New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-15
Action Is Begun
ToOrganize All
Steel Workers
Campaign to Fight Any At
tempt by Gary Corpora.
ton to Reduce Present
Wages Will Be Launched
Inquiry Here Discussed
N. Y. ''Open Shop Activi.
ties" Passed for Present,
Council Secretary Reports

W WASHINGTON, Jan. IA (By TIL, AS
ISOLATED Press). = Representatives Of
the international and national unions
IN the steel industry, in a meeting here
Today, decided to launch a new cam
palgn to organize iron and steel work
crs throughout the country.
Unemployment and present indus
trial conditions, it was announced,
would not interfere or cause a post
ponement of plans. Decision also was
reached to begin preparation at once
70 70 combat any effort by. the United
States Steel Corporation to reduce the
present standard of wages.
While no definite date for the new
combination was decided upon, the
committee, it was said, expected to
begin active work early in spring.
The campaign will be conducted bv
a new committee to be known officially
as the Executive Council of National
ana international Organizations in the
Steel Industry affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor. This
committee replaces the national COM
mlttee tor organizing iron and steel
workers, which conducted the steel
strike last year.
approximately fourteen national and
international unions will participate in
the campaign, as against more than
twenty which were involved in the last
strike. All organizations not actually
interested in the stec; Industry, it was
announced, have been eliminated from
activity in the movement, although
they will back it with their moral sun
port.
M. J. Tighe, of Pittsburgh, president
OF the Amalgamated Association of
Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, was
elected permanent chairman of the
council, and William Harmon. of Chi
cago, general executive board member
of the International Association of
Machinists, was made secretary and
treasurer. Harmon. formerly of San
francisco, also is former vice -presi-
dent fthe machinists' organization.
Industrial conditions throughout the
country were discussed by the commit
tee to-day, Harmon said, and it was
unanimously decided that the campaign
should be launched without waste of
time
I'VE believe that present condition
will be of short duration,' he added
"and will be no bar to our activities. ,
While the testimony given before the
joint legislative committee Investigate
ing the building trust in New York
regarding the "open shop activities of
the steel companies was discussed
Harmon said the committee decided moi
to take cognizance of this matter a,
this time.
Reports have reached us that ehe
United States Steel Corporation is
going to reduce wages" Harmon con
tinued, land the committee was of the
unanimous decision that any such &C
ton would be vigorously contested
Mr.. Harmon declared it was not the
intention of the council to conduc
strikes, but only to participate il
Legitimate organization work in the
steel plants, locating its headquarter!
either in Pittsburgh or Chicago.
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, ATTENDED
held between $4,000 and $4,000 left
over after all debts and obligations
OF the old committee had been paid
This money, it was said, will be turned
over to the council and will be usec
to finance the opening of the cam
paign.
Organizations which will be repre-
sented in the new unionzation move
ment were announced as the Interna
tional Brotherhood of Electrical Work
ers, international Brotherhood OF
Blacksmiths and Helpers, Amalga
mated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers, structural iron workers
mine, mill and smelter men, Interna
tional Association of Machinists, sta
tionary firemen and oilers, Iron Mold
ers' Union, international Brotherhood
Of Bolermakers, Pattern Makers
League of America, Foundry En-
p!oyees' Union, Bricklayers' Union
steam and operating engineers and the
brotherhood of Railway Carmen O.