The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-01-09
My Trade Union
At War
BY JOHN BROWN, General Secre-
tary, Iron and Steel Trades Con-
federation of Great Britain.

| broke out all those workers, and their
organization, the Iron and Steel
Trades Confederation, were ready to
throw their full strength into the
struggle.
Early in 1889 the steel trade had to
meet the first demand for greatly in
tensified output. The Government set
out to provide domestic afraid shell
ters for residents in the most vulner-
able.
With the cooperation of the steel
trade, thousands of Anderson shelters
were produced, and they have proved
their effectiveness and saved many
lives.
The steel mill men gave their ut
most in time and energy to complete
the contracts in the shortest time.
Anyone who has knowledge of the
arduOus work performed by the steel
worker will understand what this in
tensified production meant in terms of
sweat and toll.
When the war began the Iron and
Steel Trades Confederation met the
employers to discuss ways and means
to enable plant and machinery to be
utilized to their fullest extent.
Working Nonstop
One effect of these deliberations
was that the Union unhesitatingly
agreed to abrogate national and To-
cal agreements in relation to hours of
work, and firms were given power,
after consulting the workmen's rep
resentatives, to work through the GUS
tomary weekend break in order to
fulfil the demands of the Government
and those industries producing vital
material for the war effort. Iron and
steel workers have been working non
stop since the commencement of hos
tilities.
The black out, and the necessary
anti-glare precautions, set the Con-
federation a tough problem. Iron and
steel workers have to work continu-
ously in intense heat, and so proper
ventilation is imperative. But at the
same time the nature Of the work,
such as tapping molten metal from
the furnace and rolling red hot ingots
and bars, causes intense glare, and
makes the steel works dangerously
easy target.
The problem has therefore been to
control the glare without depriving
the work k-people of all ventilation.
Some sacrifice Of fresh air had been
inevitable, and the workers have ac-
On With The Job In Raids
The air raids were at first spas
given, the men took shelter at the
sound of the sirens, with the result
that production was impeded.
But when it was realized that raids
were likely to be frequent, it became
necessary in the national interest to
carry on even during raids.
Workpeople in many industries are
carrying on through raids all over the
country, but the general public should
appreciate what this carrying on
means in a steel works, where men
work under the double danger of
bombs and molten metal.
Wages Agreements in the British
Iron and Steel Industry provide two
wage factors, the basic rate and
percentage addition on a sliding scale
basis related to the average selling
price of the commodities produced.
When Government control Of the
industry became effective the employ
ers approached the Iron and Steel
Trades Confederation and suggested
that since prices were regulated, the
sliding scales of wages should not OPP
crate above certain fixed points.
The Union could have demanded its
"pound of flesh" and insisted on its
Wages Agreements functioning as in
normal times, but it was appreciated
that as increases in the prices of steel
commodities were sanctioned by the
| Government only on account of the
| additional cost of raw material, trans
port and other factors beyond control,
such conditions were exceptional and
demanded consideration.
The various negotiating bodies
throughout the industry were given a
| free hand to discuss the matter, and
without exception it has been agreed
to stabilize or "freeze" the scale per-
centage for the war period. This has
meant a considerable sacrifice in po-
tental wages on the part of large
sections of our members.
The Confederation has sponsored
National Savings Schemes at the vari-
Gus centres of its activity, and by
publicity through the medium of its
Journal "Man and Metal"
The Executive Council has present
ed the Minister of Aircraft Production
with $4,000 to purchase Spittire
Fighter Plane, and has provided three
mobile canteens for the Services.
Members of the Confederation who
have joined ii. NJ Forces have their
membership maintained and on their
return to their jobs will be immedi-
ately entitled to the protection and
benefits of the Organization.
Many of our branches have formed
special funds to enable supplementary
payments to be made to those of their