The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-03-13
Idle Shops Settlements
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Gee silent

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 John A. Coe, Jr, vice-president of the American Brass Company and a member of the industry advisory committee, said he was not at liberty to make any statement on the brass price situation. After conference. with the OPA yesterday and Mon. day, he said, it was agreed that any announcement would come from tho OPA. Chase spokesmen likewise had nothing to say.
 Settlement of the strike against the Oakville Company Division oi the Scovill Manufacturing Company was to be taken up at a manage ment-union conference at 2:30 thi. afternoon, The Oakville unit is a separate bargaining group from the parent company, which yesterday reached an agreement with a nego- tiating committee of the Mine, Mil & Shelter Workers. The negotiat. ing committee representing Oakville workers was ready to press for adop. tion of favorable provisions on union security, seniority and other issues The parent company has agreed tc an increase of IS i/2 cents an hour for workers at its main and Water. vile divisions, and presumably was to ofter the same figure at Oakville
 J. Harold Madden, director of in- dustrial relations for A.B.C., said today that U. s. Conciliator Walter Maggiolo has been in touch with him but has not set a date for any bargaining meeting. The price sit. uation is still the big difficulty," said Mir. Madden.
 Bonus Controversy
 Leaders of the Mine, Mil & Smell ter Workers Union units represent ing Chase and A.B.C. employees have made 1t clear that they will not ac- cept any settlement calling for less than an IS lf2 cent an hour in- crease. The A.B.C. dispute is compli- cated by controversy over bonus payments amounting to more than $l 100000 which the War Labor Board directed the company to pay more than 1900 employees.
 The text of Mir. Driscolls state. ment follows:
 have learned today that tn, OPA intends to announce tn, granting of an interim price in crease to the brass industry, based upon current operating costs befor any wage increase.
 This price increase is said to b between cent and l leg cents pc pound. The present composit, average of brass mill products price! IS approximately 2l cents per pound
 have learned also the significant fact that this price increase wa. offered to the Brass industr, through its OPA Advisory Commit. tee six weeks ago. It was turned down. Why? At that time, in ar effort to persuade their employei to drop their demand for a decenG living wage. it suited the purpose Q. the brass companies to make theil profit position appear as poor a! possible.
 What the brass companies have done is certainly mischievous ir effect, If not malicious. If thu companies had accepted the offered price increase six weeks ago anc made 1t the basis for settlement ot the wage dispute with thu union, their actual price and profiI position would have been exactly the same then as it is now. The increase which the CPA is allow. ing does not include any cost tc cover the anticipated IS l-2 cent wage increase.
 Strike Forced
 The brass companies have gained nothing by forcing a strike. Theil policy of toying with the price anc wage question makes them fully responsible for the strike and tht injury 1t has done the community
 If any of the brass companie. are still inclined to prelong tn. strike, an outraged public opinior should call them to terms in un, equiVocal fashion; and demand tha' they abandon their mischievous tao, tlcS ana give proper consideration to community welfare.
 The oPA has pledged itself tt process any new requests for pric, relief with the utmost speed. Witt this pledge unqualifedly given, anC with the question of interim price relief now cleared up. tn, brass industry has not the frag ment Of an excuse for failing in it responsibility to its workers, it stockholders, the community ang the nations need for immediate re- sumption of full production.