Montana labor news., 1946-01-03
STEEL STRIKE JAN. IA
LINES UP BIG 3
FOR PAY SHOWDOWN

"A unanimous vote ui the Go ntcd
StcclWorl gf, l75-man MAJ policy com
mittcc 10 strike the steel industry Ian.
IA line, Up CLOS three biggest unions
Tor 4 showdown fight involving Their
nearly .}.0d0.t00 members II a struggle
wi;h Nmorica's biggest corporations Tor
wage increases necessary to maintain
IA adequate standard ii liking
The steel vote. taken III Pittsburgh
with Go Pres. Philip MURRAY presid-
ine rs head ol the Ntcelworhcrs Cnion,
unanimously passed resolutions which.
/. Condemned President Truman 5
proposed ami-strihc legislation as vi
ciousl, auti-labor and an attack upon
our basic democratic liberties
; Rejected his. proposal Tor 4 TACT
finding committee On the grounds not
only that il would cause months Of
della, bui also because the clcar-eut
facts involved in our present disputes
with the steel industry are IN the pcs
session ol the government.
3. Charged that the indu>trys refusal
to bargain collectively on wages, and
the threat, made by many concerns to
cancel contracts in the event 81 a strike,
haze revealed is true present design
10 destroy the union and thereby irce2c
The wages OF the s~lcclworkcrs Tor ever
increasing cNtortionatc profits
The vote 10 strike VA supported by a
previous Nl.RB ballot oi steel workers,
Which showed them 81 in favor OF a
walkout 10 secure s. a day requested
wage increases.
10th votes came, the union CHARGED,
after the industry had openly rejected
attempts oi Secretary oi labor schwel-
lcnbach Ia secure resumption oi col
wlcctivc bargaining
1t IS expected that the proposed strike
Will Affect nearly 100000 workers, who
led up with delays IN negotiations Is
conducted over a period Oh many inenihs
during the war BY the National Mar
Labor Board and who are complctely
disguised with the thrcc-nlonth delay
since the union first called for current
direct bargaining with the industry.
The committee said that government
statistics show not only the need Of the
steel workers 10 rccclv, a wage increase
bu, the ability OF the corporations 10
pay it.
The Office OF Price Administration
has 4 iull report on the financial condi-
ton OF the steel industry" the commit
Tee stated. The Office Of War Mohil-
ization and Reconycrsion has a ON
plc,c report on the financial condition
Of American industry. In spite Of the
repeated demands OF the United Steel
workers and President Murray. that
these reports be- made public, tley are
ropfc,>cd within the government
Company propaganda that the Union
docs not have the righ, 10 strike under
the contract Was answered by a rcsolu-
ton based on a comprehensive state
mon. by Lee FRESHMAN, general counsel
ior the Steclworkcrs and for Go.
FRESHMAN noted that The provisions ia
the ,tccl contracts relating to the RIGHT
T. reopen wage negotiations during tie
lie Of the agreements were incorporated
under a VILE directive.
lie pointed out that another VILE
directive on Oct. Is 1915 noted that;
there has been a change in national
.age policy jus;'iying the reopaning
q. the matter OF . general wage 'rcreasc
uader clauses sucn as contained IN tie
,icel agroerren' 'he WlB sad that
such issues should be the subject OF col
~lec'iyc bargaining and could not be
presented to the hoaid because no such
\ " disputes would be accepted.
"The union" FRESHMAN said clearly
maintained that all matters covered bv
the agreement-cxccpt the issue CT 4
general wage incrca,e-would be fixed