New-York tribune., 1921-04-16
Steel Workers
Push Drive to
Unionize Plants
Educational Campaign To
Be Launched on june l9
Despite Poor Outlook and
Number Out of Work
$50, 600 in sswar Chest
Leaders to Meet i'm Denver
During A. f.. l.. Convcn-
ton and Will Ask Support

WASHINGTON, April Is (By The
Associated Prcss).--The active cam
paign Of national and international or
carnations in the steel industry, afili
ated with the American Federation Of
Labor, to unionizo the steel plants oi
the country will begin June 49,, the
executive council of these unions de-
cided at meeting here to-day. This
action was decided upon, it was said
notwithstanding unemployment and de.
pressed industrial conditions.
Tho council decided to lay the foun.
dation for the new unionization work
by launching Immediately r nation.
wide educational drive" among the
thousands of steel workers of the coun.
try, especially those now unemployed.
To Lay Plans at Denver
The steel campaign will be opened
with meeting of the executive coun-
Gil at Denver, at which time the or
ganization program and the location
of the steel committees national head
quarters will be definitely announced.
The council, it is understood, has
practically decided to open it's national
headquarters in Chicago, with a large
branch Office at Pittsburgh. 1t is
planned also to open organization Of
fees in Cleveland, Buffalo Pueblo,
Col; Bethlehem, Pa, and Steelton, Pa.
The Gary district will be handled from
Chicago, while the Pittsburgh Office
will direct organization work at Johns
town, Pa; New Castle, Pa; Youngs-
town, Ohio; Warren, Ohio; Woodlawn,
Pa; Sharon, Pa, and Farrell, Pa.
Reports received from all parts of
the United States, Michael Tighe, in
ternational president of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers, and chairman of the
council, said, "indicatcd that the United
States Steel Corporation was only o.
Grating at About 80 per cent of its ca
pacity."
Calls Outlook Bad
"Conditions are not very favorable ~
he added. Thousands of steel work
ers are out of employment and the
future prospects are not very encour-
aging: aW x,.,,..
alton We are facing, and for this rea-
son are taking our time in getting the
new movement under way We are go
ing to perfect all arrangements before
going into action.
eve feel that this is the opportune
time, however, to launch union ed
ucational drive among the thousands
of unemployed steel workers."
The council will not concern itself
with the reports that the United States
Steel Corpora ton is going to reduce
wages or put into effect the eight-hour
work day, Secretary Hannqn said, add
ing that 1--WE feel that Mr.. Gary and
his associates have definite plans for
tie future of the workers and will
put them into effect when the time
comes, regardless of anything we can
do at the present time"
Have $4,000 on Hand
No definite plans have been made
for financing the new movement, Mr..
Harmon said, explaining that there
were sufficient funds now at hand
approximately s70,oo0--to initiate the
campaign.
AS the active campaign will be
launched while the national convention
of the American Federation of Labor
is in session in Denver, leaders said
they expected the federation would
give special aid to the new movement.
which is being conducted by fourteen
unions in the steel industry.