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Story
September 28, 1942
The Cio News
Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland
What is this article about?
The U.S. Department of Labor intervenes in stalled contract negotiations between the CIO Office & Professional Workers union and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in New York. Union accuses company of bad faith bargaining over wages, grievances, and union shop amid rising living costs and war efforts.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
U. S. Enters Case as Met Life Balks
New York, Sept. 26—The Dept. of Labor today dispatched a federal conciliator to meet with representatives of the CIO Office & Professional Workers and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., world's largest, as contract negotiations were halted by the firm's refusal to talk turkey with the union.
"We are firmly convinced that the Metropolitan officials are not bargaining in good faith," declared Roy Whitman, local president, "and we offer as evidence the fact that they have continued to deny any increase whatsoever to the men despite the fact that the cost of living has gone up so sharply.
"The company refuses to agree to any form of grievance machinery or arbitration machinery that would protect the men's jobs; and the company refuses to consider any form of union shop."
Metropolitan is an old hand at resisting union efforts for recognition. During a five-year period the UOPWA has won two elections among New York agents of the company and sought repeatedly to get a contract. Last July the company withdrew its theoretical resistance to an agreement, but still fights it out on practical details.
Meanwhile the union received a turn-down on its proposal for joint labor-management production councils. The offer was made to spur sale of insurance, which the local said would help curb inflation and thus benefit the war effort.
New York, Sept. 26—The Dept. of Labor today dispatched a federal conciliator to meet with representatives of the CIO Office & Professional Workers and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., world's largest, as contract negotiations were halted by the firm's refusal to talk turkey with the union.
"We are firmly convinced that the Metropolitan officials are not bargaining in good faith," declared Roy Whitman, local president, "and we offer as evidence the fact that they have continued to deny any increase whatsoever to the men despite the fact that the cost of living has gone up so sharply.
"The company refuses to agree to any form of grievance machinery or arbitration machinery that would protect the men's jobs; and the company refuses to consider any form of union shop."
Metropolitan is an old hand at resisting union efforts for recognition. During a five-year period the UOPWA has won two elections among New York agents of the company and sought repeatedly to get a contract. Last July the company withdrew its theoretical resistance to an agreement, but still fights it out on practical details.
Meanwhile the union received a turn-down on its proposal for joint labor-management production councils. The offer was made to spur sale of insurance, which the local said would help curb inflation and thus benefit the war effort.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Deception
What keywords are associated?
Labor Dispute
Union Negotiation
Bad Faith Bargaining
Metropolitan Life
Cio Union
Federal Intervention
What entities or persons were involved?
Roy Whitman
Cio Office & Professional Workers
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
Where did it happen?
New York
Story Details
Key Persons
Roy Whitman
Cio Office & Professional Workers
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
Location
New York
Event Date
Sept. 26
Story Details
Federal conciliator dispatched to stalled negotiations; union accuses company of bad faith over wages, grievances, union shop; company resists despite past elections won by union; proposal for joint councils rejected to aid war effort.