The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-05-20
SfeeIworkers
(Confinued From Page One)

Over 200 resolutions had been re-
ceived from locals suggesting that
USA join the Draft Eisenhower"
movement, but altho a motion was
adopted expressing confidence in
the European Theater commander
formal endorsement was denied the
movement.
Another resolution denounced
Henry Wallace's third party. But
the only positive political statement
to receive USA's assent was. one
reaffirming its loyalty to PAC.
President Murray reiterated that
members of the union are free to
support whatever candidates they
please.
In addition to permission to de-
termine the unions stand on the
non-Communist affidavits, the con-
vention also entrusted the execu-
tive board with the power to alter
USA's traditional opposition to
peacetime military conscription.
The draft proposals are still dis
tasteful to the delegates, who re-
affirmed their opposition to war,
but recognizing the deterioration
of international relations they
wanted their leaders to have a free
hand in setting union policy on ma
tional defense plans.
Another expression of confidence
in President Murray's leadership
came when he was voted pay in
crease of $4,000, bringing his salary
to $4,000. Secretary-treasurer
David Macdonald was boosted
from $4,000 to $4,000. Murray re-
ceives no salary as president of
CIO.
Murray told the delegates that
US Steel had put forward coun-
ter-offer to the unions pension
fund proposals. 1t does not salts
fly the union, he said, but it does
indicate that USA will be able to
deliver substantial benefits to even
those employees thwarted in their
wage demands by their obligation
to abide by two-year contract
which still has year to run. That
the industry will reap the harvest
of its 1948 obstinacy in 1949 was
clear to anyone who witnessed this
convention.
BY the end of June 194S, 275 con-
tracts covering 10000 steel work
ers will have expired, and USA
will press its full wage demands
on them. Next year, by May con-
tracts affecting $4,000 will run
out.
Determined to preserve its unity
during the crucial days ahead the
union voted to bar Communists
from all offices and committees.
Demonstrating its concern for the
general welfare of the nation, USA
demanded the expansion of the
steel industry's productive capacity |
by at least 10000 tons year. In
their annual report the union Off
GERS pointed out that the industry's
boosts in the past two
years were "phoney" and "aimed
at raising its profit level, not at
total production"
"Steel is the real bottleneck in
a whole network of industries" the
steel workers leaders asserted.
To-day steel shortages mean less
work for automobile workers, cleo
trical workers, metal fabricators,
miners and host of other work
ers and industries dependent on the
volume of steel supplies"
Not zone new blast furnace" has
been constructed in the past. two
years, the USA officers pointed
out, and urged Immediate expan-
sion of basic steelmaking facilities
to support additional annual steel
of at least 10000, ,0O0
tons of ingots." At present produc-
ton is 1,250,000 tons below the
wartime level.
Commenting on attempts to hold
last years wage increases respon-
sible for steel price rises, the USA
spokesmen said: "The industry does
not bargain with the union in terms
of a direct relationship between
wages and the prices of it's pro-
ducts. 1t maintains that prices are
sole initiative for fixing steel
prerogative. The
prices lies with the industry and,
the major responsibility
for the initiation which follows is
the industry's."
The report charged that Ameri-
can business generally is trying "to
freeze wages in time of fantastic
profits" No direct reference was
made to "big steers refusal last
month to discuss wage boosts with
.he union.
Net profits, it said, will total
more than $600,000,000 in 1947"
for the steel industry alone. Stock
holders expect to net worth return
IF IL per cent compared to "a 6
Der cent return generally consid- /
cred reasonable" Total net corpor
ltn nrofitS for 1917 Were &l7A |