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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT Nonferrous Men Appeal 25c Award The two-bit award of the Nonferrous Metals Commission to the Mine, Mill & Smelter Work- ers fails by a wide margin to bring wages in the industry up to parity with rates in other basic industries and consequently will be appealed to the National War Labor Board. The nonferrous workers demanded increases ranging from $1.30 to $2.30 a day together with other contract modifications liberalizing sick benefits, vacations, physical examinations and other features, as well as inter-area pay adjustments. The wage conference put special emphasis on adherence to its No-Strike Pledge for the duration of the war. The International Officers were instructed by resolution, and in consultation with local unions affected to make the appeal. reads: Whereas: The Nonferrous The resolution Metals Commis- sion issued a Directive Order in the Utah, Eastern Nevada, Hailey, Idaho, and Empire Zinc cases as of January 15, 1944, which decision tends to es- tablish a pattern for all our future cases arising in the eleven Western States, and (2) The amount of the wage increase granted as premium pay for shift work is wholly inadequate to compensate for the substantial increase in living costs to the workers involved, and (3) The War Effort as affected by the morale and welfare of the workers in this vital industry requires that the Federal Government give more serious consideration to the wage demands of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, and (4) The Commission consideration has not given proper to our cases, in view of the fact that no effort was made to equalize wages within the nonferrous industry or with other vital industries, and (5) The entire membership of the Congress of Industrial Organizations is faced with similar problems, and steps are now being taken by most of the major unions within CIO to bring about modification of the so-called Little Steel Formula, and (6) Organized labor realizes that strikes and stoppages of production delay final decision by the War Labor Board, jeopardize Labor’s entire position in the nation, and impedes the suc: cessful prosecution of the war. Now therefore be it resolved that we hereby instruct our International Officers to carry out an appeal from this decision by the Commission in the above mentioned cases utilizing all arguments necessary to make an effective appeal. If in each subsequent case there are similar factors present, an appeal shall be taken, but only after consultation of the local unions involved as to, (1) the advisability of making the appeal and (2) the basis for such an appeal, and Be it finally resolved that we reaffirm in no uncertain terms our no-strike pledge to the Commander and Chief. Propaganda Drive Under Way (Continued from preceding page) supported by the daily press—objectives that even outweigh its need for special doctoring of “labor” news. Those concerns are even more interested in stopping the onward march of the common people toward a more equitable division of the fruits of industry and commerce. For instance, the net profit of Utah Copper Company runs between three and four dollars for every dollar in wages it pays to its employees. Utah Copper wants to preserve or increase that ratio of profits to wages. Consequently it aligns itself with the most reac- tionary, predatory elements in the political arena to break up or thwart legislation and_ political activities that will strengthen the hand of its employees in collective bargaining and related matters. Utah Copper knows that the demands of its workers will tend toward a wage basis of a dollar in wages for every dollar in net profits. And quite naturally, it participates in the propaganda drive directed against labor unions to defeat such a program. Editor’s note: The above article was prepared in two parts. The second part will appear in the issue of February 4th. |