Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-07-19
What's
New?
By
EdWdrd Duck
Representative
2.B
UAW>CIO
HISTORY REPEATS

old dog new tricks. Maybe ii
isn't necessary if the tricks he
knows are good ones.
Now, mind you, we're not
calling Hugo H. Young a dog,
or anything like that. That
wouldn't be nice, and besides
we'd have Albert Payson Ter
hume on our neck in no time
at all. Or is he still alive?
Anyway, he is or was q de-
fender of dogs, in case any
body's wond eri n 6 how he
sneaked in here.
"And who's Hugo II.
Young?", you say.
Well tell you. He's the
resident of The Flxible
Company, down in Loudon-
Vile, Ohio. We had an cleo
ton there Tuesday. Employees
voted in favor of their "in-
dependent" union in prefer
ence to the UAW-CIO. That is
their privilege, but not a trib-
ute to their good judgment.
And we suppose you're
wondering just what Hugo
did. Not much. He just in
dulged in a bit of oratory to
his "fellow workers" on the
eve of the NLRB election.
Following his attorneys ad-
vice not wisely but we'll, he
flirted with the Wagner Act,
and for his efforts he shall be
rewarded with an unfair labor
practice charge.
He criticized our handbills,
told the workers we had lied
to them, praised the company
unions contract, hinted that
the CIO would break" the
company, and advised the en-
ployees that they didn't have
to vote for the CIO even II
they had signed cards pledg-
ing to do so.
The meeting was held on
company property and during
working hours for most Of the
employees. The m en- and
women were paid for listening
TO Hugo's lecture. They had
been warned for weeks in ad-
vance that this would happen.
Nothing n w had been
added. Hugo had rehearsed
the tune beforehand and had
his sheet music with him. He
read his notes as well as could
have been expected, consider
ing his limitations.
All was still as the prexy
began his speech. He wasted
no time in getting into the
meat of the thing, and in
subtle and unusable language
the CIO caught hell. What a
mani
He had been invited to de-
bate against us, accompanied
by his attorney, the company
union, its attorney, or anyone
he chose to select. He lacked
the decency and courage to ac-
cept this challenge. All of the
parties did, for that matter. In
stead Mr.. Young used his posi-
tion to force his propaganda
on the workers and to poison
their minds against the CIO.
He denied many things; and
declared that the CIO cannot
fulfill its promises to the
workers. To his chagrin he
will soon realize the folly Of
his actions.
Hugo assured the employees
that as long rs the company
had consulted for advice on
this matter sold him short a
couple of pounds, because
there are a few points they
have both overlooked.
We told the employees that
we would fulfill our promises,
and we intend to do just that.
General M o tors and Ford
could not defeat the UAW-
CIO, and II is certainn that
Flxible won't.
An interesting point is that
he gave practically the same
speech sixteen months before
on the eve of an election with
the A. F. of L. They took their
beating, including the punch
below the belt, without n
whimper. Maybe there was a
reason. We just aren't built
that way. The election Is be-
ing protested, a charge of un-
fair labor practice Is being
prepared, and the entire mat
ter is being placed in the
hands of the Policy Commit
tee of the UAW-CIO Interna-
tional Executive Board.
Walter p. Reuther, r. ].
and Richard GoSser
have been contacted.
The Company is not dealing
with the A. T. of L. this time!