The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-04

Continued from Page ~
these hopes ended today as both
sides settled down for q grim battle
Charges Double Talk
The Scovill conference ended to-
day when the union negotiating
committee, headed by International
Representative william Moriarty
rejected a final company offer. A
company statement said that the
union had refused a 10 percent
wage offer which carried a provision
that the management would grant
a further increase equal to that
given by Brass in Waterbury"
John j. Mankowski, International
representative for the union, char
acterized the Scovill Company
statement as Just some more dou-
BILE talk"
The Scovill local is solidly be-
hind the. strike declared Mr..
Mankowski. The air has been en-
tirely cleared and the confusion is
all gone" (This was in reference
to reports Of disaffection within
the Scovill local, which came to
a head over the weekend and were
climaxed at a mass meeting Of the
membership yesterday afternoon at
the State Armoryl.
MankOwski Goes 70 Chicago
Mr.. Mankowski left for Chicago
this afternoon to attend a meeting
OF the International executive
board Of the Mine. Mil g. Snelter
Workers Union. In his absence,
he said, the spokesman for workers
at Big 3" factories will be John j.
Driseoll, executive secretary Of the
State CLIO.
Near-zero temperatures prevailed
as p!cketS began patrolling en-
frances to the Chase and American
Brass plants. There we're no pick
ct lines at the main offices Of either
company.
Union sources said that approxi-
mately 85 Chase Co. workers had
been given passes allowing them
through the picket lines. At the
American Brass CO. the same
sources said, about 500 passes had
been issued. The discrepancy was
explained by the fact that the ABC
needs a special clerical force this
week to work on reports required
by the OPA. The number of passes
granted at both plants viii be dras-
ticaliy cut after this week.
Calm on Strike Front
AL was calm on the strike front.
Police said that picketing was
being carried on in an orderly FASH
ion: There were no disturbances.
Union locals representing employees
OF the Scoyill, American Brass and
Chase Companies continued work on
building up welfare funds to aid
needy strikers.
indications were that attempts TO
secure unemployment compensation
Tor striking workers will be con-
unued. Announcement was made
Of a special campaign to secure such
benefits for striking war veterans.
Mass Meeting Planned
Veterans Of the Brass Workers"
WIZ hold mass meeting at the
North End YMCA Friday afternoon
at 2 o'clock to take action on UNI
employed benefits. Plans will be
made for appeals TO Gov. Raymond
z. Baldwin and the states sena-
tors and u. S. representa- tiyes.
Henry Rack. temporary chairman.
will preside. Permanent officers viii
be chosen at the meeting.
Half-MiiliOn Lost Weekly
Weekly payroll losses in Water
bury as result Of the strike viii
be close to $550lO00, 1t was estimated
today. When the Scoyill strike be-
gins, close to 10000 Waterburians
will be out Of work.
Neutral observers believe that
only an early settlement of the steel
strike viii hasten any finish to the
local strike, the worst the city has
had since the postwar days of
World War I. Their belief is based
OH the theory that local industry
will follow the national wage pat
tern resulting from settlement OF
the steel and allied disputes.
Employees OF the Bridgeport Brass
Company are scheduled 10 walk out
next Monday. adding further to the
seriousness of the situation. A vir-
tual paralysis Of the brass industry
win follow.
Union officials had nothing to say
about the possibility OF a picket line
around the OakVille Company, di-
vision Of the Scoyill Company.
Michael Barkauskas, chairman OF
the unit, has announced that union
employees viii not cross q picket line
At the branch. He said that en-
ployes there cannot go on strike
until they have deserved a 30-day
cooling OF" period.
TITS the eomlfuulty that viii suf-
fer II Scoyill employees accepted the
10 percent offer. said Mr.. Mankow-
ski. 1T the brass industry does not
give an adequate hourly wage, IT'S
the businessman VINO will lose.
Workers need more money TO buy
the things they require for them 10
live decently. ScoVill says II will go
along with any raise given by Brass,
but scovill itself is one of the big
gest parts OF Brass. Granting OF
the unions wage proposals would
mean more prosperity for the whole
city,"
Results OF yesterdays meeting OF
the @noEsll local, at which postpone
ment Of the strike for - hours Was
voted, we're most gratifying, MI