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Story
October 29, 1951
Trainman News
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
What is this article about?
The National Labor Relations Board ruled against Reed & Prince in Worcester, Mass., for bad faith bargaining with CIO Steelworkers union, citing a history of anti-union tactics since 1937, including strikes and court battles. The company was ordered to negotiate properly.
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Anti-Labor Firm Gets Deserving Rap From Board
WORCESTER, Mass.
The National Labor Relations Board in a recent ruling delivered a deserving rap behind the ears to Reed & Prince a firm that has been battling unionism for 15 years.
Charges of CIO Steelworkers that the company has not bargained in good faith were upheld by the board and it ordered the firm to do so.
In its ruling, the NLRB said the firm had made "a calculated effort to avoid reaching an agreement with the union while preserving the appearance of bargaining." It also cited the company's "rather unsavory labor relations history."
The plant was first organized by the Steel Workers Organizing Committee in 1937. The company forced a breakdown in negotiations, followed by a strike; got court injunctions, finally broke the strike. The NLRB found for the union, the firm fought all the way up to the Supreme Court, lost, finally signed a contract in 1941.
The local became dormant in 1945, but early in 1950 was reorganized, won an NLRB election 449 to 304, was certified July 20, 1950. It was six weeks before the firm met with union negotiators, and 13 meetings failed to bring any decent offers.
The local finally struck Jan. 2, 1951. The company went thru its old tricks again--a back-to-work movement, a unilateral raise, threats that the strikers would be replaced if they did not return.
Finally the union invoked a Massachusetts labor law, seldom used, a last-resort device to place the blame for a deadlock in an industrial dispute. The firm not only refused to attend the hearing, but tried by court action to block it. The state conciliation and arbitration board, after hearing testimony, blamed the company for the dispute.
When the local was revived in 1950 minimum rates were 87 cents below that at the local plant of American Steel & Wire. There was no social insurance, no paid holidays. Employes with up to 37 years' seniority had been laid off.
Twenty-six other locals of the Steelworkers have been founded in Worcester, and 20 others in nearby towns during the last 16 years.
Only Reed & Prince continues to battle the union. All the other locals have agreements.
WORCESTER, Mass.
The National Labor Relations Board in a recent ruling delivered a deserving rap behind the ears to Reed & Prince a firm that has been battling unionism for 15 years.
Charges of CIO Steelworkers that the company has not bargained in good faith were upheld by the board and it ordered the firm to do so.
In its ruling, the NLRB said the firm had made "a calculated effort to avoid reaching an agreement with the union while preserving the appearance of bargaining." It also cited the company's "rather unsavory labor relations history."
The plant was first organized by the Steel Workers Organizing Committee in 1937. The company forced a breakdown in negotiations, followed by a strike; got court injunctions, finally broke the strike. The NLRB found for the union, the firm fought all the way up to the Supreme Court, lost, finally signed a contract in 1941.
The local became dormant in 1945, but early in 1950 was reorganized, won an NLRB election 449 to 304, was certified July 20, 1950. It was six weeks before the firm met with union negotiators, and 13 meetings failed to bring any decent offers.
The local finally struck Jan. 2, 1951. The company went thru its old tricks again--a back-to-work movement, a unilateral raise, threats that the strikers would be replaced if they did not return.
Finally the union invoked a Massachusetts labor law, seldom used, a last-resort device to place the blame for a deadlock in an industrial dispute. The firm not only refused to attend the hearing, but tried by court action to block it. The state conciliation and arbitration board, after hearing testimony, blamed the company for the dispute.
When the local was revived in 1950 minimum rates were 87 cents below that at the local plant of American Steel & Wire. There was no social insurance, no paid holidays. Employes with up to 37 years' seniority had been laid off.
Twenty-six other locals of the Steelworkers have been founded in Worcester, and 20 others in nearby towns during the last 16 years.
Only Reed & Prince continues to battle the union. All the other locals have agreements.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Deception
What keywords are associated?
Labor Dispute
Union Organizing
Nlrb Ruling
Bad Faith Bargaining
Strike
Anti Union Tactics
What entities or persons were involved?
Reed & Prince
Cio Steelworkers
National Labor Relations Board
Steel Workers Organizing Committee
Where did it happen?
Worcester, Mass.
Story Details
Key Persons
Reed & Prince
Cio Steelworkers
National Labor Relations Board
Steel Workers Organizing Committee
Location
Worcester, Mass.
Event Date
1937 1951
Story Details
Reed & Prince fought unionization for 15 years; NLRB upheld charges of bad faith bargaining, ordered proper negotiations, citing history of strikes, injunctions, and delays from 1937 onward, culminating in 1951 strike.