Analysis of estimate-Wolf Creek Ordnance Plant-Continued

Line X (complete)

Analysis of estimate-Wolf Creek Ordnance Plant, 37 mm. supplement

$1, 563, 438

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Primer line..

499, 999

135, 100

AFFIDAVIT of Mr. Joe Allessi, Jr., Badge No. 40789, home address, Independence, Louisiana, in reference to payments made to Hugo Glatt, Business Agent, of Cement Finishers Local 521.

I, the undersigned, do solemnly swear that the following statements pertaining to monies paid by me to the hereinafter mentioned agent of Cement Finishers Local 521 to be a true and accurate statement.

I paid $80.00 to Hugo Glatt, to join the Cement Finishers Local 521. In addition to this sum, I have been paying 5% of my weekly salary to Hugo Glatt, Business Agent. Upon payment of this 5% of the wages, I received, and am receiving a receipt, called a working permit. I, along with other men who are making these payments, am allowed to continue working. Mr. Glatt has impressed upon me and upon other men that I know of that if this 5% of each weekly check were not paid, no one would be allowed to work and would be run off the job. In addition to this payment of 5% of wages received, I also pay $3.00 & month regular Union dues. This is also in addition to the $80.00 initiation dues. On the night of August 30, Mr. Beecham and Mr. Collier, who are in Area D under Foreman Bryant, went around looking at all permits and took all the numbers for Mr. Glatt and worked four hours at that. Beecham was night Superintendent and went around with Collier to make these check ups. When Collier came back, Smith, Foreman in Area B, asked him where to charge the four hours he had been gone, and it was charged on a ramp in Area B. Smith, Foreman in Area B, signed the time card. Mr. Bryant had nothing to do with signing this time card.

Attached to this affidavit are receipts of 5% of my weekly wages, signed by Hugo Glatt. I quit here on account of this 5% in July and went to work for Reynolds Alloys Co., Sheffield, Alabama. The Financial Secretary, Mr. Reid, of the Cement Finishers Local 614, at that place, gave me a working card for the month of July, without charging me a nickel, and said that I did not have to pay any 5% or anything besides my monthly dues. Further, he said that the collection of any percentage of wages was illegal, according to Union rules.

98% of the men here would leave if they could get their Union cards, but Hugo Glatt has delayed giving out these Union cards, and it is believed by the men that it is done to hold them here in order to continue to collect the 5% of their wages.

I, Joe Alessi, Jr., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have read and understand the foregoing.

JOE ALESSI Jr,

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 15 day of Sept., 1941, at Milan, TenLILLIAN J. JOHNSON, Notary Public.

nessee.

[SEAL]

EXHIBIT No. 153

[Copy]

AUGUST 14, 1941.

STATE OF TENNESSEE,

Milan, Gibson County, ss:

AFFIDAVIT of Mr. W. R. Dollard, badge number 3434, in reference to payments made to George McCandle, Recording Secretary, and Hugo Glatt, Business Agent, of Cement Finishers Local 521.

I, the undersigned, do solemnly swear that the following statements pertaining to monies paid by me to the hereinafter mentioned agents of Cement Finishers Local 521 to be a true and accurate statement.

That I paid $80.00 to join the Cement Finishers Local 521. That in addition to this sum I have been paying 5% of my salary to Hugo Glatt, Business Agent. Upon payment of this 5% of wages received to a so-called steward who is sent around to the men to collect these payments, and upon making payment and receiving a receipt called a "working permit," I, along with other men that make these payments, am allowed to continue working. It has been impressed upon the men that if they do not pay this 5% of wages that they will not be allowed to work and will be run off the job. This 5% is referred to as a percentage and is considered weekly dues. In addition to this payment of 5% of amount of wages received, as stated above, I also pay $3.00 a month regular Union dues. This is also in addition to $80 initiation dues.

Receipts for this 5% for the months of May, June, and July, have been signed by Hugo Glatt, who is Business Agent of the Cement Finishers Local 521, and the receipt for August 8 is signed by George McCandle, Recording Secretary. Although I have made the above payments and am not in arrears on any of these so-called percentages or dues, I have never been furnished a regular Union card from the Cement Finishers Local 521.

No other crafts are doing what this Local 521 is requiring workers to do. I have had five good men run off the job because they did not pay the required 5% of their salaries.

I, W. R. Dollard, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have read and understand the foregoing.

/s/ W. R. DOLLARD.

EXHIBIT No. 154

[Copy]

SEPT. 17, 1941.

STATE OF TENNESSEE,

County of Gibson:

AFFIDAVIT of Earl T. Daniels, Badge No. 40748, in reference to payments made to Hugo Glatt, Business Agent, Cement Finishers Local 521.

I, the undersigned, do solemnly swear that the following statement pertaining to monies paid by me to the Business Agent of Cement Finishers Local 521, to be a true and accurate statement.

I started work here the 9th of May, I saw Mr. Glatt and he told me that it would cost me $80.00 to join this Union and that they would take out 25% of my wages until I got the $80.00 paid, and then it would be 5% of my weekly wages, and $3.00 a month dues. It was clearly understood by me that I was to pay that, and I got my book paid out in June, but have not received my card yet. I have been paying my 5% every Friday, but I understand that there are some that have quit paying that 5%, and I think that if one has to pay, all should. /s/ EARL T. DANIELS.

Sworn and subscribed to before me this the 17 day of September, 1941. /s/ LILLIAN J. JOHNSON, Notary Public.

"EXHIBIT NO. 155," introduced on p. 2959, is on file with the committee.

Confidential.

EXHIBIT No. 156

TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. MCKAY, WAshington, D. C. AND CAPT. HOFTO RE: LABOR. SUBMIT INFORMATION ON B

SEPTEMBER 25, 1941.

MCKAY. Will you be good enough to have Lt. Pennington ease off on his investigation of labor charges.

HOFTO. We have already stopped it.

MCKAY. The publicity is unfavorable and in the opinion of this office it might lead to stirring up some labor trouble.

HOFTO. We have already stopped it. It has been taken over for a week by the contractor. By the way, did you know that Mr. Miller had gone. MCKAY. Yes we did, and A. K. Ferguson has succeeded him.

HOFTO. That's right. That's the solution to it, and he has taken over completely. Anything that comes in we turn right over to him.

MCKAY. Thank you. On another matter entirely, you wrote for the designation of three shift Lieuts. as U. S. Deputies and then substituted Burress for Phelps.

HOFTO. I believe that Burress left us. He went back to the State I think, that's my recollection. Lt. Pennington explained that to me and as I recall it he went back to the State.

MCKAY. The way it stood originally Phelps, Williams and Burke were to be the three, then I that Phelps had fallen out and Burress had been substituted. You follow that. With the first submission the questionnaire came forward with the submission of account of Burress. I think through error those papers were omitted, although they are supposed to accompany the letter. Will you have that rectified.

HOFTO. You want us to submit Burress's information to you. Alright we will shoot it up to you.

MCKAY. O. K. thank you, goodbye.

EXHIBIT No. 157

WOLF CREEK ORDNANCE PLANT,

September 24, 1941.

MINUTES OF MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS Mr. W. C. Brady, Plumbers and Steam Fitters, Jackson, Tennessee; Mr. J. H. Spears, Local #4 Sheet Metal Workers; Mr. G. M. Johnson, Carpenters Union; Mr. J. B. Moore, Plasterers and Cement Finishers; Mr. C. MacMillan, Electrical Workers, International; Mr. J. Barham, Local B 835, Electrical Workers; Mr. C. J. Williams, Brick Layers #2, Jackson, Tennessee; Mr. H. N. Estes, Painters #965; Mr. J. W. Rush, Building Trades Council; Mr. Ó. S. Tislow, Painter's International; Mr. Oneal Butler, Laborer's Local 1161, Jackson; Mr. Miller, Operating Engineers; Mr. Green, Operating Engineers, International Repr.; Mr. Hugo Glatt, Cement finishers and operative plasterers; also Capt. Hofto, Lt. Pennington, Mr. Atkin and Mr. Ferguson, and Mr. Lev Loring.

Mr. FERGUSON. As I understand it, Mr. Loring you wanted this meeting so that you could discuss some of the things you had on your mind.

Mr. LORING. If it is in order I think everyone here should identify himself. The reason I called this meeting with the Labor Coordinator on this project, the contractor mentioned to me that the construction offices of the U. S. Army advised him that certain assessments and permit fees are being levied by representatives of local unions of the building trades crafts who have an agreement with the contractor. These permit fees and working assessments would have to cease on this job or same would have to be taken out of the contractor's fee. Capt. HoFTO. Who made such a statement?

Mr. FERGUSON. No, that is wrong. The statement was made that we are required to pay workmen at par and there was a possible construction of the contract regarding deductions made at the time they are paid which might be considered as violating this phase of the contract.

Mr. LORING. Possibly I misunderstood it and I accept the change on the record. There have been quite a few rumors and some mention made in an indirect way In the papers about the fees and assessments on this job and I want to ask the representatives of the army now if there is anything wrong with the procedure and if there is point it out to us.

Capt. HoFTO. I cannot understand why the representatives of the army have been called to this meeting when it is a requirement of the contractor to maintain labor relations required under his contract.

Mr. FERGUSON. For quite some time now we have been getting from various individuals complaints from the trades that the rumors circulated about this job have reflected on their organizations. In accordance with Lt. Fuller's instructions we took up the matter of assessments. Their reaction to our request was one of questioning our authority to direct them as to the manner and method in which they assessed their members and further, at the same time, it was brought out that they felt that their prime purpose was being materially harmed by the rumors on the job which had tied them up publicly with the labor rackets which have gone on in the case of certain individuals on this project. As I understand it there are two separate subjects. One is their questioning of our authority to direct them regarding assessments and second is to take up with us and the army their method of publishing such news so that we can work out jointly a proposition which they feel will reflect to their credit. As Mr. Loring told me in our meeting last week they would like to know if in the opinion of the army there is anything wrong with our procedure. They have assumed that if there is anything wrong they want to clean house rather han have us do it for them.

Mr. LORING. If the army or the contractor has any information or any knowledge of any irregularities we want to know that. If there is a misunderstanding between the men on the procedure we would like to know that and get it cleared

up.

Capt. HoFTO. There is a Labor Relations Section of the Quartermaster General in Washington who work. together with your folks in Washington. They work very closely and it has been expressed by them that they cannot understand why these additional local assessments are placed on these men. As I understand it, there have been some extra collections made from people on this job. Mr. FERGUSON. That is, in addition to the regular dues and initiation fees. Mr. LORING. Let's be specific and point out one or mention one case then we will take them in order.

Capt. HoFTO. One case is the one that Hugo Glatt is connected with. The Cement Finishers.

That

Mr. LORING. Mr. Glatt will you explain that? How your organization works? Mr. GLATT. Our organization works with the beginning of a new member coming in. They pay $80 initiation fee, no cash only in case he claims he is a cement finisher and we have a possible doubt. Then we charge him $10. Then if he is discharged he gets his money back by bringing the receipt back to me. has happened only about four times. They usually do not want their money back. We informed them it was the government's money and we could not give them a trial. We give them the jobs on the basis that they were formerly cement finishers. If the men cannot earn their money they are to be discharged. One man said he did get in 15 hours but as soon as the foreman came around he was discharged. I gave him his $10 but I have not seen him since. When a man gets

his first pay he has to pay us 256 on the dollar. Then when he has $80 paid he has to pay 5% of his earnings plus $3 per month for dues. They are given that understanding before they make their first payment. They agree to that. Mr. LORING. By what authority do you collect that 5%.

Mr. GLATT. In accordance with the rules of our local.

Mr. LORING. Do you have a copy?
Mr. GLATT. I have only one copy.

It is not here. Our secretary is on con

vention at this time and I could not secure another copy. I do not have the new 1941 books. I do have the 1939 book.

Mr. LORING. Do you have the minutes of the meeting where the assessment was made. If so, may we have a copy of the records?

Mr. FERGUSON. While he is looking that up I would like to know if you are authorized by your International to make such assessments.

Mr. GLATT. The International O.K.'s them before we put them into effect. Mr. LORING. I will read for the record. Section 55 of the Constitution of the Operative Plasterers' and Cement Finishers' International Association. Sec. 55.