The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-04-18
A.B B.C.
Continued from Page l.)

vestisation by the Boston office of
 the NIRB.
 Clark 8. Judd, chairman of the board at American Brass, was In New York today for the meeting with OPA. Also attending was John A. Coe, Jr, executive vice-president and member of the Brass Mill Products Industry Advisory Com mittee. MT. Coe disclosed yesterday that industry seeks an average in- crease of 1 6-e cents e pound to cover the cost of wage increases.
 The OPA recently organized an increase of IS cents e pound, on the average, for brass products, this increase being granted to meet operating losses since Vel Day.
 MT. Madden said today that A. B. C.s wage offer, which the union rejected last week, was not conditioned on adequate" price re- lief, but on the granting of "any" additional price relief by the OPA. The original A. B. c. offer, made in March, listed an OPA brass price increase sufficient to compensate for an lS l-2 cent increase as one of five conditions attached to Q wage proposal.
 Not 'STrue" Offers
 Union spokesmen have argued re- peatedly that A. B. C.s wage pro- poSals have not been true" offers, since they have been contingent on certain conditions. The last com- pany offer was subject to WISE ap- proval as well as to OPA action. C.T.O. leaders have pointed out that other brass companies have granted l9 Ia cent inceases without any such conditions being attached.
 A. B. o. employees in the three Connecticut cities and at Buffalo, N. Y. have been on strike since Feb. 4. The strike ct the Detroit branch began more than a month later.
 Last week the company granted an IS i-2 cent wage increase, ef. fective back to April 1, to employees of It's KenoSha, Wis, plant, who had not joined in the strike. State C.r.O. Secretary John J. DriScoll claimed the conpany's failure to make the same wage offer to its Connecticut employees was an evt- dence of discrimination against CI.O. organized employees. The Ken- ohSa plant workers are members of the American Federation of Labor.
 A day after negotiations here col- lapsed, MT. Driscoll filed 6 com. plaint with the NLRB on behalf of AB.C. strikers in Waterbury, Tor rington and Ansonia.
 Other Hurdles
 Should AB.C. management make a suitbale wage offer, there are still important hurdles to be cleared before the 74-day old strike can end. Company proposals. thus far | on contract issues other than wages have been bitterly criticized by the union, which claims they would | greatly weaken seniority, grievance procedure and other clauses.
 Montana employees of Anaconda were expected to accept the retro- active pay proposal as they voted today. This would mean early re- turn of Anaconda copper produc- tion to normal. The industry is al- ready badly hit by other copper strikes in the West and refinery strikes in several parts of the coun- try.
 Citizens Invited
 In it's letters asking prominent citizens to attend the Monday meet Ing, the A.B.C. unit of Local 251 'ays that the strike has developed nto struggle of vital importance Q the community"
 The union letter reads:
 The strike being conducted by 'ur Union against the American Brass Company has developed into struggle involving issues of vital importance to the community.
 The welfare of over four thou- 'ahd employees of the American Brass Company in Waterbury, as we'll as of the thousands of other ,eople who are dependent on these workers for support. is seriously by the continuance of his strike. now in its eleventh week.
 The Union wishes to present It's tory Of the issues in this strike to he leaders of the community in all walks Of life; in order that We may 'btain their counsel and assistance.
 'SI1ae Union Is inviting you, as me of these leaders of the com- nunity to attend . conference Rt 6 Bank Street. T:lS D. m. on Mon- lay, April z2 in order to discuss his vital question. and to determine
 course Of action which would be est for the N'orkers and the eon- lunity aa e whole. flIN@ mod aaE4.aetfsF aafr Asaaf 9loa1