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Show i I I A Special Report on the Copper Strike j Aware that the people of Utah are vitally concerned with the nation- wide strike by unions against the copper industry, the Industrial Relations Council of Utah makes public the following report in the ( hope that fruitful negotiations can be resumed immediately to end the strike: THE STRIKE AGAINST THE COPPER INDUSTRY We are satisfied that almost a11 those in the bargaining have long known that an offer that could easily be sold to the union membership Everywhere there are questions about the lack of negotiations in the could have been obtained EVEN WITHOUT THIS STRIKE if a copper strike. The damages to business, industry, and the working people nationwide contract had not been the undisclosed goal. Bargaining probes of this community have been far greater than the much cried over loss of and private talks with the mediators would disclose this fact to any skill-tax skill-tax revenue. ful bargaining representative. These men are not beginners. They well Local union leaders tell us stories that cross check closely. None of understand how to learn approximately what can be achieved, these men is willing to be quoted, but many of them deplore the strike Until the international union officers are willing to permit acceptance and the reasons for it. This is what we hear: of an offer, none of the companies can shorten this strike by making a International officers of the Steelworkers have been in complete final or a better offer. This is the reason nobody wants to meet and the control ever since that union merged with Mine-Mill and persuaded the reason mediators do not call for meetings. small unions to go along with a united front against ALL COPPER Rank and file union members are not supposed to learn that they COMPANIES. have lost MANY WEEKS of work and income NEEDLESSLY. The Local union bargaining teams have had no authority to make any union members and the public are to be told over and over that the strikers settlement. They are only puppets on strings held by the men at the top. had to suffer all this hardship in order to get the companies to increase The men at the top want an industry-wide contract because this will give their offers. The unions absolutely refuse to budge until companies offer them greater control over future bargaining and over the smaller unions. more. They do this in order to lay the blame at the company door. The In fact, the big union may smother out the small ones and, in time, absorb real purpose is to hold up any settlement and keep the men on strike, their members. Industrywide bargaining makes it easier to service the The most vicious part of this whole scheme is the fact that the first contract. Less union agents are required. More union dues money can be ELEVEN or TWELVE WEEKS of this strike could all have been used to organize new workers or for political activity. avoided. Union leaders could have extended all contracts until now. The international union leaders think that they can get an industry They could have begun this strike at a time when it was possible for them . vrvT tuto u u., cuitt Tr-Anvr tutt to shut down the entire, indnstrv almost immediatplv. TnstrnH th rhr Contract IN I 1 1J.vi.Lj, n Lucy piuvc liiai uiy cciii jiiui juvmii iiil, - - , 1 . 7 y ENTIRE INDUSTRY THIS TIME. They will probably try to at least to get 37,000 men out of work on strike in JULY and then stall effective win common expiration dates this year. negotiations until OCTOBER or NOVEMBER. ...... , , c , i , t This may seem fantastic and cruel to you. You do not think like a Almost all the basic industry and refineries will have been struck by . 1 . ' , . ,. c .,, , , , , , Xf union leader thinks. How could those 37,000 union members, scattered October first. The last big refinery will be struck in November. Many ' ' , . . , . , , , , , ,, . i all over as they are and with years of practice in negotiating their own fabricating plants will have been brought into the picture by then. 1 ' r a & . terms, be persuaded to forego wage and benefit negotiations in the sum- At some time after October first, most insiders expect that the union mer and stHke for a national contract in the fal? Too many union mem. leaders who are calling the shots will be satisfied that they have proven befs and local ,eaders &re indoctrinated with tne idea the strike must their ability to shut down the entire industry. Only then will they allow in the summen effective bargaining. More likely, they w ill privately encourage cooper- R sheer nonsense t0 beIieve that any of c c6mpanes would want ating federal government officials to use the emergency provis.ons of the a str;ke; or that they want k extended for even one day longer than nec. Taft-Hartley Act to get the union members back to work for 80 days. essary The tQ the companies is staggering. The cost t0 the comrnunity That 80 day period will then cover any time needed to allow a few more ;s staggering The cost t0 the strikers is staggering. Only the Steelworker fabricating contracts to expire. Government ofi.c.als, including our Gov- Union & ;ntemationaI leveIs stand tQ gain by this ,Qng strike j ernor, are well aware of these objectives. We bdieve that mos of these facts are wen known to government Union leaders will protest and grumble about any return to work officials and to the Governor of Utah. You should know these facts so order. Such grumbling will be for the benefit of the public and for the tnat you Can properly evaluate this strike and the public statements that poor union member who is nothing but a pawn in this game for more are macJe and the actions taken by government officials. The strikers and union power. all who have lost because of this strike deserve our sympathy. NOBODY HAD TO LOSE. ' j I Yours truly, s Ross Thoresen Ross E. Thoresen . Manager Industrial Relations Council of Utah , i : J i ' ! ! I i , W3HD ,,: Big in Power... small in Cost! JJyoucanowntheideal Coch chain saw for r p woodcutting job or 1 '""tastie savings. Com-e Com-e with guide bar and """"Check and compare r"1 "n't find a betfer ""'-anywhere. i ' M,!'f suggested list price J S- S. Wood t Merc. 126 South Main sngille, Utah |