The Cio News

Kelly
Gives
Raise

Local 26
Gets
4c.
5c
Pay
Hike

CUMBERLAND, Sept. 26.

Wage adjustments of 4 and 5 cents an hour were obtained by Local 26, United Rubber Workers of America, for hundreds of mechanics and laborers in the Kelly-Springfield Engineering Co. plant. Raymond C. Burkhart, union president, announced this week.

The increases gained by the union were only one phase of the union's demands for a tentative contract between the union and company, and further negotiations to bring wages in the plant up to government standards were continuing, Burkhart said.

The union, which is seeking a union shop and checkoff of dues, also obtained tentative agreement
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Local 26 Gets 4c. 5c Pay Hike

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on a recognition clause and on improved grievance procedure, the Local 26 head reported.

AGREES ON RECOGNITION

The company "agreed in principle" with the recognition clause sought by the union. Burkhart said and explained that the clause called for the company's recognition of the union's bargaining rights for all sections of the company's plant.

The increases of 4 cents an hour went to some laborers and helpers while the 5 cents an hour adjustment went to laborers and mechanics.

The minimum pay for the mechanics who include millwrights, machinists and riggers was boosted to $1.05 an hour, and for first-class laborers to 80 cents an hour and second-class laborers to 76 cents an hour.

Two meetings with the company were scheduled this week. Burkhart said while reporting that "negotiations have proceeded very favorably" during the past few weeks.

START ORGANIZING

At the same time, the union shifted into first gear on an organizing drive among the ordnance workers. Thirty workers joined the union since Sept. 1, Burkhart reported.

Robert "Red" Hill, international URWA organizer who has been stationed here to direct the organizing drive, expected an intensive drive to begin shortly.

With nearly 150 former rubber workers still on the furlough list, out of close to 600 that were on the sidelines during the shift from peacetime to wartime production at the plant, union officials said that the nucleus of former rubber workers could be expected to take the lead in organizing the expected thousands of new workers entering ordnance production.

Keeping pace with contemplated developments in the plant, the union established a new plant organization. Each division will be assisted by a chief committeeman. Each department shift, in turn, will be headed by a chief shift committeeman and regular committeeman.