The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-06-13
Most Bitter Of All Labor Wars Rage
 When Men Of Steel Clash In Strikes
Younger Element In Union Takes Bit
 In Its Teeth

ieaderahip of tho Amaigamated, and began to take the bit h their teeth.
 They put through, early in May, l a resolution calling for . strike in mid -June unless by that time all the Amalgamated lodges had boon reeoRnlKed by their respective mills and uniform contracts signed
 'Thc demand was simultaneously mndo that each shop which had an IAmnlgamatod lodge recognise that union ns the employees choice for collective bargaining. Tn ali those and Steel Institute (about % per which are members of the Iron cent of the induatryD . slmul. taneous refusal was made.
 The executives contended that the AmRlgamated represents less than 10 per cent of all steel work. CTS, and that oven ie t represent ed more, they would not recognise 1t, because that would be . pre- liminary to a closed shop.
 Asks Only Recognition Tho union now takos the posi-. ton that It does not ask tho closed shop, but only recognition accord ing to the principles of MIRA, in shops or parts of shops In which It can show n majority. It claims to represent up to 60 or 76 DOT cent Of the steel workers, lmpnr. tinl estimates say it is probably nearer 2b per cent. Action by the younger, more ag. greHBivO group of tho AmNlgnm mat cd was undoubtedly spurred by tho fact that the largo new member ship is already failing behind with dues and showing n tendency to slip away unless practical results can bo shown.
 Onco committed Co the strike, tharo was nothing to do but link tho "rank.and. .nle" and "hoOp. skirt" groups in A united strike com mittoe, and this was done ln some of the negotiations in Wauh- ingtOn,
 Besidss the potential elovago within tho ranks of the Amalgn. mated, the Steel and Metal Work. ers lndustrial Union was thrown nto ths situation by the eommun. Ists, presenting nforo sweeping Bet of demands.
 Communists In Picture
 
 itB actual membership is negli- Blble, but as partoe tho announced eommunlBt plan 10 get n f0othold in tho heavy industries, it is al. wayB n factor in lining up and dl- rooting disa ffoeted clements in tho AmnlBn mated,
 Tho company unions, meanwhile were not Idle. Hurriedly presented resolutions were pnsaod In n dozen plants showing from 60 to % per cent of the employees voting, and opposed Co Il strike. Many aVorrod they would go on working, strike or no strike,
 But it K wol known that n minority of union members ns small nB 10 or 20 DOT cent cnn often, by mass picketinR, effoctive- " strike n plant where 80 or s5 DOT cent wish to work.
 b0 the extent Of the possible wRlk0ut can Do measured by neither company union votes nor union claims,
 Wages are not primarily at stake today, nor hours, though a ware neronBO would b0 tho noxt demn nd following recognition, Hours have besn reduced through the codes to n maximum of eight Wages, the stoelmaators claim, nre c Co DOT cont amova 1920 levels, with employment almost equnl. 4 10 DOT cent pay raiHo was granted last Maroh, but, despite tho high hourly wagea, many mon still work in the mills for weekly pay Of llttle nbOvA S20.
 Prepare for Conflict
 Preparations hnyc been mndc by both sides to light. Many of tho steel plants nro believed To have built barracks capable of housing indefinitely inside the plants such workers as wish to continue working, ma employers hnyonnnounoed that tho, will pro. tent them,
 Tho steel unions, prnotlood In tho technique of industrial warfare nre nIH0 making 0nroful pluns for pIckoting and other activities, slrlko rcIlof, and n protractcd showdown.
 This lR tho stage setting for m industrial conflict that may shake thu wb0le recovery program, in d bnttlo that oenterB around one sin. bio word; "HoGognItIon'
 (rllE l:ND)