Evening star., 1947-11-24
Printers in Chicago
Issue Pay UItimatum;;
Vote on Strike Toniqht
BY me Associoted Press

CHICAGO, Nov. 24.-Publishers
OF the six Chicago daily newspapers
who have accused members of the
AFL International Typographical
Union with work slowdowns during
stalemated negotiations were faced
with a strike threat today.
Woodruff Randolph, international
union president. said the 1.700 ITU
members in the six plants voted
almost unanimously yesterday tc
demand a wage increase, effective
today. and to ballot tonight on q
strike to enforce their demands.
The action was taken, Mr.. Ran
dolph said. after he had reported
TO the union members that nego-
tiations with the publishers had
reached deadlock.
Mr.. Randolph said the new wage
demand was for an increase from
$3.50 week to 500 for day work
ers and from $9l to sl06 for the
afternoon and midnight shifts.
Says Issue Isn't Wages.
John OKeefe. secretary of the
Publishers Association, commenting
on the union action, said the issue
is not wages"
The publishers have at all times
expressed their willingness to nego-
tiate wage increases If the union
would give assurances Of its will
1ingness to incorporate the wage;
and other terms of employment in
a lawful written contract of reason
able duration
The issue is the unions no con-
tract policy. The purpose of any
strike action is to enforce that pol
Icy"
The union publisher contract ex-
pired October 81 Several times
during negotiations since then, the
publishers reported their editions
were late in appearing on the streets
because members of the union had
violated long standing working rules
resulting in delays from several
minutes to several hours. Some edi-
tions were missed entirely.
Randolph Reports to Members.
Mr.. Randolph said that in his
report to the union members he
told them that the publishers ARE
trying to use the Hartley law
10 deprive our members of their
rights.
They say they're going to have
the kind of contract they want or
they won't pay us" he added. We'll
IL they're going to print papers
we're going to get some more
money"
! Mr.. Randolph said he told the
printers that the course open is
nice clean strike, and it seems
that's what we're going to have
to do"
Warns of Tough Strike.
He said, however. that he warned
the union members that a strike
might "be tough" in the weeks and
months to come, especially with
Christmas coming along"
Despite strike, he added, they'll
get out some papers by some means
or other. But with unapimity and
enthusiasm We can't lose
John j. Pileh, president of Local
l6, said the strike, if authorized,
would begin as soon as results of
the balloting have been delivered
to the various newspaper union
chapels. He did not indicate how
long that would take
The six newspapers are the Chi
eago Times, Herald American and
Daily News, all afternoon papers,
and the Tribune, Sun and Journal
Of Commerce, morning issues.
More Delays in Detroit.
In Detroit slowdowns by printers,
which plagued Detroit's three daily
newspapers last week, cropped up
again today and delayed the first
edition OF the Times At minutes.
The Detroit News, however, said
its composing room was operating
on schedule although its first edi-
ton was delayed by an accumulation
Of advertising which it was forced
to drop last week,
Mr. Randolph was expected to
confer soon with representatives of
the News, Times and Morning Free
Press