Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-25
WeIders OK.
Despite Blast
From HiNman
Unwise Strike Defended
Because Of Extortion
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOk PEGLER \
4 SMALL strike of welders at
"A Shipyards and other plants
IN San Francisco has been de-
nounced by Sidney Hillman as
"a shocking act Of disloyalty"
and repudiated by the national
secretary Of their independent
parent union in Washington AS
an irresponsible action by Off
Gals of the locals.
These he harsh words. and the
diSaVowal Of the strike by the
national headquarters puts the
strikers and their leaders on
miserable spot.
In fact. the strike was unwiSe
but, of all the strikes that have
retarded the war effort. this
nevertheless is one OF the least
reprehenSible.
The welderS, robbed and OK
plotted for years by the unions
Of other crafts. have been put
in a desperate mood by the
arrogance and rapacity Of these
other unions which have shown
them not even fairness, much
"a less mercy.
Now other unions which also
~ struck and slowed down
work before Pearl Iarbor viii
take a SanCtlmoniouS attitude
toward the San Francisco weld
erS because their strike came
after the Japanese assault made
war official
But the strike in tho captive
mines was lncomparably more
destructive AZ time when the
Japanese attack was actively in
preparation and the man who
called that strike not only was
rewarded with a-cloSed shop and
total victory hut was invited tC't
Slt in as one Of the great Spokes
men OF American labor IN the
conference on unity Of labor
and industry
The WeldcrS' strike is a llriS-
dlCtional dispute bur not in the
mean and narrow understanding
Of that term They should not
have struck but their grievances
arc not mere matters Of petty
inter union jealousy and greed
for dues
These mon have been kicked
around fceCed and Sneered a
for years by boss unloneerS who
have refused 10 acknowledge
that Welding IS craft and have
permitted other Unions 10 trea
them as their rightiul prey.
4 BOUT a month ago. welder
"A telephohcd me from Wash
ngton where a meeting was in
progress. and said
I'VE are desperate. There l.
going to he fighting and may
get killed hut will Kill some Of
them before get mine.
II have got wife and two
Kids living I'm trailer near a
Job in Baltimore and have get
in nv pocket right now receipts
for more than $500 that had to
pay out Ia other AL unions In
the last year.
Another man In this room
with me now has got cards In
IS AL unions that ne had 90
buy so he could work on jobs In
various parts Of the country"
Whether or not Welding IS q
distinct craft IL certainly is a
distinct occupation and as much
craft as hod-CarryinG or ditch
digging But unlike nod car
ricrS and ditch-diggcrS. vho
have their own union. and a dis
graceful racket. the Wclders.
must buy the right 10 work frori
the union having local iuriSdic->
ton IN each separate ion.
They are skilled migrants and
bong migrants. are usually IN
Tho union sense of the word
foreigners IN tho localities
where they find themselves and
arc treated 10y tho local unions
about the >a-ne aS an ignorant.
crooked highway patrolman
treats motor tourist far from
home
THE WclderS struck an ord
nance plant construction lob
Al Morganlown W. Va, about a
month ago IN protest against
eNaCtlon> by Steamfitters local
which claimed jurisdiction over
them.
one Of their representatives.
then declared that L different
metal trades unions OF the AL
claimed the right to fees and
dues from welderS and added
that two welderS on the Nor
gantown Job had been compelled
10 take out cards IN the bakers
union when they installed equip
meni IN a big bakery.
He said tho Morcantown strik-
erS had been paying III per cent
OF their wages in assessments
alone. IN addition 10 the regular
dues without any right to know
what was done with their money.
IN BATON ROUGE. La, and
Il Orange Tex. groups of weld
eTS hcaped their multiple cards.