The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-04-04

(Coniinued from Page D

(Continued from Page D as the last holdout."
 U. S. Conciliator Walter Maggio- 10, who has been endeavoring to settle the American Brass strike, talked with company officials today. J. Harold Madden, director of in- dustrial and public relations for the company, said he was unable to make any comment on the con- versation.
 Union p!ckets today allowed many maintenance employees to en- ter the Chase plants to prepare machinery and equipment for op- eration. Additional office workers also were back on their jobs.
 Rodney Chase, director of public and industrial relations for the Chase Company, said today that drafting of the full contract is pro- ceeding satisfactorily. The nego- tiators, aided by battery of steno- graphers, went into session at g a. m, paused for luncheon recess, then returned to their task this afternoon.
 To Know Answer Tomorrow
 'We should know tomorrow whe- ther we can open our plants again on Monday or Tuesday" MT. Chase said.
 unless some hitch should de- velop, we hope to have the con tract in final form and ready fol signing"
 MT. Driscoll expressed similar hopes that the final draft can be prepared without serious disagree ment.
 MT. Driscoll criticized the Amer ican Brass Company for not mak- ing a satisfactory offer to end the 6O-day old strike against its Con- necticut plants.
 The parent company, Anaconda Copper Mining Company, broke the front of the mining companies by agreeing to an increase of l8'a cents in Montana, he said. Why, then, is American Brass, a subsidi- ary, so unwilling to settle?"
 Statement Issued
 Later the CI.O. leader issued the following statement:
 settlement of the Chase dispute for full 1872 cent increase to al, employees. with no strings attached and 8 definitely improved contract is significant not only for the 400C Chase workers involved and theil families but also for the i200( A.B.C. employees still on strike ir five cities of this country. The Chase settlement has the effect oi isolating the American Brass Com pany as the last holdout against fair wage and contract agreement with its organized employees"
 "The American Brass Company is thus the only brass concern tha' has now failed to cooperate witf the community in getting its em' ployes back to work earning a de- cent wage"
 The union committee represent ing A.B.C. workers rejected set tlement proposal by the company several weeks ago. It provided wage increase of l8ls cents condi' tioned on five stipulationS. Int AB.C. membership upheld tht committees rejection.
 Ratified Last Night
 Members of the Chase local voted ratification of the interim agree ment at a meeting held at Temple Hall early last night. The negoti' ating committee went from tho bargaining table to the hall, after a day-long session that had start ed at the company's main office at g a. m.
 Following the meeting and it! unanimous vote for ratification, tht principal terms were outlined in joint statement by James McGrath president of the local, and Johr Mankowski, member of the union! international executive board iron this district.
 The spokesmen described the l8l3 cent pay hike as unconditional and said it applied to all hourly piecework and incentive workers The company will ask the Wagt Stabilization Board for approval O the increase. but has agreed in an, case that the amount will be paid effective the date of return to work
 Two Demands Dropped
 A compromise settled the NM S.W. demands for retroactive pa, and the addition Of the l8ls cent to the base rate of piece and in centiye workers. The union dropped these two demands. in return fo company agreement on inyolnntar. checkoff Of union dues and fees arbitration Of grievances. and es tablishment of minimum hourl. earnings of T4is cents at the Water bury Manufacturing Company. ans 92h cents at the Chase RoINnl Mills and Chase Metal Works.
 Within the first six days afte lhelF return 10 their jobs. worker wifi receive vacation pay based oi gross earnings foF the eighs-monil period ending February 3, the dai |