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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT 11 (2opper-Rail Strike (Continued from page 1) decree and ICC order has been declared a railroad. JXennecott Copper owns both the railroad company and Utah Copper. As soon as the Smith-Connally Reprisal act became law the over-brilliant Stannard thought he could switeh his Bingham & Gar- field rail workers over to the status of Copper workers, thereby cutting down the rail retirement benefits to regular social security standards. It would cost Kennecott 1% instead of 314%. Stannard thought the men were hog-tied by the Smith-Connally act and that he could do as he pleased with them—that it would be a wonderful opportunity to whittle that 344% down to 1%. Stannard was certain the Federal Government would hold the men by their throats while he worked them over. He was among the first of predatory individuals and corporations to take advantage of the S-C Reprisal act. But Stannard made a poor guess. Instead of threatening the striking conductors, a top Army General told Mr. Stannard off in no uncertain terms. The Copper Duce immediately got off his high horse and instructed his local hatchet man, Doug Moffat, to pull down the notices that precipitated the strike, and thereafter behave himself. The retirement benefits were restored to the rail workers. Iiven though it was fixed for only one side, the Smith-Connally Reprisal Act ought to work two ways. Why not try to indict Stannard and Moffat on charges of inciting a strike and obstructing the war effort? It might provide a wholesome lesson for some of our pillaging overlords. Decision Protects-(Continued from page 2) ed; would have been unable to gain their own bargaining unit; and would have had less of a case before the Utah Labor Relations Board, and elsewhere. A summary of developments to date shows that the AFL has appealed the decision of ULRB to the State Supreme Court, and also has asked for a restraining order staying the operation of the Board’s order. As press the the question. Court is in hearing on we go to Meanwhile the strike at Geneva brought the War Labor Board into the picture. It has accepted jurisdiction and has directed that an inquiry be made — before it proceeds to a hearing. 'The Utah Board has indicated that it will tolerate no interference within its jurisdiction by the National War Labor Board. ‘To complicate matters the Board will hear a complaint August 2nd by the Welders organization charging the Koppers Company with unfair labor practices for refusing to bargain with the Welders. The various legal steps, with inevitable delays, may furnish a practical ‘‘out’’ from a troublesome and complhieated situation. The delays incident to legal actions and administrative hearings may keep construction work at Geneva moving along uninterruptedly toward completion by the end of the year. The one certain loser in the long run will be the welders. Welding in construction jobs is essentially a craft building job, a field dominated by the Building Trades Department of the AFL. If construction welders are to work they’ must work with AFL crafts. Under the circumstances a workable arrangement with the AFL is their best solution. Certainly an international setup of construction welders, hostile to the AFL ean win nothing and may lose much. The come great gain for all workers out of the controversy of choice in bargaining is a new matters. that will freedom Commission- ers Royle, Wiesley, and Dalrymple, are to be congratulated on elarifying and _ enforcing Utah’s little Wagner Act. It's Time For a Wreath Didn’t we hear a lot of noise and claims for eredit about that $1 a day increase the Company Union was supposed to have won for certain Copper workers? \Didn’t the dailies play up the blah and laud the Snipe Hunters? Well, where’s the dollar? Is anybody getting it? The truth of the matter is that the ClO put enough pressure on to get a report out of Judge Schiller, who was acting as referee. Hizzoner recommended the dollar pay boost. But it’s a recommendation only. No (Continued on page 12) |