Evening star., 1949-10-17
Labor

Labor
| Continued From First Page.>
which makes SO per cent of the
Nations aluminium, says it met
the steelworkers' demand for six
cents for pensions and four cents
for insurance.
Negotiations Collapse.
The company said negotiations
collapsed Friday night over the
unions refusal to accept a pro-
vision that the proposed pension
plan be subject to any future ad-
justment in Federal social Sc
curity laws.
Mr.. Murray says the aluminium
company's pension proposal
would have led to a reduction in
the company's pitifully made
quate retirement payment to it's
old employees" He added:
Under the guise of so-called
integration with the Federal So
cial security structure, the COM
pany proposed a plan for the
virtual elimination of the COM
pany's social obligations to it's
retiring employees"
There was little picketing at
Alcoa's plants. At New Kensing-
ton, Pa, where 1000 are en-
ployed, three union represent
atives and three company officials
appeared at the main gate.
Strike Is Orderly.
This strike is very orderly" an
official commented. The men
simply are not coming to work"
| Other Alcoa operations were
struck at Badin, N. c.; Alcoa,
Tenn; Bridgeport, Conn; Edge
water, N. j.; Detroit. Bauxite,
Ark; Richmond, Ind, and Mo-
bile, Ala
A company spokesman said only
so per cent of Alcoa production
will be affected because workers
at its other Is plants are repre-
sented by AFL and other unions.
AS the CIO steelworkers struck
Alcoa, Mr.. Murray continued his
stumping tour of steel centers at
Bethlehem, Pa.
Frankly, do not know when
the strike will end" the veteran
labor leader said at a news con-
ference.
Out of Touch With Ching.
Then, in a speech to about
10000 steelworkers, Mr.. Murray
declared some steel companies
believe the non-contributory prin-
ciple in pensions is okay for steel
executives but not for the work.
ers."
Mr.. Murray said he has been
out of touch with Mr.. Ching and
added the steelworkers are pre-
pared for an enduring struggle to
win the security to which every
human being is entitled"
The Steelworkers made no i'm
mediate estimate of the number
of fabricators closed down during
the week end. So far. % fabrica-
tors-employing about $4,000
have settled with the union.
They've agreed to pay the entire
cost of employe pension and in
surance programs.
During the week end Mr.. Muir
ray gave a yes-and-no answer to
John L. Lewis, United Mine Work.
ers president. who wants to set up
a huge fund to battle industry.
Mr.. Lewis proposed that the AFL
and the UNIV join in setting up a
$2,500,000 weekly war chest to
help the CIO steel strike.
Lewis Proposal Not Mentioned.
Mr.. Murray replied that his
steelworkers. land I am sure other
equally minded affiliates of the
CIO, stand prepared to join the
United Mine Workers and the AFL
to pool their resources for the
common defense and general well
fare of the labor movement"
But Mr.. Murray didn't specif-
ically mention Mr.. Lewis proposal.
The AFL hasn't answered but
top officials of the organization
predict fiat rejection.
Mr.. Lewis suggestion drew some
fire from within his own union.
I'VE believe a kitty should be
raised to alleviate poverty in the
mining fields FIRST" wired a group
of miners from st. Michael's, Pa.
The soft coal miners have been
idle since September 10. They
quit after their pension and well
fare payments were suspended.
Mr.. Lewis said some southern
operators quit paying 20-cent-a-
ton royalty payments required by
the contract which expired last
June 80.
Motorists Couldn't Duck
ROCHESTER, N. Y, Oct. II
R.-A white duck waddled onto