Evening star., 1934-03-21
WE|RTON ACTION
HELD LD|NSUFF|C|ENT
A. F. of L. Representatives
Present Protest at
White House.

lean Federatlon OF Labor presented
a protest at the White House which
said that even though the courts
granted the injunction to restrain the
steel company from interfering with
an employees election, 'it does not
force Weir (E. T. Weir, chairman of
the steel company to deal with our
union"
Alleges n. r. A. Violation.
In the Government complaint, filed
by the Department of Justice, it was
alleged that the company had violated
the provision OF the national recovery
act which gives employees the right to
bargain with their employers through
representatives of their own choosing
1t was noted in this connection that
the Government held back its heavier
club-criminal proceedings-in favor
of an equity action. Attorney Gen
eral Cummings had said recently that
criminal proceedings would be used
only as last resort.
I'VE wish to point out to you sec
ondly," the employees petition said,
that this court proceedings may last
a whole year, until the N. r. A. Is
over.
You aren't helping starving men
bit by this.
I'VE wish to point out to you thirdly.
that all your rulings and orders have
been disregarded completely and the
Government has allowed six months
of stalling by the Weirton Steel Co.
%ss
Finally. therefore, We call upon
you to get Weir to comply with the
N. r. A. within 48 hours or get the
Wagner bill (which would outlaw
company unionS) passed this week or
else stop pretending that any imme-
diate and effective action by the
Government is possible. In that case.
in view of your earlier statements, We
ask you to call upon the steel workers
of the country to strike to get the
rights you can't get otherwise
Protest Given Mcintyre.
The delegation. headed by William
j. Long, presented the protest to
Marvin Mcintyre, a secretary to
President Roosevelt.
The Governments bill of complaint,
filed in the Delaware Federal Court
by United States Attorney Leonard E.
Wales. asked for an order requiring
the company to give identification
lists OF its employees and such other
documents and records as may be
necessary for the conduct Of an
election"
An order directing reinstatement of
workers who have been discharged or
refused employment because of their
union activities also was requested.
The Weirton Steel Co. has its CEN
trail office in Pittsburgh and maintains
plants in West Virginia and Ohio, but
was incorporated in Delaware
Weir, who was in New York, de-
cllned to discuss the suit.
Il have no comment now, and shall
have none later" he said.
In filing the complaint the Govern
ment charged that the company had
denied its employees the right to bar
gain collectively, self Organize. and in
terfered with attempts of the work
ers to this end under the provisions of
section IA Of the national industrial
recovery act and had required the en-
ployes to join company dominated
union"
Weir was described as having par
ticipated in the formulation of the
code for the iron and steel industry,
and it was said that the company had
agreed to the codes provisions, but
nevertheless had started a company
union and required all employees to
join as a condition of employment.
The union was characterized as "whol-
ly ineffective as means of collective
bargaining"
The complaint said the employees
formed union known as the Anal
gamated Association of Iron. Steel
and Tin Workers, but when it sought
to exercise the rights conferred by
the code the company continuously
refused to recognize the representa-
tives Of such employees"
Traces Dispute Development.
Tracing development of the dispute
through negotiations with the Ma
uonal Labor Board and the agree
ment for an election, the Government
declared the defendant refused to
permit the National Labor Board to
conduct the elections, denied repre-
Sentatives of the National Labor
Board access to the company prop
erty. refused to post notices of elec-
ton prepared by the board, declined
to furnish lists Of employees and repu-
dated the agreement, and thereby
interferred with the designation of
the representatives of the employees
own choosing"
Voting took place on December II
and Is, but the Government contend
ed that prior to this defendant en-
ployed various measures of coercion
intimidation and interference, includ-
ing discharges, lay-offs, demotions
and changes in conditions of en-
ployment and threats thereof.
1T threatened the closing of plants
the transfer of work and the reduc-
tions of operations; it circulated
among its employees copies of letters
from its customers canceling orders
or threatening or claimed by defend
ant to be canceling or threatening to
cancel orders or to withdraw business
in case the Amalgamated should pre-
vail.
Special inducements Given.
The management engaged in in
dividual and collective solicitation and
urging, held mass meetings, gave spe-
cial inducements and made coercive
speeches. 1t engaged in misrepre-
sentation and espionage during
the elections and by general in
timidation and coercion on the part
of the management compelled the
employees unwillingly to vote at said
elections. A number of ballots were
marked and cast by defendants
agents. Every ballot was counted and
claimed by the company-dominated
union, although large numbers of the
ballots were so mutilated and marked
as to invalidate them. No oppoYtun-
ity was afforded the employees to elect
representatives to act for them under