The Fort Peck press., 1937-04-15

concerns in that industry are grant
ing increases in wages and the 40
hour week, and agreeing to deal
with the unions affiliated with the
c. l. 0. This is the first time in
45 years that big Steel has recog-
nized union labor as a bargaining
agency for its employees.
Lewis and Philip Murray, chair
man of the steel workers organiz-
ing committee, were jubilant, but
the Carnegie-Illinois corporation is
sued an official statement that toned
them down bit.
'The company will recognize any
individual, group, or organization as
the spokesmen for those employees
it represents" the statement said,
"but it will not recognize any single
organization or group as the exclu-
sive bargaining agency for all en-
Ployees.
Under this policy the status of
the employee representation plan is
likewise unchanged. 1t will continue
as the spokesman for those of the
employees who prefer that method
of collective bargaining, which has
proved SO mutually satisfactory
throughout its existence"
The General Electric company
declared its willingness to discuss
national collective bargaining
agreement with the United Electric
al Workers, c. I. o. affiliate; and
the indications were that Lewis and
the Appalachian coal operators
would be able to negotiate a new
wage and hour agreement in time
to avert coal miners strike.
The c. I. o. announced the forma-
tion of the United Shoe Workers of
America with a nucleus of 10000
members and went after New Eng
lands shoe industry. Still more i'm
portant, Lewis and his aids let it
be known that the next target of the
c. I. 0 drive would be the textile
industry.
General Electric and some of the
other big concerns that yielded to
certain extent to the demands of
Of the steel companies in asserting
that they still reserved the right to
deal also with other unions or
groups Of employees, and in some
cases company unions undertook to
maintain their Independent posi-
ions. Furthermore, President
Green and other leaders of the
Federation of Labor en-
cred Wholeheartedly into the fight
against Lewis and his c. l. o. The
after gained strength by the deci-
ion of aluminium workers at the
IeW Kensington, Pa, plant of the
aluminium Company of America to
enounce the federation in favor of
he c. I. o.
In Chicago there was a strike of
aXicab drivers who formed a union
nd sought the support of the Lewis
rganization. They demanded high
I pay.
Eight thousand employees of the
Westinghouse Electric and Manu-
acturing company's Pittsburgh
liant demanded a 20 per cent raise
I wages and it was feared they
'ould start a strike if the demand
ere rejected.
Because the Chrysler motor COM
any refused to recognize the United
utomobile Workers of America as
le sole bargaining agency for all
S employees, strike was called
all its major units in Detroit, and
her plants of the company were
osed because of dependence on
etroit production. More than $4,000
Orkers were thus thrown into idle
,ss. Vice President B. e. Hutchin-
N of the corporation said it ap-
jared that the conferences into
hich we entered with good faith
I'd only one purpose, namely, to
It this union in complete control
er all our employees, regardless
individual wishes"
The union also called a strike at
e Hudson Motor Car company be-
use, they asserted, officials of the
ncern were stalling in negotia-
ms on working conditions.