The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-11-10
NLRB ORDERS REINSTATEMENT
OF OVER 5000 STEEL STRIKERS

Washington, D. C. QLNS).-One of
tn most arrogant enemies Of all or
ganized labor has suffered a singing
defeat. The National Labor Relations
Board has issued an order condemning
the unfair labor practices of Tom
Girdler and his Republic Steel Corpor-
alton in sober but unAinching terms as
causes Of the strike, violations of the
law, and examples of brutality. 1t has
ordered the Republic to cease and de-
sist 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 it's 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
NLRB, eve think it clear that the un-
derlying cause of the strike . was the
respondents (the company's) cam
paign 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-
1spondent had made plain it's policy of
complete antagonism to the self
Organization Of the employees, and its
determination to destroy any such or
Iganization by any means at it's COM
mand.
"On July 2, 1886, :. the respondent
reiterated this basic policy in a public
statement, and Immediately and ruth
lessly put it into. effect. It's spies
shadowed union organizers; it's police
attacked and beat them; >. and its
Ichairman and president publicly vilified
the union leaders"
| Union Forced TO Fight
And again, after a detailed summary
of the actual events, the NLRB says;
"The whole history of the respond
ent's unfair labor practices. . had
Iplaced the union in position where
it had to fight for it's life or be de-
stroyed The respondent, not the
union, had chosen the way of industria,
strife"
The NLRB found II men among the
strikers whom it would not order the
company to reinstate; these men al
had pleaded guilty or been convicted
of various offenses, some serious. Fol
the rest:
"The respondent had itself beer
guilty of brutal acts of violence pre-.
cedng 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.
at does not lie in the mouth of the
respondent to assert that the offenses
of its striking employees are neces.
sarily and of themselves bar to THEN
reinstatement, OR THAT THEY ARE
ANY LESS FIT TO BE employees
THAN THE RESPONDENT is TIC
BE THE EMPLOYER"
The boards order requires the Re
public Steel Corporations:
To offer reinstatement to 5000 mer
who went on strike, even if it has to
discharge men hired to take then
places. This does not mean back pay
for these strikers.
TO pay remedial wages to any
striker who is not given a job OF
placed on a preferential rehiring list
within 5 days Of his application.
To reinstate II men with back pay
and award back wages to ii others
TO reimburse for lost wages EN-
ployes involved in two lockouts.
Disestablish as collective bargaining
agencies all the Republics "employt
representative Plans"
And-a new proposition-the Re
, public is ordered to reimburse an!
! Federal, state or local government re
lief prOiect for WAGES Maid To striker!