Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 203, Decatur, Adams County, 29 August 1955 — Page 2

PAGE TWO

A REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY 14 YEARS OF PROGRESS IN' DECATUR] GE UE- 924, which ha* represented Decatur GE workers for 14 years, believes it is important that our friends and neighbors of Adan* County area bo Warned a* to the issues in the election to be held this Wednesday. M»> people who do not work at GE, and perhaps some of the newer employees, do not realize that better wages, vacation*, paid holiday*, pensions, health insurance and better working conditions jest aren’t handed oat free gratis by the company. e know these gains have been made through the unity of GE workers throughout America; a tittle at a time year after year. Before HE Mere was no job security, and when GE workers passed beyond middle age many were fired. Wages of 25 cents an hoar were common. Here In Deeatnr before UE organization in 1991, we worked for 45 to 90 cents an hoar. Compare that with the present rates we have won throagh national negotiations and local grievances of $1.49 to 92.90 per hear. |dtMM?mon*moMy , workers have Io spend in this community. This program means a bolter life for onr membership and their faudHo*. Also lomers for the farmer and businessman, better schools, churches, roads and many other improvements that will help make our community a better place to five. IMS IS THE UE RECORD . Men and Women, some living and some dead, some working for GE today, some not, won through their united efforts and sacrifices in UE, the WAGES AND BENEFITS GE WORKERS HAVE TODAY. HERE IS THE RECORD: - iQQd: iti? mt pp Tima ho<rinnin<r thp 1949 UE refused to pay further per-capita to CIO 1936 UE wins NLRB election, thus beginning tne , kannma rii c its foFuoaH tn organization of the huge GE chain. 1944 Established step rates and automatic progres- ™ tothe - sion schedule, resulting up to 4</ 2 - cent in- lt ? T E em^ er^ r i gh £2l2 l 1937 5-cent selective wage increase. creases. Pro-rata vacations from one to two es of CIO. UE refused to become an errand -*—weeks for employees with from one to five boy l° r an y political party and refused to 1938 First national union contract with GE. Won years serv j ce Call-in and reporting pay im- weaken its fight for better wages and worknational grievance procedure. One week vaca- proved. ing c° n diti° ns * tion afterone year, two weeks after 10. . 1950 Decatur workers, along with thousands of othStopped 10 percent wage cut that salaried 1945 Established length of service as governing er GE workers, rejected the IUE, set up by the workers and foreman has to take. ' factor in layoffs and rehiring, eliminating CIO with the aid of General Electric. Decatur low toward seniority oro- fan } ily status ; physica ! fitness, sex and ability GE worke rs for the second time voted in an 1939 ItoH d off n as factors. Increased women s rates from 3 NLRB election voted for UE and won a 10- , — rfX ™<tae • to 10 cents thus set the pace for ce nt increase, $125 minimum pensions, Health ' ptoyees. Improved grievance, proceaure. winning equal pay for women. Insurance and 7th paid holiday. 1940 Established two-week vacations after five 1946 EE had stuck to its \y or i ( j War n no-strike 1952 In March a 4*/ 2 to 8-cent increase. 7 l / 2 to 13years. First protection of piece work rates. pledge but had to strike to win gen- celt wage increase. Improved health insur10/11 ATTTR r-F WORKERS VOTED FOR UE eral increase to meet the war time of liv " ance and 3 weeks vacation after 15 years. IN AN NLRB ELECTION. They shared in the ing increase - Improved pension plan. 1953 5%-cent average increase and an additional UE national settlement which brought 10-cent 1947 jp/ cen j general increase and six paid holi- j” crease up to S_cents skilled workers, general wage increase. THIS WAS THE 1917 " y 2 s ce ’"XXn after Termination pay for workers m closed plants. FIRST GENERAL WAGE INCREASE IN GE UE b ecame fj rs t American industrial un- 1954 5-cent average increase. Holidays falling on HISTORY. Time and one half for Saturday • t f holidays not worked. Saturday to be paid. A guarantee of full vacaand double for Sunday. 10n W ° pdy tion payments to qualified employees based on A . 1948 9 to 16-cent general wage increase, pension total length of continuous service regardless 1942 SVi-cent general wage increase. Grievance improvements. Premium pay for Saturday of the fpct that the employee may be laid off, procedure improved. anc l Sunday on continuous operations. terminated, sick or absent for other reason 1943 Guaranteed protection of piece work prices. ? during the vacation year. THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE COMES FIRST *a» is ,lw reMnl °* UE< 11 was no * easi,y There 1,8,1,0 be sacrifices ’ l,arll work aall a s,rik * " ® H ’ wi,h o,ir ,ellow UE Biaißl,er ’ ,brM ßbo«l the land we have forged Here hi Decatur we live up to the slogan of our brothers and sisters everywhere that, “THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE COMES FIRST.” # , .•**■ .. • - e » a ‘ O ■ . 1 __L— / -r~ — — .■ . Thort w* s o mß corporation officials and some phony labor leaders who disagree with such a slogan. They will cover up their own greedy self-interests with name fitting mml Red-Bmflng attacks against HE that would pat even Senator McCarthy to shame. - ■ w. the UE members of Decatur GE, who are your friends and neighbors do not need the disruption of outsiders... We resent the screaming of “communism” against our Union and its members in Adams County. In 1950, IUE made these same charges. We rejected them by voting 210 1 for UE. We think the red-bailing is just a sham Io cover up their own record of ever worsening conditions in Ft. Wayne. ; >i' VV B h®* B confidence that the workers of Decatur GE win support UE this Wednesday as they did in 1950 and 1941. We also have confidence that the residents of County community will continue their fine support of our aims to continue the improvement of wages and working conditions at Decatur GE. YES, BECAUSE OF THE RECORD AND PROGRAM OF OUR UNION WE WILL VOTE UE LOCAL 924 ¥!□ United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers Os America Local 924 Decatur, Indiana

THIS RJBCATUa DAILY DKMQCKAT, DECATUR, INDIANA 5- . . rH ■ a t : xT- ,

MONDAY, AUGUST W, 1*55.