Montana labor news., 1934-09-06
STEEL MACNATES
THREATEN TO
DU MP CO D

NEW YORK-(FP)-Having &C.
mented their own organization under
the NRA iron and steel code, Amer
cia's steel masters are prepared to
throw over the code in order to pre-
vent the elf-organization OF their 450,-
900 workers.
This is the meaning Of the thinly-
yelled defiance hurled at the new Steel
Labor Relations Board by members OF
the American Iron & Steel Institute.
The board has begun its first hearings
in the Pittsburgh district, in cases in
volving denial OF collective bargaining
to the steel workers union by several
steel firms.
Spearhead of the anti-labor coali-
ton, the Iron & Steel Institute, Gre
ature of U. S. Steel, Bethlehem and
other dominant corporations, has
vowed never to recognize the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron, Steel &
Tin Workers. Recently the only ma
jor corporation which recognized the
Union, Republic Steel, refused to re-
new its agreement.
The steel labor boards hearings in
Pittsburgh brought the issue of col
lective bargaining to a head. Apollo
Steel grudgingly admitted that the
union represented a majority Of its
employees after the board had ordered
an election. The election accordingly
was called off but Apollo still insists
that it will deal with the minority Of
its employees in the company union,
as we'll as with the Amalgamated As
ISOLATION. The real union claims the
right to represent all workers in the
plant, and the steel labor board is due
to give a decision 500 on that point.
These developments have alarmed
the Iron & Steel Institute, whose head
quarters are in New York, close to
J. P. Morgan and the financiers who
control the industry. They are
threatening court action against rul-
ings Of the steel labor board which
may prove. Objectionable, such as the
order for an election at the West Vir-
ginia Rail Co.'S plant. If the board
rules for genuine collective bargain
ing, they are prepared to throw up the
code in the hope that that will re-
lieve them from the provisions Of
Section Ia, which are incorporated in
the code.
The institute has claimed that its
expensively-nourished company unions
prove that steel workers have the
right to organize More recently sub
salaries Of U. S. Steel have been meet
ing with committees of the Amalga-
mated Association, but in no case have
they been willing to talk hours, wages
and recognition. The steel trusts
lawyers believe that in meeting with
union committees without taking up
basic grievances they have complied
with Section "a.
Frank admission that the industry
is willing to throw up its steel code is
given in the August 20 issue of Steel,
the industry's weekly magazine.
Under NRA," says Steel, the
American Iron & Steel Institute was
transformed from an ornamental to a
utilitarian organization. A new, strong
leadership sprung into being. Certain
problems, such as public relations, la
Dor policies, pricing methods, CONNER
cial practices, etc, were given more
intelligent attention than at any pre-
vious time in the industry's history"
Having welded the steel industry
into a compact unit, able to fight labor
and the consuming public more effec-
lively than ever before, NRA can now
fade out of the picture, the steel mag
mates are saying. Now that steel
workers are trying to cash in on some
OF Section 7a's promises, the magnates
are ready to dump the whole code on
the junk heap.
The threat may merely be a warn
ing to the Steel Labor Relations Board
to watch its step. Noticebaly the
board has taken up the cases Of rela-
lively small companies. Although the
board sat in Pittsburgh several days,
it held no hearings on the case pressed
by the union at the Duquesne works
of the Carnegie Steel Co., U. S. Steel
subsidiary. This case, involving a de-
mand for an election, has been before
the steel and national labor boards for
six months now. Repeated appeals
for action by the union have been
iUnored