Evening star., 1936-07-21
clio. UNION HEADS
MEET WITH LEWIS
Course of Action on Two
Battle Fronts Will Be
Determined.
Ely JOHN C. HENRY.

Meeting to determine their course
Of action on two battle fronts, rep
resentatives of IL member unions of
the Committee for Industrial Organi-
zation were gathering here today in
answer to a special call from John L.
Lewis, chairman.
According to Spokesmen for the C.
I. o., most important subject on the
docket is the organizing drive just
getting under way in the steel indus
try. John Brophy, executive director
Of the committee, was due back from
Pittsburgh with f1rSt-hand informa-
ton on the membership campaign.
Discussion also is expected on the
less extensive drives contemplated in
the automobile and rubber industries,
both of which are represented by
member unions of the C. I. o. A
fourth campaign by an affiliate of the
committee was announced yesterday
by the United Textile Workers, di-
rected at $4,000 workers in the rayon
industry.
Analysis of Pay Roll.
Serving as spokesman for the steel
industry's defense, the American Iron
and Steel Institute this morning made
public an analysis of pay roll figures
for its employees.
According to the institute study.
based on figures compiled by the De-
partment of Labor. 446 900 employees
in the steel mills are receiving an
average wage l8 per cent higher than
the average for all manufacturing in
dustries. In March, for instance, the
steel employees were receiving a weekly
average of S26.38, as compared to
S2225 in all manufacturing. Steel
employees worked an average of 4O5
hours per week, compared to the man
ufacturing average of 80 hours.
On an hourly basis, the steel em-
ploye received 66.2 cents last March,
as compared with 65.4 cents in 1929.
In the four years from 1929 to 1893,
dividends to steel stockholders were
reduced more than 81 per cent. the in
stitute says the payments dropping
from S189 100000 to $1,000 ,o0o In
1885, when steel pay rolls exceeded
$3.50, 600, 900. stockholders received less
than $4,000 900.
Four Charges Face c. I. o.
Sharing general interest at today's
meeting and of equal importance to the
labor movement is the issue of c. !. o.
policy with regard 70 a summons to
trial before the Executive Council of
the American Federation Of Labor.
Four specific charges, prepared By
John P Frey, president of the metal
trades department of the federation.
are facing the C. l. o. unions.
Two questions face the C. I. o. in
this connection; first, what compro-
mise might be acceptable, and second.
whether the summons to appear on
August will be honored in the event
no compromise is reached in the
meantime
Already insiStent that nothing shall
be allowed to interfere with their in
dustrial unionization campaign, it is
certain that any reconciliation with
the craft union majority Of the A. F.
of L. must include approval Of these
drives. On the other hand, federation
SpOhSSllCIl 1ldNG II pIdIIl lIldI
nothing short of outright dissolution
of the c. I. o. as distinct unit would
be acceptable to them. An attempt
to reconcile these two viewpoints is
planned before August g. with admin
istration officials likely to aid in the
effort.
Summons Not Taken Seriously.
As for appearing at the trial, it has
been indicated by leaders in the Lewis
group that they consider the pending
summons no more binding than a
previous Invitation" to conferences
with the council, which they ignored.
The presidents or designated rep
resentatives of the following c. I. o.
unions were expected to attend to-
days session: United Mine Workers,
International Typographical Union,
Amalgamated Clothing Workers. In
ternational Ladies Garment Workers,
United Textile Workers; Oil Field.
Gas Well and Refinery Workers; Cap
and Millinery Workers; Mine, MIL
and Smelter Workers; Federation of
Flat Glass Workers; Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin
| Workers; United Automobile Workers
and United Rubber Workers.