Evening star., 1949-11-05
Electrical Workers
Read Right-Wingers
|0ut Of Union Posts
Ry the Axsoeiu,sd Press

|VuI OF union POSIS
BY the Asseeiotsd Press
PITTSBURGH. Nov. 5.-Albert
J. Fitzgerald, president OF the CIO
United Electrical Workers, read
right-wing leaders out of the
union and today the order was
met with defiance or silence.
The custer. in the form of tele-
grams to individual officers, came
as a result Of the expulsion of the
UE by the National CIO conveu-
ton In Cleveland.
Mr.. Fitzgerald is not acting
against all dissident UE elements.
a district official stated.
"Only those right-wing officers
who have come out publicly in
favor Of the dual-union plan have
been or will be read out of the
union," said Charles Newell, Dis
trict 6 representative.
1--WE recognize the right Of our
members to quit the UE and form
another union," he said. But we
object to their use of UE facili-
ties, funds and contracts to de-
stroy that organization"
More Wires Coming.
Mr.. Fitzgerald notified officers
of at least five big UE unions of
their expulsion in kilograms.
Mr.. Newell said he had no ac-
curate data as to how many wires
have been sent by the UE leader,
but said they were all similar.
There undoubtedly will be a
few more" he added.
The reaction to Mr.. Fitzgerald's
wires was varied among their re-
cipients.
Some. like Clyde j. Bowman,
Executive Board member of 13, TOO
member Local COL at the West
inghouse Electric. Corp. in East
Pittsburgh, have wired back def
ant messages. Mr.. Bowman, one
Of "a officers "read out" at Pitts
burgh. told Mr.. Fitzgerald:
Because you walked out Of the
CIO, I no longer recognize you as
having any authority to tell me
anything"
Others, like the 10 right-wingers
tossed out at Westinghouse tur-
bine plant in Sharon. Pa, simply
ignored the kilograms.
Dallas Smith, right-wing, presi-
dent Of the 1000 member General
Electric Corp. UE local at Fort
Wayne. Ind, got one. There the
right-wingers have obtained a
court order restraining district
and international officers from in
terfering with the locals finances.
Mr.. Smith called a general men,
bership meeting for tomorrow.
Presidents of right-wing locals
755 and 801 at Dayton, Ohio, and
the right-wing president of Dis
trict Z (Ohio-Kentucky) also re-
ceived Fitzgerald wires. They are
ignoring them.
| Charged With conspiracy"
A UE official at Pittsburgh re-
ported the telegram he sreceived
from Mr.. Fitzgerald said: .
Because you left the United
Electrical, Radio and Machine
Workers and because Of your
participation in a conspiracy
which has as its declared pur-
pose the disruption Of UE and the
formation Of a rump union in the
electrical. radio and machinist
industry and the undermining of
contract benefits and protection
OF UE members, therefore you no
longer have any Of the rights and
privileges Of UE membership and
you are Immediately to cease
holding yourselves out as members
OF UE Local COL or as an officer
or representative of the local."
That tempers are flaring in the
right-left squabble was indicated
today when the arrest Of a right
wing leader on an assault charge
was revealed.
Constable Joseph Urban Of near
by Turtle Creek said he arrested
Stanley Glass. former recording
secretary OF Local COL, on charges
OF "slugging" Paul Chopy, a Tur-
tie Greek union member.
Glass is free on $500 bail await
ing a hearing tonight.
Mr.. Urban said he does not know
to which faction Chopy belongs
He said the mans face was cut
up when he was attacked by Glass
yesterday.
Seven Locals Secede.
There was feverish activity all
over the UE front.
In New Jersey, with about 80 900
members, seven locals voted to
secede from the parent body and
join q new electrical workers
union, just chartered by the CIO.
Three other locals in the same
State voted to stick with the UE.
Three New York State unions
have decided to switch their alle-
glance to the new CIO group.
In South Bend, Ind, q 1000
member UE local Of the Singer
Sewing Machine Manufacturing
Co. voted unanimously to apply
for membership in the CIO United
Auto Workers.
At Erie. Pa. the 8,500-member
General Electric local met Wed
nesday. before receiving notice Of
the CIO expulsion, and reaffirmed
its faith in the policies Of the UE.
At the same meeting. John w.
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