Evening star., 1937-05-26

SS'''"'V " ~ .. ". ctSNuI
march to uictory in the steel in
dustry was big steePs" cdpitula-
ton. Since Independent companies
haze fallen in line BY choice or by
elections forced by terms OF the
national labor act.
B, the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, May 27.-A new
and widespread strike In C. I. O.'s
steel unit, militantly counting vic
tories just won, was an imminent pos
sibility today.
At two Ohio points Spontaneous"
walkouts already were under way, as
Philip Murray called his counselors
to Youngstown, Ohio, to discuss war
against two Of the bloc OF independ-
ent companies still holding out
against his Steel Workers Organiz-
ing Committee.
The S. w. o. c., an affiliate Of John
L. Lewis Committee for Industrial
Organization, only last night won its
third successive fight within less than
q week.
BY vote Of 1,773 to 72l in a Gov
ernment-supervised employe election,
the C. I. o. Steel Union gained the
exclusive right to represent in COL
lective bargaining the approximately
5000 workers of the Sharon Steel Co.
in plants at Sharon, Pa, and Lowells-
vile, Ohio.
Last Friday, it won similarly among
the $1,000 workers OF the Jones &
Laughlin Steel Co.; Monday it OBJ
tanned contract carrying recogni-
ton and the right to represent its
own members from Crucible Steel.
War Council" In Session.
The youngstown war council was
assembled to deal mainly with two
companies, Republic Steel and Youngs-
town Sheet & Tube, and for Republic
strife already had begun.
Workers affiliated with the C. I. O.
struck last night at the company
plants in Canton and Massillon, Ohio,
without instructions from the national
leadership.
A spokesman said it was a "spon-
taneous rebellion against discrimina-
ton against c. I. O. men," and . COM
mittee authority here confirmed that
it was without Murray's prior knowl-
edge.
Meanwhile still another localized
strike-at the Inland Steel Co. in the
Chicago area-had been threatened by
Van A. Bittner, S. w. o. C. regional
officer, because, like the others, Inland
had refused to come to terms with the
union.
In advance of the Youngstown
meeting the S. w. o. c. would make
no public comment as to the probable
outcome, but privately its headquar-
ters was represented authoritatively as
prepared for strike affecting $4,000
employees Of Republic and Youngstown
Sheet & Tube at plants in Ohio, In
diana, Illinois and New York State.
Company Remains Firm.
Only softening Of the companies
attitude, 1t was made plain, would avert
walkout-and this seemed highly
improbable, particularly in the case of
Republic. Only last night that COM
pany issued a statement making clear
that its unwillingness to deal with c.
I. O. was deep and fundamental.
The real issues" it said, were the
closed shop and the check-oh system
(by which company helps in collec-
ton Of union dues. 1t would be the
easiest thing" to sign, said Republic,
'but that doesn't make it the right
thing"
Murray has called Republic and
Youngstown members Of an "unholy
alliance" and as he signed yesterday
the exclusive contract gained by elec-
ton with Jones & Laughlin he struck
out again at them.
They had definitely determined"
he asserted, Ito thwart the intent and
purpose Of the national labor relations
act, regardless OF the consequences
which may result to their corpora
tions."
The Sharon steel election outcome
passed without comment from Murray
Through it the S. w. o. G. will get
another exclusive bargaining contract
similar to that with Jones & Laughlin
That contract pledged the company
not to interfere with the union and
the union not to strike over disagree
ments before carrying them to arb-
tration