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Show FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1945 i f 1t 5 ! v i ;4 1 1 A l n -5 , 1 t ,x -i v t, THE AMERICAN FORK CITIZEN ? ' i nnnnn n nnnnn r i rrH2 n f C3 Of me DO abides .'.by- its jfedg ed nord, giuei iilyJas! spring QUESTION: What would be the general effect on the country of a steel strike? ANSWER: Over 40 per cent of all the factory workers in the country earn their living by making steel into useful products for American life. A shut-down of the steel industry would be a disastrous blow to reconversion recon-version and would cause a serious loss in both wages and industrial production at a time when they were most needed. capriciously or pressed here for bargaining purposes. It represents the considered view of the Union that only such a term will adequately serve the needs of stability." QUESTION: Is it true that the Steelworkers Union has pledged itself not to strike? ANSWER: Yes Every contract which the Union has signed this year with the various steel companies,has a clause wherein the Union agrees not to strike during the life of the contract. QUESTION: Did the recent strike vote violate the contracts? ANSWER: No. Only an actual strike would violate them. , .... QUESTION: Are those contracts still in effect? ANSWER Yes. They were signed in the spring of 1945 to run until October, 1946. QUESTION: Haven't there been strikes already during the life of the contracts? "" ANSWER: Yes. There were 998 strikes in steel plants during the past year alone. They were mostly local strikes which the Union characterizes character-izes as "wildcat," but they meant a big loss in production. QUESTION: Who signed for the Union? ANSWER: Its international officials Phillip Murray, Van Bittner, Clinton Golden and others and the local Union heads at the various plants. QUESTION: Does the end of the war justify changing the contracts? ANSWER: No. The bond was sealed on both sides and should be kept whether times be good or bad. The steel companies are continuing to live up to these agreements. If a strike is called, it will be in clear violation of the existing contracts. QUESTION: Is there no "escape clause" by which either side could end the agreements? ANSWER: No. The Union demanded a fixed, long-term contract and got it. V V V QUESTION: Why did they want a long-term contract? ' ANSWER: In the Union's own words before the War Labor Board, "The Union's request for a termination date of October, ,1946,.. is .not made A STRIKE IN THE FACE OF EXISTING CONTRACTS WOULD SHATTER ANY CONFIDENCE IN THE VALIDITY OF UNION AGREEMENTS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY. r AnerieaB 0 iroim and Jkd Dnsfifnfe 350 Fifth Avenue, New York 1, N. Y. OUR COMPANY M JERS EMPLOY 95 PERCENT OF THE WORKERS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER u j I I 1 |