The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-08
Reid Robinson
 Hits At Critics
Continued from Page D

N0OAAVaAASAO0 and Shelter Workers"
 This is Q soberly reasoned state- ment by Government official who Is in 8 position to know-Mr. Wen. dell Lund, Director of the Labor Production Division, War Produc- ton Board.
 "The record of your Union is good. Your influence reaches from Alaska to the Gulf. But more irn- portant Is the fact that your union has had the courage and foresight in the month just past to honestly evaluate the critical situation with. in the mining industry. Your 1n- ternational offlcerS-time and time again-pubicly called attention to the decline in ore production, to the loss of manpower in mining opera tionS and to the dangerous conse- quenceS which were bound to fol- low."
 Procurement Director
 This come from another govern ment official who holds the 1In- portant position of Director of Pro- curement, Service of Supplies, War Department-Brigadie Gen. William H. Harrison.
 Fowler Harper, Deputy Admins trator, War Man Power CommiS- sion, quoting from the report of Panel of the War Labor Board, stated that: "No higher tribute could be given by 8 responsible Government agency that this. Your Government believes you de- serve It."
 The tribute was: '"The union is responsible and of long standing. |. The union has cooperated with the Government in all offortS to solve many problems that are prevalent Its suggestions have been con. structive. It is a democraticauy organized union, accountable both in policy and finances to the mem bership."
 These statements by responsible I Government officials, whose sole objective is quick victory in this war, come not as empty compli- ments but as a direct result of first hand knowledge of the unions work and first hand dealings with the unions leadership. It is clear, as these Government officials frank ly stated, that the leadership of this union has been responsible for the program of this union and the work of the union in servicing the nation and its own rank and flle.
 Which Government agencies are represented here? The Army, the War Production Board, the War Labor Board, the War Man Power Commission-an agencies entrusted with the most serious problems confronting our nation. And the top official of those agencies have given their direct testimony as to the character of this unions leader ship and of this unions program which, we feel, amply and com pletely repudiates the very unfor- tunate degratory statements re- gently contained in these columns
 17,OOO Organized
 In our nation we are known fol giving the government programs designed to increase production oi vital non-ferrous metals, designed to help solve the crucial manpowel shortage in our industry; we art known because we have kept oul commitments to the President tc prohibit Interruptions in produc. tion; we are known because WI sponsored and spread the who'll program of production commit. tees. In Connecticut, during thii one last year, our union has be- come the bargaining agency fo more than 1000 workers in thu key war brass industry-organizint these workers without strikes anC stoppageS, through peaceful and do nestle Labor Board elections. Fol lowing these victories here. ou union directed its first attention t. the creation of joint production committees to simulate production to win the war, even before enter ing negotiations on the wages ans working conditions.
 We think that the record show that the International Union Rep representatives assigned to assist il the organization of the brass indus try, who have maligned in the press did successfully organize the work CTS, without stopages. In the on year three new organizers have giv en leadership to the workers hen organization of every major bras company in the Connecticut Vale has been completed. This result from the involvement of rank an file workers.
 The question has been raised 1 these columns as to why the unio has not yet negotiated the Scovt contract, even though 1t won col lective bargaining rights there month ago. The answer is simple As the War Labor Board Panel cl ted before stated, "T'his union
 democratlcally organized and al countable in policy and finance to it's membership"
 The demands to be negotiated ! the Union at scovill first had to ! discussod by the membership. on approved by them in each partls ulay; Q negotiating committee ha to be selected by the nlemberahl and only then could the Union ef ter negotiations
 None of these steps could taken, giving the empl0yes Of scl vill e full opportunity to expre themselves. prior 70 tho cegitncl