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Show STEELWOMKEMSs This is the Companies' 15$ Offer! Your Union Turned it Down T , Companies' Offer Flexible their members shaU continue, year after year, to take mora -Ln response to President Eisenhower's urgent request JJ out 0f the business than they put into the business, for an immediate non-inflationary settlement through the In the bargaining sessions, the Companies pointed out voluntary processes of free collective bargaining, the Steel that the offer of a two-year 15-cents-an-hour package ol The Companies, on the other hand, have Companies have done two things: improved benefits and wages was purposely stated in from the outset of the negotiations had one First they have made a specific 15-cents-an- terms which would provide riiaximum flexibihty in arriv- consistent objective: To obtain a settlement that , , . ,. , - . , ing at the distribution of this sum as between wages and would not result in an increase in their produc- hour package offer providing for increased , , , . - . . benefits, so as to give the greatest possible satisfaction to tion costs over the term of the new agreement, wages and benefits over the period ol a two- the employees: It wa8 also pointed out that the Companies That is the only nd of settlement that would ,year agreement. were entirely willing to consider alternate benefits should not haye 3 consequences. Second, they have scaled down to an irreduc- the immediate effect of improved insurance benefits upon ... A i take-home pay present problems that would preclude the It is the only kind of settlement that would help pre- lble minimum their requests for improvements . , A , , , ., ' J , , , . , , arrival at a settlement of the strike. serve for the steelworkers, and for every American, the in contract language, adhering only to those , ... . . . ,M . . . . n,j rpi , . 1 . . a j. value of their earnings, savings and pensions and would rhanp-es that would Harlv nnpratp in thp lnne-- They also pomted out that this offer to mcrease em- ' Changes that would clearly operate in the long- ployment costs bv 2 percent per vear represents the maii- enable Companies to compete more effectively with range interests of the steelworkers themselves. r J y . , .. 1 foreign steel and other competing materials, thus increaa- mum that can be undertaken at this time without result- 6 & r ing in an inflationary increase in production costs. ing output and employment. Details OJ the Offer It is the only kind of settlement that would serve the jrr j-v 7 itf j n best interests of the entire nation. Specifically, the Companies offered to improve the Union UemaJlOS More Inflation pension, insurance, and supplemental unemployment ben- rwi o. 1 ? tj'. The Union leaders on the other hand persist in their 1 tie Steel LompanWS fOSltlOn efit programs m the first year of a two-year agreement, - 1 . . , . , . . , , demands for highly inflationary wage and benefit in- and to mcrease wage rates at the beginning of the second ' , To sum up the situation as it stands today, therefore, . , , . i f 1 . . , creases; and proposed a settlement that would call for year by amounts ranging from 6 cents for the lowest job omTo ' t w u an the Companies want to make their position crystal clear: class to 12 cents for the highest job class - the total pack- employment cost increases that could amount to 60 or P ' age to increase the Companies' employment costs by 15 mre Cents ?er W 0ver a three-year P" The "" ' f . . ij , , . ence between the 20 or more cents an hour increased cost operations. cents per man-hour worked, or about 2 percent per year of total employment costs which, before the strike, ?er year f the Union'S ProPosal the 7 cent annual rftey do not want their employees to lose wnges and amounted to $3.70 per hour. increased cost of the Companies' offer would be sheer infla- employment because of a continued shutdown. ' tion and must be recognized as such. ' . , . i a j e CUU,ou- They have not sought Government intervention in any As a part of this offer to mcrease wages and benefits, the Companies called upon the Union to join in working Any such increase in steelmaking costs would form: but have exhausted every effort to secure a out mutually satisfactory amendments to the prior basic further injure the competitive position of the voluntary settlement that would be in the best interest labor agreements in four general areas. The purpose of American steel industry in markets both at f these amendments would be: home and abroad and would endanger the job "0t undermine or destroy the 1. To continue payment of the 17-cents-per- security of American steelworkers. Similarly ' , ... pm , - TT . . . . . They do not seek to take away the basic rights of any hour cost-of-living adjustment which was in anv failure on the part of the Union to join in effect at the expiration of the prior labor agree- writing an agreement which will provide rea- emp yee ments; but to eliminate provisions for future sonably for the more efficient operation of the , f n0 toZ ... , , , ,. , . , ,, local work practices without employee recourse to griev- changes either up or down. nulls can only work to the disadvantage of the piocedme ubitraiklL , , , . . , , members of the Union and of the American , , ' , , 2. 10 enable management to take reasonable , . , They do want to make a reasonable settlement and to steps to eliminate waste and to improve effi- " live with the Union and its members in peace and harmony, ciency; but to protect and preserve the right of 'Leadm Prolong Deadlock But they are not willing to buy peace at the employees to resort to grievance and arbitra- & price of maMng agrements which will con- tion procedure under which management would The Union's rejection of the Companies' offer-coming tinue to pr0m0te inflation and which will pre- be required to justify fully the reasonableness as it does on the heels of President Eisenhower's appeal yent them from tak;ng reasonable steps to im- of its actions. a voluntary, non-inflationary settlement, clearly re- .. , . , . , j, j prove the efficiency of their businesses, veals the Union leadership s responsibility for the con- 3. To permit flexibility in the scheduling of deadlock. So long as the Union insists on wage and benefit in-work in-work to conform reasonably with the require- tt . creases of inflationary proportions, and refuses to deal . I, . Throughout the negotiations the Union leaders have ments Ol the DUSiness. . . , , . . . , , . , ... reasonably with the problems arising out 0 some of the insisted upon an inflationary, something-for-nothmg t t t 11 b -bl 4. To deter wildcat strikes by permitting the settlement. They have offered nothing whatever in ex- contract provisions, no agreement wi e possi e. discharge of any employee engaging in such change for the increased wages and benefits they seek. One wonders when, if ever, the Union leaders will action and by clarifying the responsibility of They have resisted every effort to provide for increased recognize that the customers, the stockholders and the local unions in respect to wildcat Strikes occur- effidenC Perations throuh Pvement in the lan- public generally, as well as the steelworkers, are entitled ... . ., . . . .. A. guage of the former contracts. They have insisted that to fair treatment, ring within their jurisdiction. THE STEEL COMPANIES COORDINATING COMMITTEE 375 Lexington Avenue New York 17, New York Megheny Ludlum Steel Corporation Armco Steel Corporation Bethlehem Steel Company The Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation Great Lakes Steel Corporation Inland Steel Company Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation Kaiser Steel Corporation Republic Steel Corporation United States Steel Corporation Wheeling Steel Corporation The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. |