The sub., 1944-02-17

use of materials. Instead of using ordinary steel wire, at an ever rapidly increasing pace, specified tions are being changed requiring the substitution of various types of alloys in place of the standard steel wire.
 The welders at the Electric Boat Company are now compelled to weld with various alloys such as ] Chromang, a composition of Oh m ium. Magnesium and Nickel; CRS. a composition of Nickel, Chrome and Steel, Copper Nickel, a composition of Copper and Nickel. and Amerloid, prod uct almost similar to Chromang.
 The use of the above alloys re- quires extra and special skill be- cause of several differences. First of all, the alloys burn differently, and when melted they are consid- erably more fluid, thinner and l liquid like. At the same time, the substance is cloudy and does not have the transparency which ex- ists when steel is used. Still an other difference is the far brighter light which is produced in weld ing with alloys. It must be read fly conceded that alloy welding is much more exacting than steel welding, requiring extra skill and concentrated effort. It is true that to large extent the alloys 1 are used in the same operatioruj which the Uniou claims should be categorized as obstruction weld ing. This overlapping should be strong corroboration of the Union claims.
 In addition to the above there are factors of safety and health. Alloy welding, by reason of its brighter light, creates much more of an eye-strain that steel welding. It is done inside and all problems relating to respiration are made more difficult and serious.
 It is true that there is differ ence of opinion between industrial health doctors and the welders as to injurious effects. The welders know from actual experience and the individual effects upon them that there are injurious health fac tors present The industrial health authorities have not yet been able to trace the causes and hence ex- press doubt.
 In considering the entire Union claim on both alloy and obstruc- tion welding. the commission should carefully consider the gen. eral status at the Company of this craft For a number of years, the WelderS have been a greatly dis satisfied and discontented group. By far. the largest labor turnover has occurred in this craft. The number of welders has been drop ping considerably. It is well known among the welderS that any Electric Boat welder can take 1 his place as first class mechanic in any shipyard and get top wages but that welders in other ship yards very often cannot make good at the Electric Boat Company. The Company is constantly making special efforts to train new weld CTS Many young men who take up this craft, upon completion oi their training, have given it up be- cause of the extraordinary condi- tionS. To have a reasonable chance Of reaching the greatly increased Navy production schedules fo1 submarines, it is absolutely 0eceS- sary to correct the welding cOndi- tions in the way which the Union requests. The Union believes that welding in submarines is compar- I able to what is classified as cer- tified welding in other shipyards l and for which the first class hour 1 ly rate is $1 45 per hour as com l pared to a first class rate of $1.27 at the Electric Boat Company. The Union, therefore, asks that the ob- struction and alloy premium be ] placed at SIS per hour while ob- struction or alloy welding is be- ing performed.
 The Union sincerely believes that such an award is vitally nec-