Montana labor news., 1937-07-15
Inland Breaks With
Unho|y Alliance,
and Settles Strike
By JOSEPH SWIRE
Federated Press

INDIANA HARBOR, Ind.-(FP)-I
The chains with which Little Steels
unholy alliance is trying to bind
steel labor broke in their weakest
link when Inland Steel deserted the
common front it had established with
Republic, Bethlehem and Youngs-
town Sheet & Tube and settled with
its 1900 steelworkers.
Wild scenes of rejoicing, the like
of which were never seen before in
this steel community, took place as
10000 persons engaged in a snake
dance in the streets. The announce
ment that Inland had signed came
at the height of a benefit dance at
East Chicago. 1t sent dancing cou-
pies into a frenzy of JOY The merry
makers rushed out of doors to feed
a celebration, in which tin pans,
automobile horns and the strains of
Solidarity Forever blended in vic
tory symphony.
Settlement came as strikers were
preparing to throw thousands of
pickets around the plant, in answer
to a previous announcement that the
company would seek to reopen its
mills.
The Importance of the victory can
not be underestimated, as it will in
crease the pressure on the diehard
steel companies to sign. Inland is
the largest independent in the Chi
cago-C Calumet area. Labor board
hearings continued at Chicago, with
evidence presented that on the day
before the agreement was reached,
Inland purchased 10 riot guns and
munitions.
Strikers won recognition of the
union as a bargaining agent for its
members, a pledge of no discrimina-
ton or intimidation, vacations with
pay, promotions on basis Of seniority
and the right to carry grievances to
the state labor board.
The agreement, hailed as ''the best
one any steel company has signed, "
was hedged about by the usual face
saving devices for the company.
Technically the company did not
sign an agreement directly with the
union, but both the company and
the Steel Workers Organizing Com
mittee signed an identical agreement
with the Indiana State Labor De-
partment. 1t was agreed that griev-
ances would be handled on the basis
of the company's labor policy as
stated to the governor on May 20,
1887, and that eff any such settle
ment so arrived at is unsatisfactory,
the company will refer the matter
to the commissioner of labor of the
state Of Indiana and will accept his
decision as final"
Following the settlement, Gov. M
Clifford Townsend Of Indiana
warned Youngstown Sheet & Tube
that it would get no protection if il
sought to reopen its East Chicago
plant Youngstown officials then
agreed to talk with the governor
and with Van A. Bittner, S. w. 0. C.
regional director.
Nicholas Fontecchio, district S. W.
o. c. director, paid tribute to the
governor and to "the gallant men
and noble women" who composed
strike ranks in the month-long
struggle.
Careful organization preceded the
victory. Possible vigilante spirit
within the American Legion was
nipped in the bud, as strikers went
to their posts and secured resolutions
and assurances of post sympathy
Mayor Andrew Rooney of East Chi
cago was invited to address strike
meetings, weekly mass meetings fol
language-speakin groups were ar
ranged, the interest of women anc
children was drawn in and the sym.
pathy of businessmen was enlisted
so far as possible.