Show Will bill Steel Workers Strike Strife e With steel negotiations looming looming looming loom loom- ing both the United Steelworkers Steelworkers Steelworkers Steel- Steel workers and the top manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers manu manu- are flexing their muscles in a wa way that suggests suggests suggests sug sug- the probability of a bitter and prolonged strike In fact those closest to the relations labor-relations scene still believe beI be- be 1 I lieve it will be impossible to reach a settlement without a real showdown in spite of wavering business an uncomfortably uncomfortably uncomfortably un un- un- un comfortably high level of unemployment unemployment unemployment un un- un- un employment and uncertainty as to domestic and international international international prospects BIGWIGS of the s eel companies companies companies com com- are so sure they face facea a considerable le battle that they are amassing facts and figures with which they hope to make a case against the anticipated huge demands from the union un Im- un- un ion Even though they feat feal labor representatives w will i 11 not be easy to impress they writ win present statistics indicating indicating ing that Steelworkers are al already already already al- al ready among the highest paM paH in the nation on average while steel profits are currently among the low low- est On the other hand negotiators tors of the United Steelworkers Steelwork Steelwork- ers are going to press for gains that do not take into consideration the uneasy position of the major steel companies in today's high- high cost economy Recently the union concluded term strike mating contracts with leading leading leading lead lead- ing can manufacturers given workers pay hikes hike averaging about an hour over the year three-year span of oC the agreement agree agree- ment ALSO WON were more liberal liberal liberal lib lib- lib lib- eral early retire retire- ment meat in some sonic instances where an age and number number number num num- ber of years of service total seventy and extra pay raises if prices soar above certain index levels In aluminum and nonferrous rous metals-as metals well as in the steel union intends to hold out for gains gams at least as ample as those secured from the can companies Itis It Itis Itis is estimated that the overall overall overall over over- all price tag to ensure settlement settlement settlement settle settle- ment without a work stoppage would be 32 percent or more for the three years plus a substantial roster of fringes NOT EVEN the job scarcity scarcity scarcity scar scar- city in most sections of the country and in many important important important im im- industries appears to have any quieting effect on the workers There is in fact a particularly strong voice among union members for brisk increases in basic wage rates fringe benefits and job concessions This was clearly demonstrated demonstrated demon demon- recently when the generous can settlement provisions provisions provisions pro pro- visions were presented to lo local local local lo- lo cal union presidents for ratification rat rat- Instead of a swift and enthusiastic approval there was griping in many quarters claims that better terms could have have and and should have-been have attained This was obviously a reflection of the dissatisfaction among union members themselves THERE IS one interesting feature of the upcoming steel bargaining sessions that is seldom emphasized Namely that approximately 70 percent of the unions union's members in basic steel have never ac ac- ac- ac taken part in a large- large scale wa walkout The last big strike in steel took place inthe in inthe inthe the winter of 1960 1959 lasting lasting lasting last last- ing for between three and four months are well weB aware of the agonies agoni s' s of of r 4 monetary losses when fhe e f factories fac factories fac- fac tories are closed down something something something some some- thing the younger element does not know This change toward a dominance dominance dominance dom dom- of younger Workers will have its impact on the situation this summer With the cost of living still on the ascendancy most workers work work- ers supporting expanding families families families fam fam- feel the need for im im- proved incomes and they are willing to risk a strike to this goal KEEP IN mind too that there are far more young officials officials officials of of- within the union than w case a decade ago n Reflecting ting a more daring spirit than might be found among the more seasoned union leaders especially for fora a time when business is still faltering No administrative jawboning ing will cool the zeal of the rank and file Even imposition of wage-price wage controls would undoubtedly bring about more defiance than co |