Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-12-31

Wages, one Of the controversial
points, have never been frankly
or sincerely discussed, nor have
we come to any conclusion on
the bonus" system which forces
the employee to give half his
bonus earnings to the company.
All the efforts of the Swartz-
baugh management to make it
appear that the workers in the
plant are members of one big,
happy family fall upon sterile
soil in the face of the company's
implied contention that time
study is none of the unions bust
ness, as we'll as the attitude of
the company that it will give
the workers nothing unless and
until ordered to do so by the
War Labor Board.
A NEW LEAF
Workers at Swartzbaugh's
thing it's about time for the
company management to turn
over a new leaf, and this would
be an appropriate time of year
to do it. New Years would be a
fine time for the company to
make some resolutions, based not
entirely upon justice and good
will, but based upon the fact
which has been proven to many
other employers, that this is
America and the company can't
get away with everything all the
time.
It's about time to turn over 4
new leaf and quit challenging
the Boards authority to direct
the maintenance of membership
and checkoff provisions. That
has already been decided in
Washington, and no higher per-
sonage than VIM. Davis, chair
man of the National War Labor
Board, upheld the Boards right
and was sustained, even in the
face Of the hostile senate inves-
tigation,
Not a single wage adjustment
has been made by the Swartz-
baugh management, although it
must know that on Dec. 12, 1912,
there were IA different rates of
pay of the female assembly clas-
sification. And what ever be-
came of the assembly rates of
"A, 76 and 80 cents?
It's about time for the Swartz-
baugh management to make a
New Years resolution to cease
seeking to negotiate cut in pay
for the company workers with
out the knowledge or consent of
the union.
And while on the subject of
rates, the range for spot welders
was from "a to SLIP last De-
cember, but the company had it
changed to 80 to 80 cents per
hour. That ought to be material
for another resolution for the
company, come 1914.
RATES AND RATES
While the company is drawing
up its New Years resolutions. il
ought to take into consideration
the eight different rates of pay
for punch and draw press oper-
ators who perform identical
work. Why wait and force the
government to force a change in
these rates? OF course. it's hop
ing for a lot, but it is New
Years.
And while the company is
making its good resolutions for
1914, why not make a resolve t0
sit down and discuss the unset
tied issues before a meeting If
all the employees so they will
know what's going on?
1t is my hope that the company
will show its love which it pro-
fesses for its employees in some
more tangible way during 1914,
and that too would make a good
resolution for the compang year.
I'm sure the employees would like
to believe the company loves
them as much as the company
would like to have them believe it,
but peope are funny; they want
TO have things demonstrated to
them.
All in all, the words which the
Swartzbaugh Co. has used do
not. and never have squared up
with the actions of the company
management in resisting to the
utmost every proposal made by
the union in behalf of the en-
ployes. While this has proven
source of great irritation to the
workers, they enter 1914 with
the firm belief that they will
win their points, and the firm
resolve to stick 10 their guns un-
I'll final and satisfactory set
tlement is made.
With best wishes that the
Swartzbaugh Co. will turn over
new leaf in 1914, but absolute
ly no hopes that the miracle will
occur, ] am wishing all the
Swartzbaugh employees Happy
and Successful New Year.