Evening star., 1952-02-07
u. 5. Steel Predicts
Moose Around Neck {
In Union Job Terms
BY the Associated Pres.

BY the Asseeiaied Press
NEW YORK, Feb. IA Big
Steel spokesman said today that
granting of CIO union proposals
to have a say in job change or
termination would result in loss
of "a significant management
, function"
r. Conrad Cooper, a vice pres
ldent of United States Steel Corp,
said in a statement delivered to
0 Wage Stabilization Board panel:
1.-THE union proposals would
close the moose around manage
ment's neck and operate to the
following effect:
'They would freeze the current
structure of jobs; they would
freeze for each employe his cur
rent level Of performance; and
they would operate to lnstabilize
the standard hourly wage scale
rate structure prevailing in all but
a few of the companies in the en-
tire steel industry. 4
Thus, the union makes an OBJ
scure attempt 4. to appropriate
a significant management func-
ton"
Seen Hampering Initiative.
Owen Fairweather. Chicago at
torney, said the union proposal
would hamper the incentives and
aspirations" of workers and place
q premium on the mediocre and
unambitious."
He said the usual management
practice was to base job transfers
on ability and physical fitness
with length Of service the deter
mining factor among relatively
equal candidates.
This gave assurance, he said,
that senior employe would not
be bypassed for promotion by a
younger man less able or fit.
Mr.. Fairweather said the rea-
sons for the unions proposal 'can
only be assumed"
He asserted that a system OF
choice in which relative ability
figures may lead to controversy
between employees which could in
volve the union leaders" and that
"the union may consider that the
length of service test is politically
the easy way out. -.
Cites Company Terms.
What the company desiress Mr..
Cooper added. "is the fair. just
and reasonable discharge of the
legitimate management function
to secure maximum production,
capacity operation Of equipment,
minimum cost, fair performance
for fair pay. and the highest level
of employe performance consist
ent with safety, good health. and
sustained effort"
The CIO United Steelworkers
Of America is demanding an 1872
cent-an-hour pay raise plus sa
minimum guaranteed annual
wage of about $4,000 and otherI
contract benefits. 81
Current pay averages $1.92 fpI
$l.97 an hour. a1 8I
Mr.. Cooper prepared his state
n1ent for a six-fnal1 wage stabiE
ization board panel seeking to OBJ
tain union management agree
ment to avert aWalkout tentaa
lively set for February % by some
$4,000 steelworkers. 81
Stresses 1916 Program. =
Mr.. Cooper said United States
Steel and the union are committed
to a joint wage inequities pro-
gram agreed to on May 8, 1916,
(which is still in full force and
effect and not now open for re-
negotiation" l
He said the union requests
termination of the 1916 agree
ment "but offers no new agree
ment to insure completion Of the
program"
Mr.. Cooper attacked the union
contract proposal to change the
provisions governing wage incen-
tive payments as "unsound :.
not in the best interests Of the
employees, the company or the
public, contrary to the production
and wage stabilization needs of the
country"
To settle the entire problem he
suggested three points:
/. "In good faith to proceed to
discharge :, Joint obligations to
complete the wage inequities pro-
gram"
2. Withdrawal by the union Of
any "of its proposals that run to
abridgement of the company's
MANAGEMENT functions"
8. "Details of a mutually salts
factory agreement should be
worked out by the parties in col
lective hargaining."