Evening star., 1938-12-23

Wdye IW Or no JODS
U|timatum Given
Steel Workers
Independents Unable
To Compete With Big
New Mills, Men Told
BACKGROUND
Facing competition from mod
ern high speed mills, such as the
ne1p s60.O0O,00O Ir1Uin ,porks of
United States Steel, equipped
NTH up-to-the-minute labor
saving devices, McKeesport Tin
Plate, one of the largest of
the independent producers, has
parned the Steel Workers Union
that it 1Dill cancel its contract
unless a lo,Der 1Dage scale cdn
be set. The notification period
ends December 26.
By the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 23.-The
pinch of the new high-speed steel
mills clamped down today on 1900
workers Of the nearby McKeesport
Tin Plate Co., dampening their
Christmas with the ultimatum-
Take a wage cut or no jobs after
December 26."
Harold Ruttenberg, youthful re-
search director for the C. I. O.s
Steel Workers Organizing Commit
tee, frankly told a big mass meeting
of the anxious workers and theil
families last night that was the
situation.
The demanded reductions range
from 6 to Is per cent.
The speaker told the workmen
theirs was a situation being faced
by hundreds Of small, independent
steel concerns, with the introduc-
ton of multi million dollar mills
like the recently dedicated $60, ,OOO,-
600 Irwin Works of the Carnegie
Illinois Steel Corp
Asks Lower Wage Scale.
That big monster on the hill
Mr.. Ruttenberg told his listeners, "is
taking your jobs. BY the end of
1899 it alone will have replaced be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 workers."
The $25, ,0OO,00 McKeesport Co.
ranks fourth among producers OF
tin plate in America and third
among metal container producers.
1t was the first of its size to notify
the union it intended to cancel its
labor contract unless a lower wage
scale could be set.
Earlier this week some l 500 en-
ployes of the Follansbee Bros. Co.
another tin plate concern undergo
ing reorganization, agreed to accept
a wage reduction if they could get
work.
Mr.. Ruttenberg told the audience
1t was up to them to make the de-
cision, although his organization was
strongly against accepting wage re-
ductions, because we fear it will af-
feet national prosperity"
The labor leader said the C. I. O.
would swing behind the workers if
they refused to accept the cut, but
warned he did not believe they could
hope to retain their present jobs a
long as two years even with a cut.
Hand Operations Reduced.
He said he had studied the new
and old mills and found that the
McKeesport type of mills required
12O hand operations" to a box (100
pounds) of tin plate, while in the
Irwin works they use electric but
tons so that 10 or II hand operations
are all that are necessary"
After listening to the labor leader
the crowd, which had dwindled te
almost one-third of its original
number during the almost -four
hours of discussion, shouted ap-
proval of motion to reject the
wage cut.
The action was not binding on
the unions negotiating committee
which still Is empowered to accept
the company's proposal. However
members of the committee, pri-
vateiy. told newsmen they were op-
posed to acceptance of the cut.
Keen Competition Cited.
Uncle Sam has been watching the
situation. James Dewey, veteran
conciliator of the Federal Labor De-
partment, has been conferrinR fol-
two days with company represent
atives and the union. He attended
yesterdays session and then left foa
Washington, saying he would return
The company notified the workers
that II the plant is to continue in
operation, . wage cut must be &C
cepted. Poor business and keen
competition were cited rs necesM-
tating retrenchment. The firm
made this announcement on De-
cember s, when it reopened the con-
tract under the 20-day Hrevision
clause provided for the purpose tn
s. w. O. C. contracts.
In q petition circulated amona
employees, 1t was stated the COM
pany's financial position was sucf
as to prohibit further operation,
under present wage scales. Shoulc
the decrease be accepted, the man.
agement promised to guarantee foul
days per week operations in 1T least
"a of its a mills.
The plant normally employs up
ward Of 5000 steel workers, but re-
Gently 500 men were furloughed.