Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-08-15
It's News
To Me
By O. ]. Pecord
comon Sense Means A Lot In
Labor Relations
BY JEROME GROSS
Executive Secretary, Toledo LMC Committee

There are two pretty important in the industrial pic
tue who often don't get considered SUCH They are
sometimes people further the ladder But
in terms practical importance they do more to
make or break good relations than any
other set of individuals
These two important fellows are the shop and the
foreman If you have good competent steward and good
competent foreman in your department half the battle al
ready won both of them doing poor job-not
opight planning of top union and management offc
ais can make production line operate smoothly.
Not that top echeons of command both sides can
ignore good relations policies Without sensible policies
at the top combination earth will
into trouble.
But you can't ignore the shop level It's lot
Grand strategy planned by the high command but the
geants have the job of carrying it out in the
field
A shop steward the union sergeant foreman is the
company sergeant the plant And the they do their jobs
makes difference for both stockholders and rank and
file workers
For one thing both men have to business And
they have their contract the policies of the operation
and at least equally important-hey have to know lot
about human nature
Men are not machines You can't just any of off
you fit That has been mistake in the past And
relations are simply good human relations
popular in the place not make the best
steward The goes for the foreman.
1t takes lot plain intestinal fortude do either job
right temper and the ability TO
get along with other people.
concerned in this column with the union point
o view, let's look at the steward.
Personally stewards and committeeman sometimes
do a pretty thankless job The good mean.
The steward always with you may please
time bengbut 'yes man. did too much of
good job takes who has the be honest
fellow who always yes won't have the to
say mo" fellow the other of the dis
agrees honest steward will If
don't have the right grieve your conrac-heu
you do-he fight your capaby and to the best of
his abyand not stop the first time dsagrees with
him.
A really good steward knows how get along with peo
for your you're right and tell you're
implement the everyday relations between and
necessary for the company work
sound and sensible grievance procedures then
good Job of administering them.
Space permit going into involved detail but
might list few highlighs ANY good grievance procedure
records the facts of to future msunder
sandng provides orderly the shop level
union and management circles ultimate media
on impartial umpire settlement they can't
ment
But primarily provides prompt disputes settlement
prompt short one-but mighty important
effective settlement of grievances And settlement
reached the who brought the grievance entitled only
know the result but to have the whole thing explained
detail.
There's in having little troubles become big ones
through misunderstanding through long delay
lation of unsettled grievances.
Speedy disposition grievances plain ordinary horse
both sides contribute toward better
relations shop better mean better deal
For all is said and done it's
up the individual worker and management to good Job
its to be done No outside going do for them And
in free enterprise system that job has collective
voluntary cooperation can't be imposed by compulson