The Daily Record

Union Vote Set For Sept. 15

The CIO Textile Workers Union of America, issued a challenge to the UTW-AFL, declaring that the UTW-AFL, after asking for an election, is afraid to agree to it at the Erwin Mills in Erwin.

Following a request for representation election by petition of the UTW-AFL, the NLRB conducted a representation hearing at Durham, N. C.., on July 22, 1952. Several days ago, UTW-AFL issued news releases, claiming that the CIO was stalling in refusing to agree to an early election at the Erwin Mills.

In reply to this, TWUA, CIO sent the following letter to the AFL:

DERNONCOURT LETTER

Mr. Lewis M. Conn
Acting N. C. Director
UTW-AFL
Greensboro, N. C.

Dear Sir:

You and your organization, UTW-AFL have illegally' taken possession of money. books, and records belonging to Local 250, TWUA-CIO. By taking these records, you have hurt the Erwin workers in handling and settling their grievances. You know these records belong to Local 250. TWUA-CIO. You are afraid of a showdown, therefore you are deliberately stalling to keep the case for recovery from coming up in court.

On top of all this, you have been spreading propaganda, asking for an election in the interests of the Erwin workers. We know you didn't want an election. You were putting out this propaganda to further your own treacherous activities.

We are calling your bluff. We are offering an election in the Erwin Mills, local 250, Erwin, N. C., on Sept. 15, the election to be handled by the NLRB. Either put up or shut up. If you agree to the election, say so. Don't try complicating matters. The hours of voting. and other such details can be worked out with the NLRB, after you agree to the election. The matter is very simple. Your bluff has been called. Do you agree to an election at Erwin Local 250 on Sept. 15 or not?

Yours very truly,

Wayne L. Dernoncourt
Assistant State Director
Textile Workers Union,
CIO.

CIO CONSENTS

Included with this letter was an NLRB consent election form which specified CIO Unions agreement to hold an election at the Erwin Mills, Erwin, N. C. on Sept. 15, 1952.

Wayne L. Dernoncourt, Assistant State Director of the Textile Workers Union, CIO. stated that the NLRB was ready to hold this election at the Erwin Mills on Sept. 15. The only other party involved was the company and he stated, "I have no doubt whatsoever that the Erwin Mills Co. will agree to such an election. The election at Erwin now depends on the UTW-AFL. They were demanding an election. We called their bluff and offer them an election at the Erwin Mills in Erwin, N. C. on Sept
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Union Vote
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15, 1952. The UTW-AFL refuses to agree. They refuse because the AFL doesn't stand a chance."
WEST REPLIES
J. Thomas West, representative of the UTW-AFL in Erwin. charged that the CIO group had "jumped the gun" on the election issue by failing to notify his organization and wait for their reply before charging them with unwillingness to have the election.
"Of course we want the election." West said, "that's what we've been asking for all the time. If anyone has been stalling on this issue, it is the TWUA and not the UTW."
West revealed today that he had signed an agreement for the elections. but added. "I have included the mills in Durham and Cooleemee because we want the vote to cover the entire chain and not just the mills here in Erwin."
"We could hardly refuse to agree to a proposition we had not been informed of." West said. "so of course, the charge that we did refuse was nonsense." He said he signed the consent form as soon as he had received the letter.
West released the text of his letter of reply to Wayne Demoncourt of the TWUA-CIO in Greensboro. The letter reads.
"As the authorized representative for the UTW-AFL. I have signed the consent election form sent to me by your representative. Scott Hoyman. I have taken the liberty of including the Erwin Mills plants in Durham and Cooleemee in the agreement. feeling that your oversight in not including them the present contract expires which possibly leave the workers in those plants without contracts.
"Your organization has claimed that it does not wish to split up the plants in the chain and that you desire immediate elections in all three places. Therefore you can have no objection to including them in this agreement.
"The NLRB has indicated that all three elections can be held on the same date. We will meet with you and officials of the NLRB at any time and place to work out all details for the elections.
"I have sent one fully executed copy of the consent form to the NLRB in Winston-Salem, I will present the remaining copies to the Erwin Mills Inc., for their signatures." Signed Thomas West. UTW representative.
"That should do it." West commented. "The elections should be over in plenty of time for the union selected as bargaining agent to negotiate a new contract before the present contract expires, which was what we have been fighting for."