Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1953-10-02

4
true story behind the strike be
told.
Our labor relations with the
Celotex Corporation began approx
imately 10 years ago. At the be-
ginning we had our disagreements,
however, they we're ironed out
without too much trouble. AS time
went on the differences became
less and less, that is, up until
about 3 years ago. Local manage
ment was changed at that time
and the new plant manager, Mr..
George Koch, lately of U. S. Gyp-
sum. had ideas which were exact
ly opposite of any employer wish
ing to get along on a $3.50 basis
with his employees. Time and
again grievances arose which we
we're unable to settle although Mr..
Koch admitted that our requests
we're in line with the present La
Dor Agreement.
This year, in accordance with
the provisions of the Taft-Hartley
Act, we advised Management that
we wished to negotiate certain
changes in the present labor
Agreement. We also asked for a
substantial wage increase. Man
agement following its right under
the same Taft-Hartley Act, noti-
fled us that they were terminal
ing the present contract and
wished to negotiate an entirely
new contract. The provisions con-
tanned in the Company's proposals
not only would have destroyed the
union as functioning body but
would have made them financial
ly liable to the courts in the event
an individual took it upon himself
to violate the contract. We we're
willing to accept our responsible
ity under a clause of this type,
however, we were not willing to
be liable for the actions of each
and every individual.
The union, of course, pointed
out to management the vicious
clauses contained in their propos-
ais and took a firm stand that in
the event Management persisted
in their present method of nego-
tiations we had no alternative but
to also take a firm stand. The ex-
piration date of the contract was
drawing nearer and in many Last
minute attempts the Union re
quested the Company to continue
the present Agreement with a 10c
per hour increase.
1t must be pointed out also that
this 10c per hour increase request
ed by the Union would not nearly
make up the gap between like in
dustries in the area. The Celotex
Company has always been the low
est paid plant of this type in the
area embodied by District Coun
Gil No. 9. When May l came along,
the Union had no alternative but
to strike in view of the fact that
Management had terminated the
contract.
After 7 weeks of strike, Mr..
Koch and Mr.. Jack Swisher, the
admitted authors of the Com
pany's proposals, separated their
employment with the Celotex Cor
poration. For the past 20 weeks
we have attempted in every shape
and form to get the Company to
agree to contract which we
could work under. Because the
clauses contained in their propos-
ais gave the Company the power
of debating to the Union mem
bers, the Union then was placed
in a position of not being able to
accept the Company's proposals
because the Union would not have
been able to protest, through the
grievance procedure, any decisions
made by Management in regards
to seniority, working conditions,
shift changes, etc.
Although the Company did Of
fer Pension Plan, the Union did
not feel that it was adequate, con-
sequently, this too was the cause
Of delaying settlement of the
strike. The Pension Plan had and
still has provisions which would
allow Management to amend,
modify or abrogate it at any time
and consequently we felt that it
was not placing our people in a
fair position in the event they
were pensioned off.
In recent meeting, Manage
ment finally relented to the ex-
tent that certain clauses were
agreed upon which now made it
possible for us to accept the
Agreement. We had asked these.
changes before the strike ever oc-
Cured but 20 weeks went by be-
fore Management granted them
to us.
We did not want the strike but
if ever a strike was forced upon
group of working men it GER
tainly was this one.
Now that the strike is over we
hope both Management and our
nannla will pn out of their WaY to