Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-11-16
Publishers BoIk at ITU Terms,
But Few Strikes Are Result
by the Associated Press

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The decision by the International
Typographical Union (AFL) con-
vention to refuse to sign contracts
with newspapers but to keep their
members at work under posted con-
ditions OF employment has not met
with acceptance by publishers, but
thus far has not resulted in more
than isolated instances of strikes
or walkouts.
Individual publishers and organ
izations have turned to the National
Labor Relations Board, complaining
that the union and its locals have
refused to bargain collectively, but
these complaints have not yet re-
suited In board action.
Many newspaper contracts with
the ITU have months or even years
to run. Some negotiated new con-
tracts before the ft-Hartley Law
provision outlawing the closed shop
became effective, and others, while
refusing in principle to recognize
posted work conditions, have agreed
to new terms of work without sign
ing contracts.
George Dale, chairman Of the
Standing Committee on Labor OF the
American Newspapers Publishers
Association, said in Chicago that
"the publishers position has not
changed. They insist upon the nor
NAL process of collective bargaining
and execution of contracts as with
all unions"
The Southern Newspaper Pub
fishers Association Friday filed with
the regional NLRB in Cincinnati
charges of unfair labor practices
against the 1TU.
The association charged that the
union had attempted to maintain
closed shops without special agree
ment, Regional NLRB Director Jack
G. Evans said.
UNLESS an injunction is obtained,
the association declared, many
newspapers, because they are 50 vul-
nerable to strikes. may be forced to
operate under illegal closed shop
conditions and thus expose them
selves to civil and in, some cases
criminal proceedings for reasons
beyond their control"
The action followed the October 7
filing of a complaint by the ANPA
that the TITUS no-contract policy
violated the Hartley law. The
ANPA asked immediate relief In
accordance with provisions" Of the
act.
NLRB Hearing Called.
The regional NLRB in New York
has scheduled hearing for Novem-
Der "a on a similar complaint by the
Nassau Daily Review Star, whose 80
mechanical employees left their jobs
Monday.
Executives of the newspapers have
maintained publication, using a
Photographic process to reproduce
typewriter copy, and Publisher
James A. Stiles announced that the
newspaper had interviewed a number
of Job applicants for permanent posi-
tons as linotype operators, compost
tors and makeup men.
MIR. Stiles said also that several
girl typists had been hired to operate
three special keyboards attached to
linotype machines and that these
Ikeyboards, when superimposed over
, regular boards of the machines,
would enable typists without special
mechanical training to operate limo
type machines.
The union has charged that the
newspaper failed to live up to posted
work conditions following expiration
of the contract.
Cities most Immediately threat
ened by the new ITU policy are
Detroit, where the union has sched-
uled a strike vote at one newspaper
for next Wednesday, and Chicago
where q deadlock in contract nego-
tiations has been reached.
SIT Weekly Increase Sought.
The Detroit contract between the
ITU and the Times, News and Free
Press expired October 81 and nego-
tiations have begged down. We'd
nesday's strike vote affects $50 COM
posing room and 1875 mailing room
employees with SIT weekly wage in
crease demand as the sole ballot
issue.
No strike vote has been asked OF
the State Mediation Board at the
Free Press or News and the publish
ers contend that under the State
labor law the union must contract
all three papers and legally cannot
call a strike vote against one plant.
The union is adhering to the ma
tional no-contraet policy.
In Chicago, both parties reported
a deadlock in negotiations between
the ITU and the Chicago Newspa-
per Publishers Association, which
represents the six major Chicago
daily newspapers.
Woodruff Randolph, ITU presi-
dent, who has been sitting in on the
discussions, said there was "obvi-
ously no chance of reaching an
agreement" and that he will 50 re-
port to the local union week from
Sunday (November 49,
The publishers association said In
statement that the union had re-
fused arbitration on the main
point" at issue, whether manage
ment and labor should define their
mutual responsibilities and incorpo-
rate them in a contract"