The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-11-17

lifelong associate of Samuel Com
pers and for over 80 years mem
Der of the AFL Executive Council
throws light on an era with which
few American workers seem fam
liar. At a time when organized
labor has reached great heights of
power, it is we'll to recall the phil
osophy Of the founders of the AFL
and their fundamental creed that
the workers advancement and pro-
lection of the public interest are
one and indivisible. Perhaps the
salient feature of Mr.. Mahon's life
work was his insistence on indus
trial peace through arbitration and
vigorous collective bargaining, and
his adherence of strikes which,
in his words, never settled any
thing except to show which side is
for the moment the strongest"
Smart alecks in and out of the
union movement may have looked
upon Bill Mahon in his later years
as an old fogy, but he summarized
the issue we'll on the eve of his re-
tirement in 1916: "Labor's greatest
tests lie directly ahead. 1t has
sober responsibility to fit into and
advance with the economic welfare
of the nation . Lead the Ameri-
can working man into collectivism
and you've got trouble -on your
hands,"
These observations are prompted
by developments in the steel indus
try, which, to this observers mind,
confirm Bill Mahon's
prediction. The chief bone of con-
tention in the steel dispute is the
pension issue. The Presidents fact
finding board, our readers will re-
call, proposed the setting aside of
4 cents an hour for social security
fund and of cents for pensions,
with the companies contributing
the entire amount. Big Steel agreed
to the proposed 10 cents, but in
sisted that the workers should also
thus making the fund /
in a real sense a joint enterprise.
Mr.. Phil Murray and his assoc
iates said no. 1t is on this trivial
note, and | advisedly say trivial,
that 100000 workers have been on
a strike now in it's sixth week, at |
an average loss of $3.50 per month.
4 X \
What can the workers expect
from the walk-out? In what re-
spect is the recent. agreement be-
tween Bethlehem Steel and the
CIO Steel Workers Union a vic
,ory for labor and, to quote Phil
Murray, "a vindication of the
lnion's position that there is a
social responsibility in industry to
AXE care of the aged and their
'amilies?" The new contract sets
he minimum pension for Bethle-
lem employees of 65 years and over
With at least 25 years of service at
400 per month, including old-age
benefits payable under federal So
ial security. Employees with less
years of service receive correspond
ngly less. The entire cost of the
Ian is borne by the company.
In addition, the agreement pro-
'ides for social security program
With sickness, accident, hospital
zation and death benefits, at an
stimated cost of cents an hour.
Among the items are an average
5000 life insurance at death or
j, 500 paid-up policy at retire
nent, $26 for sickness for 26
weeks, and a Blue Cross contract
or the workers, their wives and
dependent children, with hospital
zation up to 70 days. Whether
ents is sufficient to cover these
commitments remains to be seen.
What was the situation prior to
he agreement Bethlehem has had [
non-contributory pension plan
or 26 years. The minimum pay
was about $50 per month, |
lus $50 federal old-age benefit I
$50, or $40 less than '
tipulated under the new contract. {
n the event old-age federal pen !
ions are raised the men will bene- y
4 accordingly.