claim to accept the union, where
they bargain with us when they have to,
will still many times be the most vicious
anti-union companies you can find when we
go to organize the unorganized plants.
“As far as I'm concerned, in 1970 I’m prepared to say to the corporations with which
I have a collective bargaining relationship,
‘Unless you agree to keep a neutral position
in any organizational campaigns
that we
have, we are going to make this an issue of
our relationship in these negotiations, and
if that is the only issue left at the end of
negotiations,
company
Vice
if necessary
to establish
President
that
we will strike your
Douglas
relationship.’ ”
A.
Fraser,
who
heads TOP organizing, suggested: ‘Tell your
employers, ‘You can't expect to have a peaceful relationship with our union if, when we
attempt to organize white collar workers,
you
malign
the UAW.’”
and
you
attack
and
you
slander
Fraser reported that UAW organizes more
white collar workers than any other indus-
trial union
May,
in America.
1970—UAW
SOLIDARITY—Page 9
Pace-Setting Program
Adopted for UAW Women
“Before
the union
organized
Northern
Electric in London, Ont.,” said Barbara Pare
had no chance for
of Local 27, “women
promotion to a higher paid job. Working
conditions and pay are much better now,
Mrs. Walter P. Reuther addresses UAW women
AW women want full equality. And they
want it now.
Their brethren at the UAW convention got
union
and clear—that
the message—loud
women are out to win the battle for equality
launched more than a century ago by Susan
B. Anthony, pioneer crusader for women’s
rights. And the male delegates pledged to
help them.
The Women in Society resolution, described
by UAW General Counsel Stephen Schlossberg as ‘the most comprehensive resolution
for women’s
ever passed by any group
rights,” was unanimously approved by the
3,142 delegates at the convention.
Schlossberg said it was particularly apropos
that the convention adopted “this aggressive
resolution on the 50th anniversary of the
women’s right to vote,” a memorable occasion that was commemorated in a companion
resolution.
Spell Out Goals
The sweeping resolution put the UAW
squarely on record as favoring repeal of
abortion laws, for paid maternity leave, a
national program of child care centers and
enactment of an equal rights amendment to
the Constitution.
“This resolution,” said UAW Trustee Ann
LeFebvre, Local 148, Long Beach, Calif.,
“will go a long way toward providing equality for all women. Half of our battle will be
won if we get an equal rights amendment
passed in Congress.”
She told the convention that “women have
been second class citizens for too long,” and
urged the men to join their “sisters in the
battle for an equal place in society.”
The pressing need for a national program
of child care centers for all parents, especially women heads of households, was
dramatically expressed by Elva Jones, Local
1000, Jacksonville, Ark.
“We desperately need child care in our
town,” she stated. “It costs me $20 a week
for child care.”
Toward
but there is still a 30 cent differential in the
base rates of men and women.”
recording
735
Local
Walker,
Dorothy
secretary and chairman of the women’s committee of Regions 1, 1A, 1B and 1E, was
particularly impressed by the UAW’s pledge
to fight for equal working conditions for
women and voluntary overtime.
Demands
for opening up skilled trades
jobs to women and a $2.50 national minimum
wage law covering all workers were wholeheartedly endorsed by Naomi Hoot, president
of Local 1344 in Angola, Ind.
“Tf we achieve these goals,” she said, “it
will help upgrade many women workers who
are now doing equal work for unequal pay.”
The all-inclusive resolution on Women in
Society also called for the elimination of
“protective” state laws which deny women
rights and benefits they are entitled to, and
adoption of a national insurance program of
protection for men and women against wage
loss due to temporary disability, including
illness, pregnancy and maternity.
Working Wives
One of the very important demands in the
15-point
program,
according
to Caroline
Davis, director of the UAW Women’s Dept.,
is that more equitable recognition be given
to working wives for their Social Security
contributions.
“As the law now stands,” said Mrs. Davis,
“a wife who has worked for many years and
contributed to the Social Security program
system
may,
in some
cases, receive no larger
benefits for families with working wives,
passage of the equal rights amendment, child
care centers and every other demand in the
resolution.
“But to win this battle,” she warned, “we
need the help of every UAW member. Each
of us must make our voice heard. Always remember, ‘the wheel that squeaks the loudest
is the one that gets the grease.’ ”
woman
$3,000
more
doing comparable
a
year
work.”
than
Page 10—UAW SOLIDARITY—May, 1970
a
ee
UAW
Family
Education
Center
4 fi
Black Lake, Mich., authorized by the 19€)\!)
convention, will bear the name of the unionh
president.
The 22nd Constitutional Convention
dated
that
the
facility
be
known
as
|
marisiy
thi
Walter P. Reuther UAW Family Educatio}
Center.
The
formal
designation
bearin}
Reuther’s name is to be deferred until thi}))\)
conclusion of his service as president of UAW\4!
In a companion resolution, the conver}
tion heartily commended the IEB “for th}
speed and efficient manner in which the con}
vention
resolution
to establish a UAV),
Family Education Center has been accomiiw:
plished.”
The resolution also empowered the IEB ti! 1°
complete the construction work necessary ti!
fulfill the objectives and goals of the cente>\:9
and. to “proceed with all possible speed ti)
\)
implement the program to the fullest possibli!:
extent.”
Two-Week
Programs
The basic educational and leadership train‘!
ing program at Black Lake will be of tww
weeks duration for those who receive a UAW) :
scholarship to attend the Family Educatioroi:
Center. The scholarships will include the:
spouse and, in the summer months, the chilli:
dren as well as the worker.
In addition, longer periods of training wil‘
be given to those who are awarded UAW’
fellowships so that they can have the advan*ii:"’!
tage of more intensive educational trainingani
A third type of training will take the form:
of a UAW internship which will be of ex
tended duration for comprehensive, intensive'i2'
educational instruction.
The center, which has been utilized ass 5
continuing
construction
has
permitted,
williw
be opened officially with appropriate dedica- 91!
tion ceremonies this summer.
Urge Economic Bill of Rights
The
first
major
step
in
a
campaign
to)
“in
co-«
adopt an Economic Bill of Rights Amend- ii
has been
ment to the U.S. Constitution
launched by the UAW Convention.
Delegates, citing a “gap between promise:
and performance” in the economic welfare»
of U.S. citizens, directed the UAW’s officers?
and
International
Executive
Board,
operation with the broadest possible coali-»
tion of concerned citizens and organizations,”’’
to begin a drive for the Economic Bill of}
Rights.
The convention resolved that the consti-tutional amendment should:
e Establish the constitutional right of all!
Americans to a useful job if they are able ii/i/
and willing to work; a sufficient wage in ac->
cordance with prevailing economic stand- +')
»*4
ards; a guaranteed annual income for those
unable to work; access to high-quality, comprehensive medical care; “‘a good house in
a good neighborhood, in a wholesome community,” and full educational opportunity.
e Require the President and Congress “‘to
take all reasonable steps, including provision for training of personnel and creation of
facilities, to effectuate the above rights as
promptly as practicable.”
e Provide that “any person or class of persons claiming to have been denied a right
guaranteed by the Economic Bill of Rights
shall be entitled to redress through the
COUDLS}y sna
The resolution noted that the promises of
the Declaration of Independence, almost 200
years after its signing, “remain unfulfilled
Demands in the resolution for equal pay,
equal job security and greater opportunities
for jobs and job training for women won
high praise from delegates who work in
plants manned predominantly by women.
Martha
Bradley, delegate from Detroit
Local 174 and vice chairman of the women’s
committee of Regions 1, 1A, 1B and 18, expressed her determination to fight for job
security, equal pay and equal opportunity for
proximately
Center Praised
benefit than if she had never worked.”
She pledged the Women’s Dept. “will fight
the battle to win more equitable retirement
Full Equality
women workers.
“It has become a custom that women get
lower paid jobs in the plant,’ she declared.
“Education being equal, a man makes ap-
Lil am aol eked Cod
for
A luncheon fashion show was one of several
special events for women delegates and visitors.
millions
of
Americans.
They
are
“i
\
denied | (°
the decency, the dignity and the security essential to the pursuit of happiness.”
-«i!
ALA
Delegates
Praise
New Allies
welformally
delegates
(ONVENTION
comed the formation of the Alliance for
‘C4
.Labor Action and commended ALA officers
“ ‘for the excellent beginnings’ toward ful(iiillment of ALA goals.
President Reuther pointed out to the con‘vention that ALA. set out to deal with three
dasic questions: organizing the millions of
ianorganized, strengthening collective barto find
waining and helping our nation
answers to the urgent problems that confront
lus.
Reuther said, “that
“Tt is in these areas,’
jwe are working.”
2
ALA was established in 1968 by UAW and
the Teamsters and joined later by the Interinational Chemical Workers Union and the
‘National Distributive Workers.
ALA, which represents about 4 million
wworkers, is committing sizeable resources and
2is putting forth increasing effort in the ful‘fillment of an action program both for the
alabor movement and for the nation, said the
resolution adopted by the convention.
The organization’s special organizing effort
‘in the Atlanta area was reported in the reso-
“lution.
Over
2,000
workers
have
been
orga-
nized there and “the continuing organizing
drive promises to bring thousands more into
ALA,” the resolution said.
The work of ALA’s Community and Social
‘Action committee,
President Reuther,
under the direction of
with community unions
in major cities, was reported.
Legislative activity, including a national
(petition drive for tax reform, and the strucsiture to work with other forces in the com“munity,
also
were
reported.
Secretary
Treasurer
Emil
Mazey
said:
“The Alliance for Labor Action is the only
s\large labor organization in this country that
ritook a position against squandering billions
dof dollars of our resources to establish a use\less, unworkable anti-ballistic missile.
“We took the position that instead of
4spending
‘spend
our
money
it to solve
for
the
basic
this,
we
ought
problems
of our
Visit Convention
two
top officers of a union
which
cooperated closely with the UAW
in the
American Federation of Lathe Nixon administration’s
It is equally significant, said Mazey, that
ALA adopted a clear-cut resolution asking
to end the Vietnam war, to bring our troops
home, to stop squandering our money.
“George Meany and the American Federation of Labor support the position of Nixon,”
“So we finally have a large section of the
American labor movement speaking out on
pledged
resolution
The
Albert
Matles,
pendent
(UE)
P. Reuther.
Fitzgerald,
secretary
United
received
delegates.
was
UE’s
Joseph
GE
Reuther
gation
On
the
Electrical
ovation
platform
Conference
also
from
(IUE)
treasurer
an
Union
was
at
guests of the UAW.
and
of
Board.
Motors
inde-
Workers
from
with
that
the
them
of
the
a dele-
locals of
of Electrical
the
Jim
the
chairman
announced
General
President
president,
Turkowski,
International
ers
UAW
the
Work-
convention
as
con-
full and
“the
support
manpower
tinuation
UAW
director
of
and
UAW
in
resources,
in commitment”
of ALA
to the
activities.
Vice President Douglas A.
of the organizing section
Technical,
Office
(TOP), also paid
in
con-
Fraser,
of the
and
Professional
Dept.
tribute to the organizing
work done in cooperation with ALA.
“We have made a
Added Mazey:
good
beginning. We are on the right road, and the
organization of the Alliance for Labor Action
is good for American workers. It is good for
our country. As a result, we will have a better
than we have had before the
labor movement
Alliance
was
organized.”
Fitzsimmons, Boyle and Robinson
FFICERS of three unions affiliated with
UAW in the Alliance for Labor Action
reviewed the work begun by the ALA and
assessed some of the tasks ahead.
The three officers are Frank Fitzsimmons,
of the Teamsters,
vice president
general
with
joined
the
to
UAW
ALA
form
1968; Thomas Boyle, president of
in May,
the International Chemical Workers Union,
in 1969; and Cleveland
which joined ALA
2obinson, president of the National Council
of
affiliate.
ALA
latest
the
America,
of
Workers
Distributive
welcoming
by
Mazey.
tinuing
CHEERS:
CONVENTION
Walter
platform
said
issue,”
crucial
this
affiliation
That
sand more voices
the
war.
Vietnam
the
support
“They
said.
he
recent
successful
nationwide
strike
against General Electric attended the
UAW convention and were introduced
from
on the anti-ballis-
of our money
squandering
tis missile.”
which
UE's Top Officers
The
to
Frank Fitzsimmons and Chemical Workers’ Thomas Boyle
Teamsters’
people . . . The
bor supported
\\\
“fifty thouthat
means
have been added to the
outery for social justice through a new order
of national priorities,” said Fitzsimmons in
union.
the
Fitzsimmons told the convention that ALA
officials are proud of that alliance and the
strides
“Tt
union
help
made.
strides in
has made
workers in the South,
to community
lieving
ically
it has
the
anguish
deprived
nonorganizing
and in providing
organizations
of
groups
minority
of
bent
and
on
re-
econom-
Americans,”
he
said,
Despite the success achieved in initial ALA
actions, the nation still faces many problems,
said Fitzsimmons, These include the war in
Vietnam,
the
“wildest
runaway
inflation
in
Chemical
ALA
ing
“the
convention
the
told
efforts,
prais-
Boyle,
President
Workers
widespread
and
the history of our country,”
worker unrest.
best thing that ever happened to my union
was our affiliation with the Alliance for Labor Action.
“Under the leadership of President Reuther and Brother Fitzsimmons of the Teamsters, I am confident that the ICWU made
the
right
move.”
is
ready,
. we pledge to you
Workers
Chemical
He said further, “
the International
that
Union
of this
dignity
bers
and
States
and
ALA,
Boyle
ment will
decade.”
Workers
Distributive
extended
days
of
out
wages
many
“do
of
where
70
cents
part”
in
it ought
an
help
for
hour
Robinson
workers,
our
President
helping
said
to
move-
coming
Robinson
“in
affluent
today’s
in
that
labor
the
trouble.”
greatest
Pointing
UAW
to
thanks
are
to
association
during
about
all
be
the
what
of
forerunner
the
Workers
‘‘our
that
benefit
United
the
the
for
in
Distributive
predicted
mem-
other
the
Canada.”
the
stand
to
able
alliance
workers
great
of all
Welcoming
is
with
shoulder
to
shoulder
and
willing
common
his
“bring
union
our
age,
to
will
America
to be.”
May, 1970—UAW
SOLIDARITY—Page
11
MEN'
AMONG
'GIANTS
Senator Hits Nixon|
Policies as Negative’
“We have in the White House a man wh}
unashamedly plays politics with this cour)
UAW Honors
Dr. King,
Justice Warren
try’s
to
search
for
the
truth.
N.J.),
It
‘Martin Luther King thought
gave
moral
all America
and
spiritual
by proving,
in his own
life
to
and deeds, that a revolution could be
created in the hearts and minds of men
Page 12—UAW
birthday
SOLIDARITY—May,
a
and
1970
mor)
UAW
dele
the
constitutional
oblige}
said:
turned
his
the
momentum
people.
back
on
He
11
has
House
per
made
towards
equal
a man
whit
it clear
tha}
cent
of thi
rights
for
als
in this
vital
have
area.
in the White
House
a man
whi!
up
with
automation.
Yet
he
does
noj{
think it inflationary to pour billions of dol\
lars into unflyable airplanes, unworkable mis?!
siles and unrequested aircraft carriers.
“He apparently does not think it infla-6f
tionary to continue pouring more than $16
billion a year into a tragic war whose out-)
come has little bearing on our national in-t
terest.”
A counterbalance to reactionary thinking:
Sen. Williams said, is a Democratic majority’
in both the House and Senate. This November,
he
said,
continued,
recession
tinue.
Democratic
otherwise
and
majorities
the
drift
must
deeper
rising unemployment
be)
into
will con-
Urge Broadening
of Political Activity
“Politics is the housekeeping job of democ-
racy,” says a citizenship resolution unanimously passed at the UAW convention, “and
each
ship
racy’s
JUSTICE
EARL WARREN
your union and others
neered to admit black
By standing for equal
opened doors to blacks
employers’ strategy to
of the CIO that piopeople to your ranks.
justice you not only
but you defeated the
make black people a
of strikebreakers.”’
group
distinct
Mrs. King described the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Memorial Center being built in
Atlanta as celebrating ‘more than a man—
it celebrates the movement
he inspired . . . He
inspired black people, for the first time in
nearly a century, to rise up against stultifying servitude, by putting their bodies and
lives
the
streets.”
direct
in
line
the
on
Relating
husband’s
her
in
confrontation
the
with
affinity
labor movement, the widow remarked: “‘It is
not an accident that my husband was assaswhile
that
came
when
they
create
a strike.
leading
the
he was
time
of
calling
his
is it coin-
Nor
assassination
for a coalition
He
organization.
union
of
that
was
arousing a sleeping giant when he was cut
down.”
Mrs. King called for a united front by
both black and white workers “not just in
race relations’ but in “all the dimensions of
band
King’s
address
in the White
has
keep
national holiday.
King was born on Jan. 15, 1929
Was assassinated April 4, 1968.
declare
is
believes it is inflationary to spend money fot
cancer
research,
heart
research,
to helji
school districts, to train workers so they cars
our
to
to
senator
have
“We
without violence . . .”’ the UAW unanimously adopted a resolution calling on
Congress
said,
Jersey
back
all the poor black and white, and urging
Jr.
leadership
strategy
our people. .. is at an end. If Mr. Nixon hats
his way, we would actually start slippinyr
cidental
King,
he
country’s
sinated
Urge National Holiday
on Dr. King's Birthday
Luther
political
speaker
was,
“We
that
he might help this nation find itself and find
the path away from violence to understanding... to brotherhood ... to peace and...
to human fulfillment.”
The award to Dr. King, which was accepted by his widow, was inscribed: “Dr. Martin
Luther
King,
spiritual
giant,
crusader,
America’s moral conscience . . . dreamed that
love and compassion would overcome the violent forces of man’s inhumanity to man.”
In her response, Mrs. King mentioned ‘“‘the
long association” of Dr. King’s Southern
Christian
Leadership
Conference
(SCLC)
with the UAW.
“When
the UAW
in the
Thirties made trade unionism an instrument
of social reform, it won the respect of a
majority of the nation,’ she said. “It was
“Martin
first
New
of the institution or the man.”
Describing Dr. King as ‘a great friend of
this union and a great friend of humanity,”
Reuther reflected on the many times they
had marched together for justice in such
cities as Washington, Selma, Ala., Detroit
and Jackson, Miss.
“This has been a violent nation,’”’ Reuther
Because
grand
ma}
tion of the Senate to turn President Nixop
down ‘‘and had we done less we would havy
been guilty of gross neglect of duty.”
Taking dead aim at Nixon, the veterap
found the truth, we can find our way into
true brotherhood.
“Earl Warren took the Constitution out
of mothballs, out of the archives of history,”
Reuther said in his introduction, “and he
made the Constitution into a living document, capable of providing a compass for a
people searching for new answers and new
meaning to the words of equality and justice.
“No man in the history of our nation has
done more to strengthen the fabric of our
system of justice,” Reuther added.
Justice Warren’s citation read “. . . your
courageous spirit, your compassionate heart,
your inspired vision moved our nation in
giant strides toward the ideal of equal justice
under law.”
In his remarks, Warren praised the UAW
as a “great organization because it has...
pursued good causes. And every American
citizen and every American institution in
these days must, in order to be entitled to
claim good citizenship, pursue some good
cause other than the main thrust of the life
remarked.
a
institutions—a
gates.
having
For
whom
important
important
than the quality of the justices
who sit on our nation’s highest courts.”
So said Sen. Harrison A. Williams
(D/
HE presentation of the UAW’s Social
Chief
U.S.
to former
Award
Justice
Justice Earl Warren and posthumously to the
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of
the emotional highlights of the convention.
President
In citing the honorees, UAW
Walter P. Reuther described them as being
“giants among men . . . because they have
understood that the future of . . . mankind
itself is indivisibly woven together with man’s
ancient
most
lives.”
She
explained
to “achieve
always
Stirred
by
the
that
solidarity
interracial
believed
the
was
oratory
is essential
harmony
my
possible.”
and
the
hus-
emotion
of the moment, many delegates wept openly
during the presentation of the awards.
of us must
share
responsibility
house
the burden
to
is kept
insure
in order.”
of citizen-
that
democ-
The resolution went on to explain that
“the labor movement is in politics, not as a
matter of choice, but as a matter of neces-
sity.”’ It further emphasized the “direct relationship between the bread box and the
ballot box.”
The wide-ranging document resolved to get
out the vote for upcoming elections and urged
the involvement of everyone, including youth
and
women,
responsive
in
making
to the needs
“government
of the people.”
more
Mark Anniversary
of Reuther Shooting
The
paused
22nd
first day
the
Constitutional
during
to note
attempted
its
Convention
deliberations
a tragic
shotgun
on
its
anniversary—
assassination
of
President Walter P. Reuther by a gunman on the night of April 20, 1948—22
years ago.
The shotgun blast through the kitchen
of his Detroit home was obwindow
viously intended to kill Reuther.
But
because he moved an instant before the
blast, he was instead severely wounded
in the right arm and shoulder. Doctors
were
able
to save
the
arm,
Secretary Treasurer Emil Mazey reof the anniversary
delegates
minded
after President Reuther, in his keynote
address to the convention, declared that
violence
solution
can
never
to social
provide an equitable
problems.
3
r
fo
s
r
e
k
r
o
W
e
m
a
l
B
t
'
n
o
D
Inflation, Shultz Urges
member
HIGH-RANKING
A
that
agrees
Administration
of the Nixon
are
workers
to blame for inflation.
Secretary of Labor George P. Shultz, a
ronvention speaker, acknowledged that “fundamentally the worker has been on a treadnot
*nill’”
wage
and
that
“the
he
also
“parted
we the scapegoat for inflation.
iNalter Reuther on that.”
But
with
some
‘nfliation.
“The cause of
well known. The
I agree with
company
on
leaders”
of your
not
should
earner
the
somewhat
causes
of
inflation we have today is
cause is government,” the
‘Nixon Administration spokesman declared,
(o0inting to “the big deficits in the federal
judget” arising from the war in Vietnam
and the “very loose monetary policies that
jwere followed by the Federal Reserve.”
He pledged “responsible government poli“cies now and in the future” to solve the prob4lem.
“We know that this is an area that calls
‘for great patience and . . . moderation be“eause we don’t want to work so hard at
‘curing the inflation that we wind up overly
ifdisrupting the economy,” he noted.
“While we can’t point to dramatic results
‘in prices, we can now see the beginning of
‘a decline in the increasing rate of prices,”
the secretary asserted.
the
He
can
we
that
the delegates to use moderation
urged
in
growth
prices.”
stable
reasonably
it with
do
hope
“some
and
economy”
forward
“strong
a
foresaw
he
And
in the
bargaining with the auto industry.
upcoming
“We hope that by the time the year comes
to a close, the general picture and the econ-
’give a damn.’
.. . who
ful people
a ‘Fighting Outfiv
UAW
are
You
care.
you
because
you
“J salute
‘“thought-
as
members
right
it is
than
better
omy will be much
now,” Shultz said.
He praised UAW
concerned,” Shultz declared. “You are a
swinging and fighting outfit . . . fighting for
things.”
good
the
establishment
the
as
the
Board,
Review
such
matters
early
concern
with
connection
in
union
with
involvement
own
his
noted
he
And
Public
UAW
the
of
union’s
with the effects of automation and the UAW
drive for a guaranteed annual wage.
The secretary also discussed a number of
other subjects of concern to the union, including job safety, unemployment, pollution
and equal employment opportunities.
He pointed out that “there are more
deaths from lack of on-the-job safety in the
in the period
in Vietnam
than
States
United
that the rate of on-
and
of that tragic war”
= Galle Threat to Environment
Mankind’s Most Critical Problem
amount
a limited
water and a limited capacity to sustain life.
of
that
destroyed
almost
little accident
“One
little closed system and the brave gentlemen
aboard.”
To avert a similar tragedy for the entire
earth, Nelson suggested that we need several national, state and local programs to
combat the problems of environmental
lution and destruction.
At
resources
the
save
to
life, Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson told the
convention.
He described the threat to the environment as “the most critical problem facing
mankind.”
The senator paid tribute to UAW’s leadership for being “in the vanguard in the nation” on this issue.
“IT commend
for
you
the
being
union
first
in America to take up in the collective bargaining conferences, as I understand you will,
issue
the
vironment
quality
he said,
About
said:
of
what
in which
is the
we
quality
of the environment
the
environment
“It’s ridiculous
that
as
work,
of
well
in which
in
anybody
the
the
en-
as
the
we
live,”
plant,
should
he
what
he
is
inhaling
ing what the physiological
his health are,”
and
not
national
A
policy
that
A
policy
on
A
national
pesticides
“that
losophy
increase the
the world.”
this
going
understanding
we
tells us that
of this
population
had
and
a phi-
and
not
ought
country
and
much
is all
how
‘Now,
asked:
Nelson
Then
the oceans,
on
policy
to cost?
“T would say that the cost is in the same
dimension as the cost of building weapons
he
This,
orities,
but
“It
let
may
me
space.”
exploring
and
systems
very
say
here
the
raises
said,
well
to you
on
question
be unpopular
that
earth
and
there
of
to say
are
in this
pri-
so,
critical
country
problems
know-
what is on the moon. When we start talking
talking about
let’s start
priorities,
about
consequences
to
that
what
are more
earth,”
we
do
significant
about
than
human
war,
beings
broad
occupational
health
and
collective
bargaining”
safety
bill”
after examining “what our differences are.”
He also:
support in the antie Welcomed UAW
pollution fight.
concern
Administration’s
the
e Noted
about unemployment and a pledge to fight it.
e Said the Nixon Administration “believes
free
inter-
without
“‘s still fight-
for
In his response to the Secretary of Labor,
UAW President Walter P. Reuther said that
“as one American, I think that George Shultz
was the best appointment that Nixon made
in the cabinet. (He) is a man who does care
people
about
peace or
here
. . . does
compassion.”
human
a deep
have
of
sense
He added that ‘we are all very much’ reassured to know that the economic situation
is going to improve quickly. We will tell the
corporations that we will be sitting with at
the bargaining table: ‘Forget about the temporary problems. We are going to talk about
the
days
better
gain.’”
we
when
tomorrow
bar-
UAW Tribute Paid
to Pat Patterson
Mich.
Flushing,
energy
and
policy
e A
the ghetto
eliminates
spend
all day long working in an environment some
is in the air, not
place not knowing what
knowing
policy
wilderness
A
called on the union ‘“‘to work together’ with
the Administration for “a reasonable and
“Big Pat” wasn’t there to see it, but
Region 1C’s huge delegation to UAW’s
Atlantic City convention gave him a
standing ovation.
E. S. Patterson was back home in
use
land
A policy on herbicides and
sustain
to
necessary
pol-
the national level, he suggested:
A policy on air and water quality
A policy on
MERICA must develop national policies
on the use of our environment if we are
three decades of improvement, we
getting worse,” he declared, and
ing” for equal employment opportunities
all ‘“‘and he intends to win” that fight.
system that traveled around the moon—
Apollo 13—with a limited amount of air, a
of food,
rising since 1958.
ference from the government.
e Said that President Nixon
“We witnessed the other day another closed
amount
“After
are now
in
He said we live in a finite planet. It is a
small, relatively insignificant piece of sand,
spinning through space. It has a limited capacity to sustain life. It has a limited amount
of resources, a thin envelope of air around
it which is rapidly being polluted.
limited
the-job injuries has been
on
where
recovering
he’s
from a stroke suffered in January. Because of it, the 614-foot-tall UAW veteran had decided to retire as Region
1C director.
When a delegate made a motion that
the regional meeting express its appreciation to “Big Pat” for his long, outstanding service to UAW, its members
and to Region 1C, delegates stood and
minutes.
four
nearly
for
applauded
Observers
noted
tears
streaming
from
1C
Region
the eyes of newly-elected
Director Don Ellis and several delegates.
For Patterson not only is the warm
friend
of many
but
he has
serving
been
the union and “UAW people” since he
joined what became Local 652 at the
Oldsmobile plant in Lansing, Mich. in
1936.
Said
tribute
“It
later:
Ellis
to a great guy.”
May, 1970—UAW
was
a_
fitting
SOLIDARITY—Page
13
Vow Victory in
Fruehauf Strike
and
aerospace
protect
to
production
vilian
other defense workers against layoffs and
economic hardship drew strong support from
a key U. S. senator at the union’s convention.
posed
(D.,
he
that
Saying
conversion
senting
aerospace
to fight
a war
to make
keep
America fully employed, and the outcome of
full employment will be a better America,”
Sen. Bayh said.
UAW President Walter P. Reuther, outlining the union’s conversion proposal to the
delegates, said that “tens and tens of thousands of workers now are being displaced in
aerospace and defense industries.
them
employ
that
industries
the
“When
no longer need them, are they to be dumped
out on the street as worn-out human be-
ings?” Reuther asked. “We believe this country has a responsibility to these workers and
their families.
the
“That
is why
question
we
are
of conversion
deeply
involved
of aerospace
in
and
defense industries to peacetime production,”
Reuther said. “I will be working very closely
on these problems
with Vice President
Leon-
ard Woodcock and the directors in whose regions the aerospace and defense plants are
located.”
Woodcock, director of the union’s Aerospace Dept., told the delegates “if these industries can make their private plans for
private
profits,
then
we
can
Retirees
UAW
knowledge
na-
that we have
opportunity
of
and
must
have
meet
to
planning
public
needs—and
public
the problems of layoffs of aerospace and defense workers involve public needs for full
employment.”
The UAW conversion proposal, intended
as an amendment to.a bill (S. 1285) introduced by Sen. George McGovern (D., S.D.),
would set aside a portion—25 per cent has
been
tor’s
a suggested
after-tax
from
profits
a “conversion
tion
as
sion
plan
would
amount—of
be
released
filed
government.
by
to
the
contrac-
each
defense
reserve.”’
out
carry
This
contractor
a
producmoney
conver-
with
the
The reserve would be used to pay the
costs of conversion and of certain types of
benefits to workers. These would help protect
them
against
hardships
they
other-
wise might suffer during the transition to
peacetime production. Money remaining after
conversion would be returned to the con-
tractor.
“Tf these industries don’t plan, they’d have
to pay the price,” said Reuther. “If they do
plan, they get the benefit of being able to
keep their profit.”
~~?
Praise
UAW
Sen. Birch Bayh discusses jobs bill with
Vice President Leonard Woodcock.
that
justice delayed
represent
oldsters
delegates
426
ranged
retiree
at
the
convention
chapters,
in age from
the
65 to 79.
cease
giving
encouragement
workers.
Hartke
Page 14—UAW
SOLIDARITY—May,
Sen. Vance Hartke (D., Ind.),
members of the U.S. Senate to
UAW convention, asked for the
port in his fight for re-election.
himself directly to the delegates
3, he declared:
“You
helped
me
in
1958,
and
one of three
address the
union’s supAddressing
from Region
you
helped
me in 1964. I have been with you for 12 years
and
you
I would like to walk
for another six. With
get the job done.”
side by side with
your help, we will
=
¥
his pleasby young
1970
to
})
at Convention
active
al
support
the union-busting activities of the Fruehauf
Corp.
“Tt would be more appropriate for the
mayor to recognize that the company is violating the law in failing to meet its legal obligation to negotiate in good faith with the
union certified by the U.S: Government as
the bargaining representative of its office
employes.”
Some 260 members of Local 889 struck
Fruehauf Nov. 19 in efforts to win an initial
contract covering technical, office and professional employes at the firm’s headquarters in Detroit.
to
“These young workers who have only a
few years in the plants, but have made up
their minds to stay there, overwhelmingly
approved ‘30 and Out’ to my happy amazement,” DeVito beamed.
on
is justice de-
and
Miller, who was called on to install the
officers of the UAW, voiced his pleasure over
the passage of retiree resolutions to be included in this year’s bargaining demands.
The retirees’ vice president, John DeVito,
who has been touring the country as an advocate of the “30 and Out” proposal that
allows a worker to-retire after 30 years of
work regardless of age, acclaimed
ure over the reception of the idea
La-
nied.”
It also calls on Detroit Mayor Roman S.
Gribbs “to direct the Detroit Police Dept. to
all 22 of them.”
22
rule
}/
committed
unfair
a decision ‘in the
re
Actions
to
is
“This has been one of the most productive
and interesting conventions in the history of
the UAW,” said Dave Miller, 79, president
of the National Retired Workers Advisory
Council. “And I should know,” he smiled,
“because I’ve been around to attend nearly
With
has beet
Constitu
National
which
charges
that
Fruehauf
labor practices, to speed
repre-
to
Board,
Relations
bor
Bayh
the
that
a man
for
in order
plenty
is
“There
unions
local
use the excuse
tion “shouldn't
a living.
delegates
800
about
told
Ind.)
Birch
Sen.
program,
to the Fruehauf workers.”
The resolution calls on the
pro-
the
favored
strongly
by
support to the valiant Fruehauf strikers to
help them win a decent, equitable contract.”
Delegates saluted “the many local unions,
their membership and our partners in the}
Alliance for Labor Action, the Teamsters
Union, who have given outstanding support
to ci-
facilities
their
to convert
tractors
struck
maximum
give
“to
resolved
unanimously
con-
defense
encourage
to
plan
Corp.,
tional Convention that “organized labor will
not be broken or defeated in its search for
better life for people.”
City
in Atlantic
delegates
Convention
Plan
Conversion
Fruehauf
UAW for nearly six months,
on notice by the union’s 22nd
the
put
Plant
Defense
AW’s
Detroit-based
ae
Senator Backs
President Dave Miller, far right, with Retiree Council delegates at convention.
|
Mazey Hits
Editorial on
Inflation
UAW Hails
School Bd.
The Detroit Board of Education has been commended for taking “a major step toward the
goal of integrated, quality education”
Alan
POUNDS.
FOR
(O(@OLLARS
(left) of the Canadian
‘Borovoy
Assn. accepts a
<Civil Liberties
John Denman
of Northern
21$634.31 check from
president
(center),
Office Workers
Electric
Local
(UAW, and Michael Lyons, vice
sbident
«/]The
of
the
money
Bramalea,
came
from
1535,
pres-
Ont. (aref
members
of
ithe local who pledged a set amount
for each pound of weight the dietpaing Denman and Lyons would lose
vgover a five-month period. The result:
172 pounds lost between them;
than $600 gained for CCLA.
more
“Fourth Union
‘Joins ALA
Another union has joined the
4 Alliance for Labor Action.
The National Council, Distribuof America
Workers
itive
representing 50,000
) (NCDWA),
last
yw workers,
joined the ALA
month, it was announced by ALA
}Co-Chairmen Frank E. Fitzsimvice
Teamsters
general
“mons,
| president, and Walter P. Reuther,
TUAW president.
NCDWA
was organized
The
4 about a year ago and has locals
iLin 14 states. Its largest segment,
65,
represents
30,000
[District
in
metropolitan
New
‘workers
" York. District 65 was formerly a
‘eq part of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, AFL-CIO.
The new union shares one of
. ALA’s
major goals: organizing
dfthe
‘),
millions
of working
poor
in
America, declared NCDWA President Cleveland Robinson and Executive Vice President David Livingston. In the past 10 months
organizing
alone,
NCDWA’s
drives have brought more than
10,000 workers into the union,
according to Organizing Director
Frank Brown.
NCDWA is ALA’s fourth memUAW,
the
joining
union,
ber
Teamsters and International
Chemical Workers.
) CONCERNED
OVER
Concerned
over reports that
i.
fish in Lake St. Clair are con}| taminated
with
dangerous
amounts of mercury, the UAW
urged the Michigan Legislature
to make the discharge of mercury and other toxic substances
into public waters a felony.
Such a law also should contain
®
stiff penalties commensurate with
’ | “this crime against society,” said
J},
u
)
f
)
a statement
issued
by
the four Detroit regional directors of the UAW.
“We applaud the decision of
the board and the support given
it by the Detroit school superintendent and commend them for
their devotion
to the
highest
ideals- of American
democracy
and the cause of human
freedom,” they declared.
The four directors — George
Merrelli,
Region
1; Marcellius
Ivory, Region 1A; Ken Morris,
Region 1B, and Bard Young, Region 1E—were
joined in their
statement by four other top UAW
officers who are residents of the
city of Detroit. They are Vice
Presidents
Leonard
Woodcock,
Nelson Jack Edwards,
Douglas
Fraser and Olga Madar.
“Desegregation, which as Pres-
ident Nixon has noted is an indispensable condition for quality
education,
is now on its way,” the
board members’ statement noted.
“But quality, which is impossible without fulfillment of that
condition, requires, in addition,
adequate resources to meet the
need of every child for whom the
school system is responsible.
“President Nixon has promised
to make those resources available,”’ they added. “We call upon
the President of the United States
to allocate sufficient funds to
make quality, integrated education a reality for every Detroit
child.”
Three
Get Certificates
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —
Three UAW members here were
among a large group of trade unionists who have received certificates from Michigan State University’s School of Labor and Industrial Relations after completing a course in “Social Psychology in Industry.” They are Carol
Cierlak and Louis Huizenga of
GM Local 1231, and Ken Norris
of Local 687.
ployment problem, UAW
Secretary Treasurer Emil Mazey wrote
a reply to the paper’s
had
UAW Vice President Olga
Miss
Madar,
director
Madar.
of the
UAW
Conservation
Dept.,
also
urged Michigan Governor William
G. Milliken to use his authority
to immediately halt the continued
mercury pollution of the Detroit
River
by
Wyandotte
Chemical
Co. The one other identified major source
of Canada,
Natural
The
is Dow Chemical Co,
the Michigan Dept. of
Resources
governor
said,
and
the
legisla-
Ontario
officials
found
danger-
ous concentrations of mercury in
fish taken from the Canadian side
of these bodies of water. They
immediately imposed a ban on
commercial and sports fishing in
these waters. In cooperation with
federal officials, they are developing a program of unemployment
compensation and low cost loans
for Canadians whose livelihoods
have
been
“We feel
ken should
wiped
legislature
that
also
on
out by pollution.
Governor Milliwork with the
a program
to com-
pensate
those
whose
suffering
and losses resulted from the laxity of state enforcement authorities and the callous disregard of
industries who have been pouring
letter
editor and
reproduced
to the delegates
Convention
and
in Atlantic City.
at the
The editorial had called unemployment ‘‘desirable” as long as
it helps to “fight inflation.”
Why
is it that it is always
FISH STORY.
working people “who are called
upon to make sacrifices in the
name of stopping inflation,” Ma-
Here's one that didn't
get away! A 97'2-pound Giant
Grouper is displayed by George
zey
Henry of UAW Local 157, Detroit,
a chief steward at Scotten Die &
Machine. He landed the critter in
Florida, with the assistance of fellow vacationer Joe
president.
Danz, Local
157
National
Labor
plant
at
Relations
Lansdale,
Pa.,
his
letter.
“While
what it is like to be without a
job,” Mazey noted in his letter.
“Even
a Ph. D. in economics
ought to know that seeing children go hungry or malnourished
... is not desirable.”
The current inflation is not
caused by workers but “‘by corporate greed . . . and by illegal pricefixing conspiracies” uncovered in
various industries, he noted.
The solution to inflation “lies in
government action . . . to end
corporate . . . price-gouging and
not in throwing people out of
Board has certified the UAW as
bargaining agent for the 2,700
workers in the growing PhilcoFord
in
torial obviously “has never known
Philco-Ford
Win Certified
The
asked
working people are losing their
jobs, the bankers are increasing
their profits,” he observed.
The person who wrote the edi-
a
Philadelphia suburb, it was announced by Vice President Pat
Greathouse, UAW director of organizing, and Region 9 Director
Martin Gerber.
work,”’
The workers chose the UAW
by a vote of 1,248 for the union
and 1,035 for no union, in an elec-
tion conducted
by the NLRB
April 3. The plant is the second
one in Ford Motor Co.’s PhilcoFord
division
to join
UAW’s
lengthening list of recent wins.
“The workers chose UAW despite a vicious anti-union campaign by the company, reminiscent of an earlier period in the
relations between Ford and the
union,” Greathouse said. “Ford
management chose to vilify the
union with tired old charges relating to strikes and dues, delivered to captive audiences of its
workers.”
MERCURY
ture should take immediate action to identify and stop the flow
of all toxic materials into our
waterways, Miss Madar said.
the
distributed
Make Pollution a Felony, UAW
y
),|
in
Shocked by what he considered
a “callous” editorial in The Detroit News concerning the unem-
and
rivers
the
into
mercury
lakes,” she said.
Declaring that “a crisis situation exists’ and criticizing the
“inept handling by state officials
of the mercury pollution problem,” she urged that he:
e Use his authority to stop the
discharge of mercury into the Detroit River by Wyandotte.
e Place a priority on the enactment of legislation establishing a
Environmental
of
Department
Protection which has the authority to act expeditiously on all
pollution matters.
e Appoint immediately an ento act
coordinator
vironmental
until such time as the Dept. of
Environmental Protection begins
to function to get speedy action
from state government when pollution is detected.
Mazey
declared.
A $2,400 Settlement
ANDERSON, Ind.—The widow
of a GM Local 663 member is
$2,400 richer today, thanks to
prompt action from the local’s insurance
committee.
Down-
Mary
ing had been denied Transition
by
Benefits
Income
Survivor
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.,
the insurance carrier. The local,
which represents the Guide Lamp
workers, put its insurance committee to work on her problem,
records were straightened out and
a $2,400 settlement was reached,
reports Carroll Bud Miller, committee chairman.
Urges
e Call for federal intervention
to prevent the further discharge
of toxic substances into the Great
Lakes and other waterways.
e Urge the legislature to appropriate funds for adequate staff
the
determine
and
to inspect
types
and
amount
of
contami-
nants and to prevent water pollution.
Following her suggestions, the
State Dept. of Natural Resources
said the releases of mercury into
the waters were stopped.
announced
department
The
that Gov. Milliken thinks there
may be other harmful substances
getting into the water. He has
ordered
check.
state
He
government
also
agencies
to
urged
make
a
to make
the
federal
a_nation-
wide investigation of mercury and
other contaminants.
May, 1970—UAW
SOLIDARITY—Page
15
see
ITING the activities of “the largest region within the UAW,” Victor Reuther,
Affairs
International
of UAW’s
director
Dept., says his unit is busy “building inter-
national
solidarity”
trade union
in maintain-
ing harmonious relations with 12 million
workers in over 50 nations.
“We are building this not because we lack
other crusades
in which
to engage,”
Reuther
that
200,000
reported to the UAW Convention in Atlantic
City, “but because the corporations that employ you made a decision to go world-wide
in their operations.”
Reuther also reported on the historic European Automobile Workers Conference held
in Paris last December to set priority demands in each of the represented countries.
In telling of the UAW’s association with
the International Metalworkers Federation,
Reuther cited the effectiveness of the organization’s work on the mushrooming auto
industry
organized
He
in Japan.
Draws World
Convention
UAW
revealed
automobile workers
“are
in Japan
moving their wages up at a faster rate than
in any industrialized nation in the world”—
including the U.S. and Canada.
program,
STEP
UAW
The
a
non-profit
corporation set up to help impoverished areas
both
in this
country
and
around
the
world,
has achieved wide success, Reuther said.
He pointed out that the STEP operation
is important “because we believe in people
and because we know that unless we extend
the hand of solidarity, we have no right in a
crisis to expect their support and their cooperation and their solidarity.”
Interest in the UAW’s 22nd Constitutional
Convention ran so high that it drew nearly
100 distinguished guests from around the
globe.
Among the foreign visitors were Milton P.
McCarney, president of the Vehicle Builders
Employes Federation of Australia; Jose A.
Mollegas, president of the Metalworkers of
Venezuela; Dirck Kloosterman, president of
SMATA
(Metalworkers)
PRG
of Argentina; Argeu
MDS
Y
ne
Be
a
A Bell
Three UAW officials were honored for
their contribution to the striking grapeworkers and allowed to help pull the 300-pound
Community Work
Expansion Voted
Delegates
urged
local
to
the
unions
22nd
UAW
to expand
nity services activities
the CAP program.
in
Convention
their
commu-
conjunction
with
In a two-page resolution, the convention
voted to call on all locals to:
e Accelerate the training of union counselors to help members with their out-ofplant
problems.
© Help
centers.
set
up
community
mental
health
e Advocate welfare reform, including federal standards and income maintenance at
an adequate
e
Support
Health
care.
level.
the
Insurance
Committee
program
for
a
National
for better health
© Continue their commitment
“to the total
environmental problems of the inner city”
and actively support, through CAP, the Ur-
ban Coalition and other community groups.
¢ Intensify efforts “to support and identify
with the newly emerging groups in our so-
ciety who are seeking redress because
neglect, discrimination and poverty.”
——————————
Page 16—UAW SOLIDARITY—May, 1970
of
E. dos Santos, president of FITIM (Metal-|/:,
workers) of Brazil; Sharfundine M. Khan,
Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO).
representative to the U.S. and the United
Nations; Ivar Noren, new general secretary)
of the International Metalworkers Federa-) 3”
tion and Adolph Graedel, retired general secretary of IMF. Also visiting were many
guests from various embassies and consu- ue
lates.
Also included in the guest list were: Mrs, 2%
Erma Angevine, director of the Consumer 's:
Federation of America; Dr. John A. D..@
Cooper, president, Association of American{ts
Medical Colleges; Nelson
H. Cruikshank,
:/
president of the National Council of Senior
io
Citizens; Ogden Fields, executive secretary of \o
the National Labor Relations Board; Ben ‘19
Ross, assistant director, National Urban Co- -0'
alition; Norman Sprague, director, National |«1
Council on the Aging and Henry W. Warren, 1
executive director, Community Health Asso- -o:
ciation.
CAP Program
Is Wide-Ranging
AW’S Community Action Program has
completed the long journey from an idea
to a fully structured, fully operating, constitutionally authorized program of the UAW, designed to implement all of UAW’s social and
legislative goals apart from collective bargaining.
Delegates to the 22nd Constitutional Convention adopted a comprehensive resolution
setting forth the objectives, operation and
suggested activities of the CAP Councils now
established throughout the United States.
The delegates also adopted a completely new
Article 23 in the Constitution, establishing
for Delano
IHERE’S A BELL for Delano—and for
farm workers everywhere across the land.
It’s silenced by chains and locks, to peal
the songs of freedom only when the powerful
grape
grower
corporations
of California
agree to recognize their workers’ right to
have a union.
In the dying moments of the UAW’s 22nd
Constitutional Convertion, weary delegates
had cause for one more long, standing ovation: for 30 men and women from the fields
of Delano and their cause as they pulled
their huge, mounted bell through the aisleways of applauding delegates.
Leaders
Labor
bell: Region 6 Director Paul Schrade, newly
elected Vice President and Canadian Director
Dennis McDermott and Victor Reuther, director of UAW international affairs.
By a voice vote—a thunderous cheer—
delegates passed a resolution:
e That the UAW continue to provide both
financial and moral help to the farm workers
in their courageous efforts to organize and
bring the advantages of collective hargaining
to the farm workers of both the U.S. and
Canada;
e That the UAW continue its support of
U.S. Rep. James O’Hara’s bill (H.R. 9954)
which would extend the protection of the
National Labor Relations Act to farm workers, giving them the legally enforceable right
to organize and bargain collectively;
e And that the UAW reaffirm its endorsement of the grape boycott until grape growers accept the right of farm workers to
organize their own union and engage in
genuine collective bargaining.
Back
Credit
Unions
The UAW convention reaffirmed the union’s support of the organized credit union
movement and urged the membership to become active in it.
Members should “use credit union services .. . (to) escape the higher charges’’ demanded by other lending institutions, the
delegates said in the resolution which they
adopted without opposition.
They also pledged “continued organizational assistance for local unions wishing to
establish credit unions and support (for) the
negotiation of contract clauses providing for
credit union checkoffs.”
CAP’s structure and duties.
The vast program replaces UAW’s former
participation
in the AFL-CIO’s
national,
state and city central councils during the
years of the UAW’s affiliation, from the
merger of the AFL and the CIO in late 1955
until UAW disaffiliated in 1968. No CAP
Councils are being established in Canada,
since UAW is still affiliated and working with
the Canadian Labor Congress, the national
labor federation in that country.
The overall purpose of CAP is to enrich
the quality of American life, the convention
resolution
solution
nity,
says.
explains,
civic,
In
practical
“CAP
welfare,
terms,
engages
educational,
the
re-
in commu-
environ-
mental, cultural, citizenship-legislation, consumer protection, community services and
other activities to improve the economic and
social conditions of UAW members and their
families and to promote the general welfare
and democratic way of life for all people.”
Convention Mourns
Gene Prato's Death
Gene Prato’s death was announced to more
than 3,000 delegates in convention and Atlantic City’s huge auditorium was hushed in
his memory.
He had served as chairman of the allimportant UAW National Ford Council since
1948—and only six weeks ago, in fast-failing
health, he accepted the unanimous Ford local
union leaders’ decision to ask him to continue
leading the council in this year of major
negotiations.
Prato was a pioneer and mainstay of UAW
Local 600. Soon after Ken Bannon was appointed director of the UAW
Ford Dept.,
Prato was taken on as administrative assistant, a post he held until 1962. For reasons
of health that required him to cut down
on the travelling expected of national staff
members,
Ford
he chose to return to his plant, the
rolling mill.
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