The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-08

and in statements to the pre-
 Alan c. Curtiss, director of em- ploye relations, gave the companys views in Q lengthy letter to The Democrat. He said the company is still willing to meet with the union representatives to continue nego- tiatlons.
 Al skinner, international repre- sentative of the Mine. Mill and Shelter Workers Union, claimed yesterday that the company had been unwilling to carry on real ne- gotiations, and disclosed that the union had referred the case to the U. s. Cancellation Service. MT Curtiss disclosed that @ federal con- cillator has already conferred win him.
 The text of Mir Curtiss' letter for the company follows
 TO the Editor of the Waterbury Democrat:
 It has not been Scovill's policy to initiate discussions concerning its relationship with the Union in public press. Many times repre- sentatives of the Scovill Brass Workers Union. Local 569, have given releases to the public press, and when Company representatives have been approached by the press, company statements have bs3n made regarding the union $ release. Apparently, the Union is now attempting to sell the waterbury public and Scovill enl- ployes the idea that the Scovill Management has refused to bar gain in good faith" Because the employees of the Main Plant and the waterville Division comprise such large part of the working popu- lation of Waterbury, 1t seems that 6 statement from the Management on the conditions leading up to the contract negotiations and the pres ent stalemate is appropriate.
 On August i9, i942, employees of the Main Plant and Waterville voted in a National Labor Rela- tons Board election to determine whether or not there should be a collective bargaining agency for em- ployes in those two plants. The International Union of Mine, Mill & Shelter Workers, of which the Scovill Brass Workers Union. Local 560, is a part, received majority of the votes in those elections.
 On August l9, le42. @ telegram was received by the Company iron, the Union, which we quote in part;
 ". We now urge that you join us in the immediate establishment of 6 genuine joint labor manage ment War Production Committee and in the speedy negotiation of Union contract :"
 On August 2i tb; Company re- piled to this telegram agreeing tc discuss both items mentioned anc suggesting that the Union submit proposal for both a labor or-manage- ment production plan and the pro- posed contract provisions.
 On September 9, 1922. the Ma tional Labor Relations Board ocr- tified the International Union oi Mine. Mill & Shelter Workers al the collective bargaining agent fol hourly and piecework employees oi the Scovill Main Plant and Wa. terville Division.
 Ire Union distributed series oi Information Bulletins at the Com. pany's gates starting September 3 stating that preparation of ths contract proposas were underway
 On September 30 the Compan. received a registered letter from tht union inclosing 8 draft of the con. tract and stating that the draf was subject to review of the mem hership at their next meeting.
 On October 3 the Compan, acknowledged receipt of the con as the draft was subject to change that i've therefore suggest that a. soon as the membership has agreed upon a contract, that you submi that to us and we will arrange promptly for a meeting"
 On October g we received al amendment to the contract draf already received and the first ne gotiating meeting was arranged fol October i2, l942. By agreement negotiating meetings were to las for three hours and were to taks place three times week. Eighi meetings were held under thi! plan. the last being on October 2S l942. These meetings had been foi the purpose of full discussion oi the Unions proposal. in oresr that the various provisions proposed could be considered by the Com pany. It was known that the Con- pany would then submit counter proposal to the whole contract.
 The Company submitted thi' counter-propoSal on November 20 l942. A meeting was arranged fol November 30 to discuss the Com pany's counter-proposal. In thi! meeting the Union took the position that the Company's counter-pro' posals were ridiculous. The Unior broke on negotiations without dis cussing the Company's counter proposal.
 No further word was heard iron the Union concerning the Company counter proposal until Thursda, evening. December 8. when @ repre- sentative of the Cancellation Servic' of the United States Department O Labor notified the undersigned tha the Union had called him into thu