Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-06
Other Big Clio Unions
To Join SteeIworkers
In 4th Pay Raise Plea
by me Atsoeioisd Press

HlSO NdDbS IUI IilS
half-million soft coal diggers.
That's the picture in industrial
America today-the big Four" of
industry-steel, auto. coal and
electrical workers want more
money now and a guarantee of Sc
curity in the future.
The SteelworkerS' Wage Policy
Committee ended a three day
meeting of top strategists yester-
day by asking not only for an I'M
specified wage increase, but a pen
sion program and health and well
fare benefits for 1.116,000 mem
bers.
Won't Estimate Total.
Mr.. Murray. president of both
the CLIO and the steelworkers.
wouldn't estimate the total cost
OF his unions demands to the
steel industry. He did estimate,
however, the insurance program
would cost "a cents per man, per
hour.
The CLIO leader long has been
in favor Of pensions for his mem
bers. along with other social
security benefits. He's become
more insistent on pensions since
John /. Lewis obtained them for
his UNIV members.
Throughout Mr.. Murrays CLIO
union empire there's more and
more talk about social security
for union members. There's talk,
too. about wage increases, but the
emphasis seems to be on pensions
and welfare plans.
The CLIO United Auto Workers,
for example. has declared PEN
sions the No. objective in forth
coming wage talks. Walter
Reuther, JAW president, hasn't
announced definite wage pat
tern, but has said an increase
will be asked. He talks about
bringing back the purchasing
powers the approximately 1,00O,-
900 JAW members had in June
l946. To reach that level, MIR.
Reuther adds, a wage boost of
at least 8 to 10 cents an hour
would be needed.
Electric Union Has Pleas. i
The electrical industry COM
pletes "the big four" This in
dustry. too. has a CLIO union
the SOC. 000-member United Elec-
trical, Radio & Machine Work
ers. Union executives have pre-
pared a program-subject TO APP
proval of locals-for a $500 an
nual package" boost. The pack
age" would include an inspect
fled wage increase, pension and
health plan improvements a /
shorter work week.
The pattern OF asking for pen
sion and welfare funds-or i'm
provements to such plans-appar-
entity will be followed by most
CLIO unions. The United Farm,
Equipment 81 Metal Workers want
q pension and welfare fund-and
q 30-cent hourly wage boost for
their 70 900 members. Then there's
the United Packing House Work
ers. They have not announced
specific demands. but want more
money and improved health,
welfare and pension plans.
Mr.. Murray is optimistic about
the forthcoming negotiations.
Il believe the employers will ap-
proach these matters as we will
in very constructive mood" the
veteran labor leader told a news
conference. The wage figure Is
still In process OF formulation. It
will be worked out in negotia-
tionS."
Sees All Demands Equal.
Then Mr.. Murray became more
solemn. He declared
Our demands are not based ON
the profits of the industry. but on
the needs of the workers and their
families. Our demands are of
equal Importance. None will be
given priority
Steelworkers currently have an
average basic hourly rate of 81. SO. |
They have increased as cents an
hour in three years. In 1916 in
dustry granted an 18-cent hourly
boost. then gave IS cents more in
1947 and. last year, came across
with IL cents additional.
The unions contract with
United States Steel Corp. and
other major steel producers does
not expire until May /. 1850.
However. it contains a provision
permitting reopening for wage and
social insurance issues this year.
The contract gives the union
the right TO strike if negotiations
are not concluded satisfactorily
by July is.
About $1,000 workers in basic
steel are covered by 835 contracts.
The remainder of the 1.l16. 900 are
included in the IL 900 pacts in the
fabricating industry which uses
steel as raw materials to make
finished products.
Would End Differentials.
While the union emphasized its
demands for wage boosts and
social security programs it also
asked for:
Elimination of geographical
wage differentials and wage ineq-
uities: severance pay where EN-
ployes are discharged: a union
shop and checkoff method of pay
ing dues by deductions from pay
checks, guaranteed minimum
weekly wage and premium pay of
time and one-half for Saturdays
and double time for Sundays; also
improved vacation benefits"
To all this, steel company
spokesmen had the same answer.
No comment at this time. -
just when the steel and unien
representatives will sit down at