Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1954-02-12
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STEVE J. NovAK, PRES.
LOCAL 4o7, ,UAW-ClO


Due to the different stories
heard both in the plant and out,
we will explain the circumstances
regarding the recent lay offs
which concerned some handicapp-
ed people. At the same time per-
haps we should congratulate those
who have been throwing around
the leading and most disturbing
quetsions. People who should have
known the answers because OF
their past experience have done a
great job Of stirring up unfavor-
able talk.
The contract between Company
and Union clearly states as fol-
lows: "Any handicapped employee
not able to handle job require
ments will be placed on a job
Jointly agreed to by the manage
ment and the local Shop Commit
tee.
When so placed this employee
will be by7passed in any shuttle
due to a cut-back.
Any employee who is unable
to perform the work assigned
shall have his case reviewed by
representative of the Company
and the Union and if it is de-
termined that no suitable work
is available the employee shall be
laid off until such times as job
arises that he is capable of do
ing"
Our union fought long and hard
for people who come under this
clause. But there are persons who
just cannot leave good thing
alone. They began tosting this
clause back and forth in idle talk
with plenty of criticism but no
constructive suggestions. So natur-
ally the workers who are covered
by the clause became the target
when jobs began to disappear
around us.
We are all aware that the Com
pany was forced to cut their bud
get drastically because of the
stoppage and delaying Of orders
by customers who buy and need
our products for their own pro-
duction. When the Company start
ed cutting back help, they began
eliminating jobs which they con-
slider extra burdens. Some of these
cut-backs included jobs which
handicapped people were success
fully doing. Therefore, few suit
able jobs were available and some
of these people were laid off un-
til such time job becomes avail
able that he or she is capable OF
doing.
However, there have been cases
when a person with more seniority
has stepped aside to make that
work available for a handicapped
person. This was done voluntarily
Awhile back, John YuriSta vol
unfairly gave up his job to per-
son who was unable to do other
work. John, in doing this, accepted
other work with cut in pay. He
did this ON his own, because he
thought it was the right thing to
do. You can see why we consider
John such a fine example of one
worker unselfishly helping anoth-
er and making it possible for that
person to remain ON the job.
There are few cases when
person might actually suffer hard
ship if he gave up his job to a
handicapped person. That is why
we must not be quick to criticise
when we do not know all the facts
in a situation.
1t must be understood that suit
able jobs must become available
voluntarily or due to a cut-back
in line of seniority. Then and then
only can these people be placed
on the jobs they can do.
In identical kilograms to the
Attorney General and the Secre-
taries of State and Labor, CIO Pre-
Sident Reuther protested against
what he called IAN attempt to rush
Congress into the passage of leg
islation that would continue TO
entice Mexican farm laborers into
this country without the consent
of their government and at time
when thousands of u. S. farm
workers are unemployed and
available for work"
Josephine Hyde is a patient at
Magruder Hospital this week, suf-
fering from injuries as result of
a fall. Our very best wishes for
a quick recovery!
4
Can Your Employer
Pass This Test?
In the (Ancient Egyptain) Book
Of the Dead we read that in order
to merit forgiveness, the just EN-
ployer had to be able to say:
II have caused no one fear" OF
Misery through lack of job.