Show BUSINESS I I FUTURE OF STRIKE NO UNION PACTS On the surface at least a no no- strike labor contract would seem to be highly desirable for Cor both the union and the em em- Its formula is basically simple Workers stay on the job during negotiations and mediation if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement on all the issues the differences go to final and binding ar ar- Supporters of such pacts cite the stability that they ensure in labor relations and employment employment em em- the money money they sa save e. e for the workers as well as the companies Involved the prevention of inventory buildup as a hedge against a possible prolonged walkout DISPUTE IN THE TIIE STEEL INDUSTRY The best modern example of oC a strike no-strike union contract is in the steel industry The United Steelworkers Union and th the nations nation's largest steel makers signed an experimental l negotiating agreement in 1974 that prohibited work stoppages President I I. I W Abel of the Steelworkers c considers considers con con- siders this accomplishment one one of the high points of his his' union leadership The first contra contract t settlement in 1974 was reached without recourse recourse to the arbitration ar ar arbitration r- r provision which Ab Abel considered an immediate feather in his cap Next year however Abel willbe willbe will willbe be quitting his rus stewardship because of the retirement ment age of 65 in that union and there is every indi indication that the the no- no no-f no strike pact will be a bone of oC sharp contention d during ring the election of a new president of oC the Steelworkers Even Eyen tho though gh the top men men in bot both lab labor r and management got along well well with this type of agreement it isnow is is now more than evident that there has been a rebellion brewing among among the the rank and file Steelworkers against Abels Abel's brainchild And the issue will bea be a crucial one in the upcoming p o ning 1977 battle between Abels Abel's mana J LlOrd Lloyd McBrid deia 1 arid d his rival t rJ u uither ither h pL e Steelworkers Ed 9 9 f v. v I 1 T r WHERE THEY TilEY STAND Echoing th the opinion of outgoing President Abel McBride McBride McBride Mc- Mc Bride wants a continuation of the strike no-strike provision when Big Steels Steel's contracts run out in 1977 Since the Steelworkers is the largest of oC the Federations Federation's unions McBrides McBride's success at atthe atthe atthe the polls next year would set a pattern that might well be followed labor groups It is pointed out that the no no- strike binding binding arbitration arbitration formula is not exactly a novelty having been used by bythe bythe bythe the Knights of Labor shortly after the turn of the century Also many public service employees are currently covered by such agreements and nd lately they have been moving into the aviation field McBride stresses that the no- no strike pacts avoid layoffs furloughs and even permanent job cuts where markets lost during walkouts are not recovered afterward On the other side is who is firmly against continuing the 1974 pact that Abel negotiated And he is supported in his stand by a surprising number of both industry industry industry in in- and labor leaders many of whom see the Abel strike no-strike blueprint as a possible beginning beginning begin begin- ning rung of the end for genuine collective bargaining Opponents among artong the unions see strike no-strike compacts as a threat to healthy leverage at bargaining tables they fear that employer representatives will let wage disputes go to arbitration in the hope that unbiased referees will award less money than would be won by striking In addition they seel all bargaining power being placed in the hands of union bigwigs instead of oC being democratically held by the rank and file as usual WATCH I TUB TIIE 1977 1911 TREND Prospects for the further spread of oC strike no-strike agreements will be made clearer in 1977 McBrides McBride's election as head of oC the Steelworkers would give the formula a definite boost since the rebels under would be at least temporarily stalled Keep an eye too on the success or failure of oC the no- no strike pattern in the aviation Industry for Cor a tip-off tip on the future of oC this arguable concept |