November 17 THE CIO Convention ratified the "no-raiding-of-membership" agreement with the AFL (see Chron. item for Sept. 25, 1953, MLR, Nov. 1953), thus automatically putting the pact into effect on January 1, 1954, for those affiliates of both organizations which subsequently sign it. (Source: New York Times, Nov. 18, 1953.) BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS, chairman of the United States Steel Corp., and David J. McDonald, president of the United Steelworkers of America (CIO), began an unprecedented series of visits to the company's major mills throughout the country in the interest of more harmonious labor-management relationships at the plant level. (Source: New York Times, Nov. 17 and 18, 1953.) November 18 AN arbitration panel awarded a 40-hour week and a 261⁄2cent-an-hour wage increase (primarily to maintain the current level of earnings under reduced hours) to most of the 8,000 employees of private bus lines in New York Citymembers of Transport Workers Union of America (CIO)— in settlement of their strike (see Chron. item for Jan. 28, 1953, MLR, Mar. 1953). (Source: New York Times, Nov. 19, 1953.) AT A SPECIAL "clean-up" convention of the International Longshoremen's Association (Ind.) held in Philadelphia, Joseph P. Ryan resigned as life president and was chosen by the delegates to be president emeritus at a $10,000-ayear "irrevocable" pension. Captain William V. Bradley, head of the ILA's tugboat division, was elected to succeed him. On the previous day, the convention had held President Ryan, under indictment for misappropriating union funds, free from all guilt. Before adjourning, the convention authorized the executive council to initiate negotiations for affiliation or reaffiliation of the ILA with some parent trade-union group, final action to be subject to a membership referendum; whereupon, the council reactivated a 7-man committee for this purpose. New York Times, Nov. 19, 1953.) November 21 (Source: WALTER P. REUTHER, President of the CIO, announced executive board approval of the merger of the United Optical & Instrument Workers of America, one of the smallest CIO unions, with the International Union of Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers (CIO). Some of the optical workers will go into the Federation of Glass, Ceramic & Silica Sand Workers (CIO). (Source: New York Times, Nov. 22, 1953.) November 23 THE Federal District Court in the District of Columbia, in the case of International Fur & Leather Workers' Union of U. S. & Canada (Ind.) v. Farmer et al. as members of NLRB, enjoined the Board from applying to the union its policy of holding in abeyance certification of a union having an officer under indictment for filing a false nonCommunist affidavit under the Taft-Hartley Act (see Chron. item for Oct. 15, 1953, MLR, Dec. 1953). (Source: Labor Relations Reporter, Nov. 30, 1953, 33 LRRM, p. 2142; for discussion, see p. 60 of this issue.) November 24 THE NLRB unanimously vacated earlier decisions and orders directing 2 California companies to bargain with Local 1421 of the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (Ind.). The actions followed an administrative determination that, at the time complaints were issued against the employers, the local had improperly failed to designate its trustees as officers and to file nonCommunist affidavits for them. The firms were Square D Co., Los Angeles (see Chron. item for June 2, 1953, MLR, Aug. 1953), and Pryne & Co., Inc., Pomona. (Source: Labor Relations Reporter, Dec. 7, 1953, 33 LRRM, pp. 1087, 1088.) November 30 THE Federal Wage and Hour Administrator, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, approved new minimum hourly wage rates for employees in the costume jewelry division of the button, buckle, and jewelry industry in Puerto Rico, effective January 4, 1954. The rates were set at 50 cents for the costume jewelry hair ornament division of the industry (old rate, 45 cents), and 36 cents for the costume jewelry general division (old rates, 30 and 45 cents). The Administrator also approved, under FLSA, a rate of 40 cents (old rate, 35 cents) in the shoe manufacturing and allied industries in Puerto Rico, effective January 4, 1954. (Source: Federal Register, Dec. 4, 1953, p. 7820.) THE NLRB refused (3 to 1) to take jurisdiction in the case of a firm conceded to be engaged in "commerce" within the meaning of the Taft-Hartley Act, because its operations had "insufficient impact on interstate commerce." Although the volume of the employer's direct deliveries (for his distributor and sole customer) to firms engaged in interstate commerce met the Board's jurisdictional criterion (of more than $50,000 annually) established in 1950 (see Chron. item for Oct. 6, 1950, MLR, Nov. 1950, and p. 574 of that issue), the Board held that he was "twice removed from interstate commerce," and that therefore the volume of business, being entirely intrastate, was immaterial. The case involved was Thomas W. Brooks and Collin Brooks, d. b. a. Brooks Wood Products, Mio, Mich., and International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (CIO). (Source: Labor Relations Reporter, Dec. 7, 1953, 33 LRRM, p. 1104.) Developments in Industrial Relations' THE WORK STOPPAGE at plants of North American Aviation, Inc., continued throughout the month and an uneasy peace, imposed by an 80-day injunction, hovered over the New York waterfront. Scattered settlements occurred in some industries, while in others, such as at the daily newspapers in New York City, work stoppages developed. The 15th annual convention of the CIO ratified a previously negotiated AFL-CIO "no-raiding" pact and the AFL Machinists and Carpenters began talks intended to ease their longstanding jurisdictional controversies. In one of the country's basic industries-steel-officials of the U. S. Steel Corp. and the United Steelworkers (CIO) began a series of plant tours designed to encourage improved labor-management relations. Aircraft The strike of the United Automobile Workers (CIO) at plants of North American Aviation, Inc., in Los Angeles and Fresno, Calif., and Columbus, Ohio, continued into December. According to the company, about a third of the 32,000 employees who stopped work on October 23 were back at work by the end of November. The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the NLRB when the company unilaterally raised wages of returning workers by the same. amount previously put into effect for unorganized workers.2 Elsewhere in Southern California aircraft centers, negotiations between the AFL Machinists and the Douglas Aircraft Co. resulted in the acceptance by the El Segundo local of a company offer which was rejected by the Santa Monica local. However, the IAM members at Santa Monica refused to authorize strike action and continued their bargaining. In 1952, the Douglas Santa Monica machinists were the first to accept a company wage proposal, and the El Segundo local went on strike. At Lockheed Aircraft Co. in Burbank, Calif., IAM-AFL members also rejected an offer similar to that made by Douglas. Here, too, the membership reportedly refused to authorize strike action and negotiations continued. The Douglas-El Segundo agreement, covering about 14,000 employees, was signed November 10 and was made retroactive to October 19. The settlement included, among other benefits, a 5-cent hourly increase for all employees and incorporation of 2 cents of the present 3-cent cost-ofliving allowance into the basic wage structure. Another settlement involved the Hughes Aircraft Co. and an AFL Aircraft Workers Union. A 2-year agreement provides for a 5-cent general wage increase and a 1-cent cost-of-living allowance, as well as other benefits. The union represents about 8,000 of the company's 15,000 employees. The company announced extension of identical benefits to employees not covered by the contract. Northrop Aircraft, Inc., at Hawthorne, Calif., also announced a 5-cent hourly increase to its 15,500 hourly rated employees, on November 17. Shoes New contracts covering 18,000 AFL and CIO employees of International Shoe Co. in 50 plants were negotiated without provision for any general wage increases. The agreements provide, however, that wages are to be adjusted semiannually for the next 2 years on the basis of the BLS Consumer Price Index, but no reduction below presently existing wage rates is permitted should living costs decline. The agreements also provide for company payment of the cost of a hospitalization, medical, and accident insurance program. Brown Shoe Co. and the AFL Boot and Shoe Workers Union subsequently agreed on a new contract with similar terms. Negotiations have also been opened between Brown Shoe Co. and the CIO United Shoe Workers, although current contracts do not expire until next spring. The two unions represent approximately 8,500 workers at a number of Brown Shoe Co. plants. In the 1 Prepared in the Bureau's Division of Wages and Industrial Relations. See Monthly Labor Review, December 1953 (p. 1324). Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, area, shoe manufacturers extended for 1 year the present agreement covering 3,500 workers represented by an independent union. The New York Shoe Board of Trade, representing manufacturers of women's shoes, also reached agreement early in November with the United Shoe Workers (CIO), representing about 2,500 workers. Details of the settlement, which provided wage increases and pension adjustments, are not available. Apparel The Ladies' Garment Workers (AFL) and the William Carter Co., manufacturers of knitted underwear, renewed an agreement covering plants in Springfield and Gilbertville, Mass. The new agreement includes an unusual "guarantee of employment" provision which states that, should a reduction in employment become necessary, the firm will curtail the work force in its southern (unorganized) plants by the same percentage as in its northern shops. (The firm employs 1,500 workers in the South and 900 in Massachusetts.) The contract expires in 1956, but the "guarantee" provision extends until 1958. Other contract adjustments include a 5-percent wage increase, retroactive to August 21, 1953, and an additional 5-percent increase in August 1955; establishment of a 35-hour workweek, with overtime after 37 hours, and an increase in the number of annual paid holidays from 5 to 6, beginning in August 1954. Transportation Pacific Electric Railway Co. A different form of job protection emerged from an agreement covering employees affected by the sale of Pacific Electric Railway Co.'s passenger service to the Metropolitan Coach Lines of Los Angeles. Negotiated by the 2 companies and 12 unions representing their employees, the agreement provides allowances for displacement, dismissal, and moving expenses, as well as protection of such other benefits as free transportation, pensions, and hospitalization, if the employee is adversely affected as a result of the sale. A monthly "displacement" allowance to compensate retained employees for any reduction in earnings may be paid over a period up to 4 years, depending upon the employee's length of service. Similarly, workers who lose their jobs are entitled to "dismissal" allowances, also payable over a 4-year period, except that the separated employee may elect a lump-sum payment based on length of service and previous earnings. In addition, a separate agreement between the parties covering job transfers and related matters provides that, subject to specified conditions, employees may exercise seniority at both companies for a period up to 4 years. The employee protection agreement is generally similar to one entered into in 1936 by virtually all class I steam railroads and the labor organizations representing their employees. This agreement, often termed the "Washington Job Protection Plan," provided allowances and other protection for employees affected by mergers, consolidations, or coordinations. New York City Bus Lines. An arbitration panel on November 18 awarded a 40-hour week and hourly pay increases up to 261⁄2 cents to approximately 8,000 employees of privately operated buslines in New York City represented by TWU (CIO). The major portion of the increase was intended to maintain take-home pay at the same level as under the previous 44- or 48-hour work assignments. The award touched off renewed demands for a fare increase; the arbitrators had expressed their opinion that a fare rise and relief from franchise taxes appeared necessary if some of the companies were to avoid bankruptcy. The arbitration proceeding grew out of a 28-day strike last January. Meantime, the New York City Transit Authority and the Transport Workers Union (CIO) settled their dispute over curtailed or "economy" off-peak schedules for city-owned transit lines on the basis of recommendations by New York State Supreme Court Justice Walter R. Hart. However, new difficulties in wage negotiations with the Transit Authority were indicated by Michael J. Quill, union president. He declared that the top rate of $2 an hour for bus drivers set by the arbitration panel in the dispute between the TWU and the private buslines would become "a floor-not a ceiling" in negotiations with the Transit Authority scheduled to begin December 1, 1953. The union proposed a package of demands estimated to average 40 cents an hour, including a 25-cent hourly pay increase and improvements in pension, holiday, hospitalization, and other benefits. New York Newspapers A dispute between 400 members of the PhotoEngravers' Union (AFL) and 6 major New York City newspapers-the Times, Post, Daily News, Daily Mirror, Journal-American, and the WorldTelegram and Sun-led to a strike on November 28 after the union rejected the employers' proposal to arbitrate. Approximately 20,000 other employees of the newspapers refused to cross picket lines and the papers ceased publication. The PhotoEngravers were seeking a $15 weekly "package" increase, including wages, pensions, and welfare insurance; the employers offered a $3.75 weekly "package," including a wage increase, an additional holiday, and an added contribution for welfare insurance. The New York Herald-Tribune, which was not directly involved in the dispute because its photoengraving is done by a commercial plant, announced on November 30 that it was suspending publication until further notice "because it is clear that the continued publication of the Herald-Tribune is being used as an instrument to obstruct normal collective bargaining." Longshore Developments Joseph P. Ryan resigned on November 18 as president of the International Longshoremen's Association after holding office for 26 years. This action occurred during a special convention of the union held in Philadelphia on November 16-18. Acknowledging that his "continuation as president may well stand in the way of the future welfare of the ILA, both in its relationship with the rest of the labor movement and otherwise," Mr. Ryan stepped down to become president emeritus at an irrevocable annual pension of $10,000. In his place, convention delegates unanimously elected Captain William V. Bradley, head of ILA's tugboat division. The union's executive council, following the convention, revived a 7-man committee to explore the possibilities of ILA affiliation with a parent organization. Overtures by the committee, as well as by a delegation of local and State AFL leaders from the metropolitan area, were rebuffed by AFL President George Meany. Meanwhile, NLRB hearings on a representation election among dockworkers continued in New York. The newly chartered AFL union contended that the representation unit for the first election should embrace only longshoremen in the Port of New York. The ousted and now unaffiliated ILA proposed that the unit include the approximately 40,000 dock and related workers from Portland, Maine, to Hampton Roads, Va. The New York Shipping Association, representing the employers, urged the Board to set up a representation unit consisting of virtually all crafts or categories of dockworkers-approximately 25,000-in the Port of New York. It submitted data showing that 24,165 men (including 19,056 longshoremen) had worked at least 700 hours on the docks in the Port of New York during the contract year ended September 30. Earlier in November, a Federal court upheld the provisions of the New York-New Jersey Waterfront Commission Compact requiring longshoremen to register with the Waterfront Commission in order to work on the docks after December 1. The court found that such a requirement was within the police power of the two States. Two days after the decision, the Ryan-led ILA, which had filed suit and had previously urged longshoremen to boycott the State employment centers, advised its members to register with the Commission in order to avoid exclusion from their jobs after December 1. Employment information centers through which longshore jobs are to be filled were opened in midNovember for staff training purposes, with placement activities to begin December 1. Longshoremen could register for employment up to December 1, but those who filed after November 15 were required to submit a detailed registration form. including fingerprints, photograph, and a notarized statement of any criminal record. The Commission reported that, as of November 30, 24,000 longshoremen had been cleared for work on the New York docks. Other Developments Developments of a more constructive character also occurred during the month-both within the Editor's Note.-This strike ended in its eleventh day, December 8. The settlement provided for a $3.75 "package" increase and for a fact-finding board to determine whether any additional increase is justified. union movement itself and between labor and management. In the realm of union affairs, the CIO convention followed the AFL's earlier step in ratifying their previously negotiated "no-raiding" pact. The AFL Machinists and Carpenters met on Armistice Day to explore their longstanding jurisdictional difficulties and after an all-day session agreed to continue their discussions in mid-December. Public attention was likewise focused upon the inauguration of a series of "good will" tours launched by Benjamin F. Fairless, chairman of the U. S. Steel Corp., and David J. McDonald, president of the United Steelworkers. Plans for such visits were first announced over a year ago by Mr. Fairless and the late Philip Murray, following the long steel strike in 1952. The first of the plant-by-plant visits covered the corporation's Cleveland-Lorain Mills. In explaining the general objectives of the tours, Mr. McDonald said the Steelworkers' union "really believes, and I'm sure U. S. Steel believes, that our industrial relations system has to work and has to work better. If our machinery [for settling grievances] collapses, or if it doesn't work properly . . . we are in for serious trouble. We have a good system and with this tour we hope to find a way we can improve it." ... Later in the month at a Pittsburgh dinner meeting in honor of Mr. McDonald's 51st birthday, Mr. Fairless likewise addressed himself to the need of improved labor-management relations. Stressing the identity of economic interest, or "partnership," of employees and management in the successful operation of the vast facilities of the U. S. Steel Corp., Mr. Fairless said, in part: let us begin with the fact that earlier in this century labor fought an all-out war to establish the right of American workers to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own free, voluntary choosing. That war ended more than 20 years ago, and labor won it decisively; but a surprising number of the combatants don't seem to know that the conflict is over, and they are still going around with great big chips on their shoulders-spoiling for a fight. Now I happen to think that labor's victory in that cause was a fine thing for America. Today, union representation is not only an accepted part of our industrial system— it is, I think, a very necessary one, especially in our larger enterprises; and I firmly believe that if union representation were to disappear entirely, enlightened management in many industries would quickly welcome its revival in the interest of orderly and organized bargaining in the plants. ... unless we can improve our collective bargaining methods and wipe out this endless and senseless succession of strikes, the righteous wrath of public opinion will some day descend, with crushing force, upon both of our houses. |