The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-10-28
N.L.R.B ORDERS
REINSTATEMENT
OF STRIKERS
Order Condemns Unfair Labor Prac-
tices of Republic Steel Corpora
tion-Ordered to Cease.

Washington, D. c. (ILNS) One of
the most arrogant enemies of all or
ganized labor has suffered stinging
defeat. The National Labor Relations
Board has issued an order condemning
the unfair labor practices of Tom
Girdler and his Republic Steel Cor
poration in sober but unfinching terms
as causes Of the strike, violations of
the law, and examples Of brutality. 1t
has ordered the Republic to cease and
desist from these unfair practices, and
to reinstate more than 5000 men who
took part in the strike of 1887
AT every step, every claim of the
Republic and its spokesmen was de-
MED. Point by point, the order of the
board charges that in every place, the
company took the lead in aggression
and disorder.
Sought to Crush Union
From the facts recited,' says the
N. L. R. B., 1--WE think it clear that the
underlying cause of the strike !. ;.
was the respondents (the company's)
campaign to crush the union by means
of the unfair labor practices set forth
above The record shows that ever
since the Inauguration of the plan
Company plan) in June, 1888, the re-
spondent had made plain it's policy of
complete antagonism to the self-or
ganization of the employees, and its
determination to destroy any such or
ganization by any means at its COM
mand.
"On July 2, 1886, .. the respond
ent reiterated this basic policy in
public statement, and Immediately and
ruthlessly put it into effect It's spies
shadowed union organizers; its police
attacked and beat them; !. and its
chairman and president publicly viii
fed the union leaders"
Union Forced to Fight
And again, after a detailed sum-
mary of the actual events, the N. L..
R. B. says:
"The whole history Of the respond
ent's unfair labor practices -. had
placed the union in a position where
it had to fight for its life or be de-
stroyed. The respondent, not the
union, had chosen the way of indus
trial strife"
The N. L. r. B. found IL men among
the strikers whom it would not order
the company to reinstate; these men
all had pleaded guilty or been con-
victed of various offenses, some seri-
Gus. For the rest:
"The respondent had itself been
guilty of brutal acts of violence pre-
ceding the strike, and the respondent
itself committed or was responsible
for acts of violence during the strike
far more serious than those attributed
to the strikers in question.
ct does not lie in the mouth OF the
respondent to assert that the offenses
of it's striking employees are neces-
sarily and of themselves bar to their
reinstatement, OR THAT THEY ARE
ANY LESS FIT TO BE EMPLOYEES
THAN THE RESPONDENT IS TO
pE THE EMpI OVER -
The boards order requires the Re
public Steel Corporation:
To offer reinstatement to 5000 men
who went on strike, even if it has to
discharge men hired to take their
places. This does not mean back pay
for these strikers.
To pay remedial wages to any
striker who is not given a job or placed
! on preferential rehiring list within
FIVE days of his application.
To reinstate II men with back pay
and award back wages to Ia others.
To reimburse for lost wages en-
ployes involved in two lockouts.
Disestablish as collective bargaining
agencies all the Republics "employe
representative plans"
And-a new proposition-the Re
public is ordered to reimburse any
| federal, state or local government re-
lief project for wages paid to strikers
during their period of discharge.