Evening star., 1937-03-02

David J. Mcdonald, secretary-treas.
urer.
The Steel Workers Committee was
organized by the Committee for In
dustrial Organization last June and
given o preliminary allotment OF
$500, 900. Murray intimated several
months ago its expenses were about
$100, 900 o month in saying an assess
ment Of approximately that amount
upon the c. I. O.'s 1,250,000 members
would carry on the steel drive indef1-
nitely.
The committee met first on June II.
Twelve days later the American Iron
and Steel Institute announced in full
page advertisements over the country
that the industry would fight attempts
by "outside labor" organizers to force
q "closed shop" in steel.
On July 2 the La Toilette Civil Lib
critics Committee Of the Senate opened
its protracted hearings and investiga-
tions of charges that employers were
coercing and intimidating steel
workers.
Meantime, Murray opened head
quarters in a luxuriously furnished
suite costing $1,000 a month in the
Pittsburgh's Grant Building. eight
floors above Weir's Office. He rapidly
distributed his force Of more than $50
organizers, most of them veterans
drawn from the miners, Almalga-
mated Clothing Workers, Ladies' Gar
ment Workers and other organizations
af1liated with the c. I. O.. and hired
without hesitation employees represent
atives of the steel companies.
John L. Lewis outlined the steel
drive on July in q radio speech in
which he charged a small, inner
group" Of New York private bankers
and flnanciers dominated steel and
had established an economic Dictator
ship"
Lewis said organized labor accepts
the challenge of the omnipresent over
lords Of steel to fight for the prize Of
economic freedom and industrial
democracy"
First Mention of Wage Program.
hoU iiiOAAOAo4i Vi q wage plOSl dll
came July 10, when employe repre-
sentatives' groups asked for a IS a day
minimum pay, which would have
meant an increase then of more than
SIPS a day
The committee decided to waive the
81 initiation fee and dues during the
organization period.
1t centralized attention on employees
representatives groups and in gaining
members in Carnegie Illinois. Like
General Motors Corp. in the automo-
bile field, the company was an es-
pecial target because 1t was the largest
producer.
On September 90 Murray reported
IS regional Offices had been set up,
with 158 full-time organizers. 80 part
time organizers and 5000 volunteers
campaigning.
Two days after the reelection of
President Roosevelt Murray announced
he had 82.315 members.
The steel industry announced a gen.
eral increase in wages that same day.
amounting to approximately 10 per
cent.
On November 20 the organizers
adopted a flying squadron" assault.
sending caravans of cars, led by sound
trucks, into mill towns to meet work.
ers as they left the plants
A week later Murray filed a COM
plant with the National Labor Board,
charging Carnegie Illinois with violat-
ing the Wagner labor relations bill.
Hearings opened December II and
have continued intermittently since.
On December 20 more than 200 en-
ployes' representatives from AZ steel
companies announced at a Pittsburgh
meeting they had joined the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers. the c. I. o. member in
steel. They drew up list of demands
which included the s5-a-day MIMI
mum. 40-hour work-week and two
weeks vacations with pay.