The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-07-09
An Unusual Experiment

Two wears ago this summer when the CIO Steel
workers signed a contract ending long strike with
US Steel they staged little love feast to cele-
brate the occasion Much to eVerybOdys surprise,
one of the high officials OF the Corporation showed
up at the party in a Washington hotel the guest
of honor He and the late Philip Murray, IN an
unprecedented display of good fellowship, patted
one another on the back and promised TO let by
cones be bygones. They talked in glowing terms
about the dawn of a era In labormanagement
relations IN the steel industry
This was not mere formaty empty
gesture AS an earnest gesture Of their sincerity,
they announced TO the startled members Of the
union negotiating c0mmittee-and to the stu more
incredulous representatives OF the daily press--that
together they would tour the major factories and
mills Of the Us Steel Corporation TO preach the
gospel OF lsbor-management cooperation to local
union officers and management representatives. I'm
fortunately Mr Murray died before the arrange
mentS ior this unusual experiment could be COM
pleted During recent months however, the new
President of the SteelwOrkerS, David D. Mcdonald
has been able TO follow through the idea He
and Beniamin Fairless, accompanied by members
of then respective stafis have visited most Of the
installations in which the union and the corpora
ton have contractuai relations. FairesS and Melon
aid are practical men not staTry-eyed ldeallStS
From the very outset they made ii clear IN their
publicity releases that they did not expect TO work
any miracles by means Of this unprecedented pub
lie demonstration OF mutual confidence and good
will They looked upon II merely as step IN the
right direction and we're quite prepared to admit
that it might be long time before its results, IN
terms OF electromagnetic relations, would be
come apparent.
The recent settlement between the Steelworkers
and the U.S Steel may be indication, however, that
the experiment is already beginning to pay off
The settlement itself is less important really than
the spirit Of mutual respect which characterized
the preliminary negotiations The talks were con
Quoted in peaceful atmosphere with both sides
relying principally on persuasion ard good sense
This spirit was reflected IN practical way ~ a lit
te-notced hy.product Of the CONTRACT de
cision by the Corporation and the union 10 hold
quarterly meetings To discuss mutual problems un-
related 10 wages or day.to.day grievances One aim
of the meetings will be joint exploration OF ways
10 cut production costs, increase efficiency, and
promote the welfare and security Of the company
and its workers This Is further step IN the right
direction and would seem 10 be fully in accord
with the traditional Catholic emphasis on the i'm
portance OF doing beyond the limits of collective
bargaining into a broader system OF l9bormanage
ment cooperation
One swallow doesn't make summer and one
unexpected period Of peaceful laboi-management
relations in the steel industry doesn't mean that
we have arrived al the millennium. Nevertheless It
IS only fair to extend word Of congratulations
to Mcdonald and Farless and their associates for
an example Of craftsmanship at a time when it
was badly needed.