WHITE / COLLAR Official Publication of the Office Employes International Union

No. 232 May, I965 "

OEIU ORGANIZES DINERS CLUB

* * * * * * * * * * * * Local 311, Gould Batteries Ink 700 Employees Join Local 153 Two - Year Pact * * * * * * * * * * * * Kankakee, Illinois members of the Gould National Batteries Division of Local 311 voted OEIU Local 153, New York City was recognized unanimously to accept a new two-year bargaining agreement. as the collec- tive bargaining representative for 700 office and clerical The following are significant changes that were made in the contract. workers of the Diners Club in that city as a result of a card check con- A. Automatic increases continue while on maternity leave, personal leave, or sick leave. ducted by Arbitrator Eric Schmertz. The card check procedure B. Three days off with pay if mother, father, child, brother or sister die. was agreed to after a four-day strike in which 95 per cent of the C. One additional holiday (birthday of employee). 700 Diners Club employees participated. D. Major improvement in the insurance plan. Company to pay all the insurance premium. It was also agreed that nego- E. Twenty cents per hour increase to all employees for a two-year contract. tiations will commence immed- The committee consisted of Bill Adams, Lorraine Lane, Della Shanks and Rita Frederickson. California Credit iately for a collective bargaining agreement and that such agree- Union Signed ment will contain a Union Shop Local 29 has recently organ- provision. Any disputes arising ized and signed a collective bar- as a result of possible job loss Local 277 Renews Pact With Chicago Pneumatic because gaining agreement with the Al- of the introduction of bers Milling Credit Union. This automation will be presented to Ft. Worth-Local 277 Presi- with one to five years' service Twelve days' after 12 years, etc., makes a total of seven credit Arbitrator Schmertz for final and dent, J. B. Moss, the are granted five to 15 15 reported days per year up days' vacation after union offices which are 100 per binding decision.. The Union, signing of a three-year agree- sick leave, accumulative to 30. years. cent union. however, will be free to strike ment with the Chicago Pneu- Employees with five or more 100 per cent company- The unionized organizations in the event of disagreement on matic Tool Company. years' service are granted 10 paid pension plan. include the Berkeley Coopera- any other matter relating to wages, Benefits obtained in the new days sick leave per year, ac- Guaranteed automatic tive, Simon Hardware, Albers, hours and working con- cumulative to 30. ditions. agreement include the following: wage increases from the mini- Consolidated Freightways, Car- The successful unionization Eight (8) paid holidays. Insurance-100 per cent mum to the maximum of em- penters, Local 29, and the Cen- tral Labor Council of Fresno of Diners Club employees again Ten per cent of the jobs company paid insurance. Life ployee's classification and labor and Madera Counties. points up the fact that National in the bargaining unit upgraded insurance increased by $2,000. grade. Labor Relations Board election to a higher labor grade. Weekly disability insurance in- procedures The contract contains a See the 1965 are not always neces- creased to $45 per week and sary to obtain the goal of recog- Wage increase of two per one-year reopener clause. Union Industries other improvements. nition and collective bargaining. cent effective 1965; two and The Union's negotiation com- Show two and one-half per cent in Vacations-Two weeks' mittee was: J. B. Moss, Pres., While Office Employes Inter- Pittsburgh, Pa. national 1966 and 1967. vacation after one year. Eleven Dale Worthington, Doris Cates, Union, Local 153 was May 21-26th willing to agree to a consent Sick leave-Employees days' vacation after 11 years. and Allen Titts. election conducted by theNLRB, the Diners Club refused to con- sent and took the position that Kansas City Local Holds Second Annual Workshop an election should not be con- ducted before August 1 of this year. The employer representa- tives explained that they in- tended to install computers and eliminate 250 to 300 employees. They stated that the present unit, therefore, was a contracting unit and was not suitable for an im- mediate NLRB election. Em- ployer attorneys said that an election conducted immediately would express the wishes of dis- rzruntled employees rather than the resultant permanent work force. Because of the complex auto- mation issues which might have delayed an NLRB election in- terminably, Local 153 Secretary- Treasurer Ben J. Cohan and At- torney Walter M. Colleran asked Local 320, Kansas City, Mo., held its second annual workshop on March 27. The meeting was held in the Continental Hotel. (Continued on page 4) Page Two WHITE COLLAR May, 1965 WRITE COLLAR Successful Campaigns Reported in North Central Area Official Organ of OFFICE EMPLOYES INTERNATIONAL UNION By Arthur Lewandowski Another major and vital cam- affiliated with the AFL-CIO International Representative paign is planned for late spring HOWARD COUGHLIN at the State Farm Insurance Co. Room 610 offices in Bloomington, Ill., and President Despite record-breaking 265 West 14th St. in a number of other midwest- J. HOWARD HICKS snowfalls and prolonged cold New York, N. Y. 10011 ern cities, where more than 5,- Secretary-Treasurer spells throughout the eight-state 000 office clericals appear an- North Central Conference area, xious for representation. In Mil- POSTMASTERS, ATTENTION. Change of address Form 3579 should be officers and members of OEIU addressed to Office Employes International Union, 1012 14th St., N.W., waukee, a drive is now in prog- Washington, D. C. 20005. Published monthly at 810 Rhode Island Ave., N.E., locals maintained a high level of ress to organize the approxi- Washington. D. C. 20018. Second class postage paid at Washington. D. C. activities on many fronts and in mately 350 office employees of many fields. the Woolworth Co. Central Ac- On the organizing front, suc- counting Division, cessful campaigns were con- There is a greater realization ducted at the Tri-Clover division among most of the local unions of Ladish Co., in Kenosha; the in the Conference that organ- Big Joe Mfg. Co., in Wisconsin Reproduction by the Labor Press of any or all material herein contained is not ing activities must be stepped An i.,vvrailuuvrasti only permitted, but wholly desirable in the interest of workers' education. Dells; the Riverview Hospital in up. A number of OEIU unions Wisconsin Rapids, and the Chi- have voluntarily raised their "follow the leader," or to accept Subscription Price $1 a Year cago Towel Co. of Chicago, Ill. dues and/or initiation fees to what plant unions have settled In addition, NLRB elections provide the funds needed to for. In virtually all contract ne- involving office units ranging conduct forceful campaigns, or gotiations, union representatives Act Extended from 200 to 550 people were to be able to hire full-time busi- have insisted on above area- Congress recently voted to extend the Manpower Development held, but lost, at the Hiram ness agents. At least three lo- average gains, and in most cases and Training Act for three years to June 30, 1969. Walker distillery in Peoria, and cals in the Conference are work- have attained them. Secretary of Labor Wirtz, in a message to Congress, stated that the Brown and Bigelow Co. in ing toward that latter goal. Sev- Stewards are becoming more the MDTA programs have been outstanding in training two groups St. Paul. These are viewed as eral other locals have re-activ- conscious of the importance of of the disadvantaged-non-white workers and the long term un- temporary setbacks-in both in- ated their organizing commit- knowing their contracts fully, tees, which are now busy seek- employed. Emphasis is also being given to training inexperienced stances we have high hopes that policing them properly, and ag- ing leads, developing interest young workers, older workers and the under-educated. Seventy- second attempts will prove suc- gressively fighting for the rights three percent of those who completed training under MDTA have cessful. and promoting the OEIU image of the membership. This is evi- found jobs. About 8 out of every 10 who found employment went Plans are being formulated to in their areas. dent from the rise in the num- to work in the field of their training. conduct major organizing as- A forward-looking spirit per- ber of grievances filed and in Manpower development and training is a problem far too large saults at two giant paper com- vades the area-most local un- the of grievances for either industry or labor to tackle alone. In this age of automa- panies in the Fox River valley ions are confident they will be greater ratio final steps and to tion and technological change, it is necessary for the government of Wisconsin. At the Kimberly- able to bring new groups into taken to the to work hand in hand with employers and labor to provide the Clark Corp. (famous for its the OEIU fold during the spring arbitration. In March alone, necessary training and retraining so needed today. twin products, Kleenex and and summer months. The signs some four cases were submitted Congress is to be congratulated on its foresight. Kotex) there are approximately are there. More leads are com- to arbitration. Two have been 2500 office and clericals at the ing in. More tentative, probing won-through the brilliant ef- main offices in Neenah-Men- feelers are being sent out by forts of Counsel Joseph Finley Education Bill Signed groups. More non- asha. Also located in these cities unorganized third is waiting a final deci- President Johnson returned to the one room school house he union office employees are be- -a is the Marathon' Paper Co.-a was also attended as a child to sign a $1.34 billion aid to education bill of the fact that sion, and the fourth division of American Can coming aware which he predicted will be the most important legislation enacted Co.- won when the company backed which employs an office force in automation and technological during his Presidency. their jobs down at the 1 1 th hour. excess of 1200. OEIU presently change can wipe out The Congress took only 90 days to fulfill President Johnson's re- they are turning The worst winter since '89 is represents office and technical overnight-and quest for a large scale program to bring better education to those protection North Central Con- of both companies in to the OEIU for job over. The who need it most. employees Marathon and Kapuskasing, and security. ference looks hopefully and con- More than $1 billion in federal funds will be spent during the in Niagara, Wis. and in In contract negotiations, fidently to the spring and sum- first year of the program to improve the education of children from Canada, New York and Texas. OEIU units are not satisfied to mer of its content. low income families. Additional money will be earmarked for edu- cational centers in poor neighborhoods and for textbooks and library books to be used by children in both public and parochial schools. Local 204, Ingalls Shipbuilding Sign We believe as President Johnson does that we are investing in the future of the United States when we expand funds to widen our educational program to provide educational opportunities for all Americans. Moonlighting In a recent analysis of moonlighting published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was indicated that men and women holding two jobs generally are not depriving unemployed persons of em- ployment opportunities. Nearly one-third of the secondary jobs are filled by self-employed persons who created them for their own economic advancement. Relatively few unemployed persons have the required ability, ex- perience and inclination to step into these jobs to say nothing of the financial resources necessary. The unemployed required full time jobs whereas the moonlighter averages only 13 hours per week at his second job. Interestingly enough, the survey indicates that persons working a Local 204 of Pascagoula, Mississippi reports the settlement of a three-year contract with the Ingalls shorter workweek are not more likely to be moonlighters than those Shipbuilding Company, a division of Litton Industries. working longer hours. In fact, the reverse is true. Shown signing the contract are left to right, E. R. Hammett, Senior Vice President of Ingalls Co. It is our feeling that moonlighting points up the necessity for a and J. 0. Bloodworth, OEIU Vice President. Others witnessing the signing are from left to right: Mel- better living wage for those who are forced to work at a second job. vino Taylor and Carolyn Hirth representing Local 204 office clerical unit; Wm. B. Edmondson, Direc- tor Industrial Relations, Ingalls Co., Tracy Walker, French Caldwell and P. A. Woods, all of Ingalls Aid to R-T-W Groups Not Deductible Labor Relations Dent.; H. H. Robbins, Business Representative, Local 204 and E. L. Barnes, repre- signing was E. V. McEacharn, President, Despite their claims to the contrary, neither the National senting Local 204 plant clerical unit. Not present at the unit. Right to Work Committee nor Oklahomans for the Right to Local 204, representing the plant clerical 31/4 effective 2-15-65; $5.00 across the board and an Work qualifies under the Internal Revenue Code as an organiza- Local 204 received a wage increase of % an additional $20.00 to tion whose supporters may claim additional holiday and an additional step in the wage schedule reflecting tax deductions for contribu- a total tions. $28.00 per month effective 2-15-66; 21/2% wage increase and still another holiday, making of nine, effective 2-15-67. AFL-CIO Associate Gen. Counsel Thomas E. Harris, in a Olin Mathieson Co. (Metals Division) Gulfport, letter to affiliates, noted that the national "work" group had told Also settled was a two-year contract with the businessmen they could claim any contributions as a "necessary Mississippi plant. in a wage increase of 6c per hour effective April 1, 1965 and an additional 5c business expense if it has a business related purpose." Negotiations resulted April 1, 1966; one week vacation after six months; 2 weeks vacation after one year "I have been advised by the Internal Revenue Service that per hour effective seven paid holidays and other benefits including sick contributions to these organizations are not deductible and 3 weeks vacation after nine years of service; in any and an insurance plan, part of which provides a circumstances," Harris wrote. leave, personal leave, severance pay, retirement plan hospitalization plan for employees and their dependents, with no cost to the employee. day, 1965 WHITE COLLAR Page Three

.400.1\1 ..eX1=11 I 4E1.1\1 NEWS

CLC Membership Regional Council formed in Quebec MacMillan, Bloedel Report Forty-five delegates repre- e) Publishing a newspaper Shows Increase senting 20 OEIU Local Unions, "La Plume" for educational and By Bill Lowe, International Vice President recently convened at Three Riv- informative purposes, every two Membership in the Canadian ers, Quebec, the purpose of months and distribute same to for During the summer of 1964, lations will be under tremendous Labour Congress is expected to establishing a regional council. the Locals for their members. the office employees of MacMil- pressure. However, when the be increased by more than 27,- The new council will serve all The Council will be largely lan, Bloedel and Powell River strike is over and the agreement 000 as a result of affiliations ap- Locals in the Province of Que- financed by a per capita tax of Limited, Port Alberni Pulp and signed, it is in the interest of all proved or under discussion, Dalhousie, N. B., 50 cents per month per member bec, Ottawa, Paper Division, British Colum- concerned to make every effort Claude Jodoin, CLC president, Hawkesbury, and other OEIU paid by all participating Local bia, conducted a seven-week to establish good relations. This announced today. This will organized in the region. Unions of the Council commenc- Unions strike for the purpose of estab- has been the policy of the Un- bring the CLC's membership to The program of the Quebec ing June 1, 1965. lishing fair salaries and work- ion. Apparently MacMillan, 1,177,000. Council will consist of: International Representative Regional ing conditions. It was the opin- In their annual report just issued been ap- a) Assisting Local Unions to Romeo Corbeil will serve as co- Affiliations have ion of the employees involved, they state: of give better service in their nego- ordinator of the Q.R.C. -OEIU proved for the Federation as well as the many other unions "Nothing of any real import- Columbia Telephone tiations and dealings with griev- and Leo Bourgeois was chosen British affected, that the final terms of ance was actually gained for its 4,500; the Lithogra- ances at manager levels. as president. workers, settlement contained in this first members by the Office Employ- and Photo Engravers In- b) Developing OEIU educa- Local 57 Business Represent- phers agreement, were fair and rea- ees Union through this watt ternational Unions, 4,000; and tional programs at Local Union atives Gilles Beauregard and sonable. There can be no doubt stoppage. It was in fact a point- Lob law's Workers' Council, 5,- levels. Serge Beaucage, will expand that many substantial gains were less strike, but costly to all con- c) Attending membership their activities to assist the 000. made. cerned." The CLC's executive council meetings for election of officers Council in organizing and serv- and other important meetings. icing. In addition, it has been It is to be expected that dur- This irresponsible statement has given approval in principle ing a strike, Union-Employer re- cannot be left unchallenged- to the re-affiliation of the 13,- d) Promoting organization of proposed that a new Business 500 members of the Interna- white collar employees. A 'zent be hired. tional Union of Operating Engi- neers and details are being Local 397 Official Retires HERE ARE THE FACTS: worked out between the officers Company Offer Before Strike Terms of Contract After Strike One of Regina's leading labor of the Congress and the union. 1, UNION SECURITY-All union authorities, William H. 1. UNION SECURITY - No Turner, retired recently after al- employee required to belong to employees who are members or the Union-complete open shop. become members to remain in the most 19 years as a senior mem- Canada Gets Union. All employees whether ber of the accounting depart- union members or not to pay un- ment of the Saskatchewan Gov- ion dues. ernment Insurance Office. New National 2. WORK SCHEDULE-En- 2. WORK SCHEDULE-En- Mr. Turner became involved gineering and Technical Section gineering and Technical Section in union activities a few months to work 40 hours per week. to work 371/2 hour week. Pension Plan after joining the SGIO staff in 3. SENIORITY-No provision 3. SENIORITY-Comprehen- 1946 and has since served eight Ottawa, Ont.-The govern- for recognition of seniority. sive seniority clause applies to ment of Liberal Prime Minister terms, six of these in succession, probationary period, promotion as president of the Saskatchewan Lester B. Pearson is preparing policy and reduction in staff. Insurance Office and Profes- to set up Canada's first Na- OEIU Vice President William 4. POSITION POSTING - 4. POSITION POSTING-All tional Pension Plan, enacted by sional Employees Union Local Would not agree to posting job new positions and vacancies to be 397 of the Office Employees Lowe presents Local 397 offi- Parliament just before it dis- vacancies. posted. International Union. He also cial William H. Turner with a solved and taking effect Jan. 1. served two terms as president set of cuff links in recognition of 5. TECHNOLOGICAL 5. TECHNOLOGICAL 1966. Ar- for re- his many years of service in CHANGES-Would agree to CHANGES-Provision of the Regina Labor Council. ticle referring to technological training and alternate employment The machinery of collection the Union and labor movement. A member of the negotiating changes. for personnel affected. will first be put in motion, as Harry Van Eyck, Local 397 committee for the SGIO em- workers and their employers President, looks on in approval. 6. SALARIES-No provision 6. SALARIES-Employer to ployees union since 1947, Mr. posi- both will begin next year to con- for Union to discuss or negotiate notify Union of any new Turner has served for several and is presently president new positions or changes to exist- tion or changes to existing posi- tribute 1.8 per cent of salaries of the years as chairman of the Regina ing ones. tions and in the event of disagree- of all employees earning $600 Regina Labor Temple Company Labor Council audit committee Limited. ment the Union has the right to or more a year. The contribu- process through grievance pro- tions will be paid on the first cedure and Arbitration proce- $5,000 of a worker's earnings. CLC Celebrates Ninth Anniversary dure. Payments Start in '67 THIS MONTH the Canadian Numerical strength or member- Shown below Payment of benefits will be- Labour Congress celebrates ship distribution alone do not cre- Substantial gains were made in the salary scales. gin Jan. 1, 1967. They will start the ninth anniversary of its forma- ate a national organization which are examples of the scale proposed by the Company before the tion. In April 1956, the Trades is part of the social and economic at 2.5 per cent per month of the strike and those now in effect. and Labor Congress of Canada fabric of Canada. The extent to average wage, or $12.50 month- and the Canadian Congress of which the Canadian Labour Con- Before Strike After Strike ly maximum, during the first Labour merged to form the most gress, its affiliated organizations year, and will increase by an comprehensive national central la- and members have played a role a) Senior Draftsman $460 to $545 $540 to $625 additional 2.5 per cent during a bour body in Canada's history. in the social, economic and polit- b) Control Technician 385 to 415 490 to 565 10-year "transitional" period to In the nine years which have ical life of the country have a maximum of $104 per month. passed since the merger, the Con- brought in their train a prestige c) Steam Technician 335 to 380 440 to 51,0 and stature in national affairs that Canadians will become elig- gress has grown both numerically d) Laboratory Technician 305 to 355 400 to 460 and in prestige. Despite the many is unique for a Canadian central ible for benefits at age 65. At factors which have led to a de- labour body. e) Stores Inventory Clerk 215 to 250 360 to 415 70 they also will he entitled to of cline in the overall percentage It would be ignoring fact to sug- f) Clerk Typist (Mechanical) 215 to 250 295 to 340 the $75 old-age benefit paid uni- organized workers since the late gest that the Congress has under- versally. 1950's, the Congress affiliated gone no internal or external strain The Canadian Labor Con- membership has grown substan- during the nine years since the Although we have listed only is the fact that the office em- gress strongly endorsed the gen- tially and now stands at 1,150,- merger. The expulsion of affili- the major improvements made ployees at Port Alberni have 000. The CLC has local Labour ates for contravention of the con- eral principles of the plan, but as a result of the strike it is ob- the right, through their Councils chartered in 113 com- stitution was not a painless pro- earned called the benefits to vious that, contrary to the Com- ratio of munities across Canada, from cedure. But counterbalances have union, to participate in matters earnings too limited and the pany's statement, many issues Port Alberni, British Columbia to been provided by the affiliation of concerning their employment benefits too low, and criticized St. John's, Newfoundland, and groups which had not previously of real importance were gained. and to have a real voice in deci- the flat rate of contributions as Federations of Labour in each of been part of the mainstream of And possibly of more impor- "regressive." the ten provinces. organized labour. tance than any other single issue sions affecting their future.

.1 Page Four WHITE COLLAR May, 1965 Local 19 Members OEIU Defeats Diners Club Aid Tornado Victims Teamsters Raid (Continued from page 1) from the desk OEIU President Howard Cough- In the wake of the tornado Despite the fact that Office lin to be present at the formal that struck Toledo on April 11, the Employes International Union, hearing conducted by the Na- of killing 15 persons and leveling Local 6 in Boston had a history tional Labor Relations Board. more than 50 homes, members of collective bargaining relations When it was certain that the of Local 19, employed at the with Hemingway Transport, the Diners Club did not intend to Toledo Edison Company, re- International Brotherhood of consent to an immediate elec- sponded to a special appeal for Teamsters, Local 25 instituted tion, and would attempt to stall assistance to the disaster victims NEM an organizational campaign the proceedings, thus preventing and the crews that searched the among OEIU members. Sub- an expedited election, President areas and helped in cleaning up sequently, a petition was filed Coughlin demanded immediate the debris. with the National Labor Rela- recognition on behalf of Local Mrs. Deanna Reiter, a mem- tions Board. 153 and told the employer and Job of Education ber of the Edison committee, Cyril O'Brien, Business Rep- the NLRB Examiner that the headed the special committee At a number of our Educational Conferences, I've been ap- resentative of Local 6, and In- Union was willing to prove its that gained contributions of proached by some of the more eager delegates, who are all keyed ternational Vice President Leo majority status through a card $165.21 and 9 big boxes of up over the idea of "organizing the unorganized white collar work- Wallace jointly campaigned to check in any unit of the employ- and bedding which were ers" in the shortest period of time. In several instances, this eager- clothing defeat the Teamsters raid. In er's operation before any im- turned over to the Salvation ness has been tempered by a sense of bitter frustration and even an election conducted by the partial arbitrator. When the care for the a certain amount of consternation. Army to help them NLRB, the Teamsters received company refused this legal de- homeless and feed the many "What in the world does it take to convince some of these non- only 4 votes of 22 eligible vot- mand, a strike was called the people who worked on an union office employees that they have just as much a right to form ers. The OEIU received 16 bal- next day. around-the-clock basis. their own unions as do factory workers or truck drivers-or even lots with two workers not vot- Hundreds of pickets manned airline pilots?" This question was asked of me by a newly elected ing. the picket lines at two company locations in New York City. president of a medium-sized local union. First Pact Signed Despite this attempted raid, When Army personnel from Before I had a chance to formulate my answer, he went on in OEIU members retained their Fort Jay were used as strike a torrent of words: "Just a couple of weeks ago, our local officers With Morticians desire to remain united with the breakers, Local 153 picketed arranged a meeting with some unorganized office workers, who Thirty-eight funeral directors Office Employes International the Army Recruiting Building at had been complaining about how low their wages were, how they and embalmers will receive pay Union and improve their wages, 39 Whitehall Street. The New hadn't had a raise in more than two years, how the boss was increases of 9 per cent over a hours and working conditions York Times, in writing about playing favorites on job assignments, and was even threatening to two-year period, as a result of in a new collective bargaining the strike on April 10, 1965, bring in computers, which would cut out half of the work force. a successful contract negotiated agreement. quoted Army officials in Wash- "So," he continued, "we proceeded to tell these people how the by Local 11 with The Portland ington as stating that "There is Associated Morticians. OEIU could help them. We told them that if a majority of their no objection to moonlighting by fellow-workers signed union authorization cards and the NLRB Other gains in working condi- Renew in Illinois anyone in the service so long as the union was voted conducted a secret-ballot election-and in- tions in this initial agreement it does not interfere with his reg- that the company would have to sit down and bargain with them include: A new three-year contract ular duties or deprive anyone on all matters affecting wages, hours and conditions of employment. 7 Paid Holidays with Gale Products, containing else of a job." "What do you think those people said to us, Howard, after we 15 days vacation after 1 several improvements, was re- The Union forwarded protests told them of their rights to join our Union," he asked. I could year cently signed, reports John W. to President Johnson, the Secre- just about tell what was coming, but I let him continue without 21 days vacation after 10 Miller, President of Local 221, tary of Army, and the Secretary interrupting. "These people actually told us: 'oh, that would be of Defense. years Galesburg, Illinois. During the course wonderful, but, our boss would never let us join the union, and Sick leave accumulative to he certainly wouldn't bargain with us.' 45 days The improvement included "And when we told them that their boss had nothing to say about An employer paid health vacation pay for employees with whether or not they could form or join their own OEIU union, and welfare plan. less than one (1) year's seniority, and that the U. S. government absolutely guaranteed their right improved hospitalization cover- to join a union-we even quoted from the Taft-Hartley law on this Local age at no added cost to the em- a dream 3 Merger -these poor souls looked at us as if we were living in ployee, triple time for holiday world and said: 'oh, but you just don't know our boss-he'd never Phyllis Mitchell, Sec.-Treas. let us join your Union.' Local 3, San Francisco, Cali- pay, and across the board fornia "What's the matter with people like that, Howard," my friend reported the merger of monthly increases of $10, $12 the Keystone wanted to know. "Don't they know what's going on around them? Employees Asso- and $12 per year respectively. ciation with Local 3. Why can't they understand?" Also established were month- Keystone is a manufacturing firm of leather ly meetings with management, Incredible goods. The as- But True sociation to discuss problems relative to numbers approximate- of the strike, the Union picketed ly 24 The above illustrates in part, one of the major problems that employees. the agreement. numerous hotels and well-known we face in attempting to bring the many benefits of collective bar- restaurants in the New York gaining to the unorganized office worker today. At a time when area which recognized the Din- some 15 million workers in North America carry union member- ers Club credit card. As these ship cards; when we can boast of the highest literacy rate in the Sam Romer, Reporter, Dies hotels and restaurants agreed to world; when 89 per cent of the homes are reached by daily news- refuse to recognize the Diners papers; when 94 per cent of the people have TV sets (ostensibly Sam Romer, a labor reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune, Club credit card, the picket lines tuned in to the world around them), it does seem incredible that died recently of a heart attack. moved to other restaurants and hundreds of thousands of office workers are unaware of the fact Mr. Romer will be remembered by the delegates who par- hotels. that they have the right to join a union-or sincerely believe that ticipated in the Minneapolis Convention of the Office Em- The New York Hotel Asso- unions are "only for factory workers." ployes International Union in 1957. Sam Romer was pres- ciation finally obtained a tem- Add to these the countless thousands of office workers who ent at each and every session of the Convention and wrote porary restraining order and the would like to be represented by a union, but don't know that the one of the finest articles which aptly described our Inter- matter of a permanent injunc- government does guarantee their rights to form or join a union, and national Union. tion against using this type of you can see why it has been difficult to organize white collar work- He stated, in an article published in the Minneapolis Sun- informational picketing is now ers in the past. day Tribune, June 16, 1957: being litigated. Most hotels and "By all accepted standards, the Union should do well in restaurants, however, complied We in the labor movement and the OEIU are not entirely blame- the white-collar organization field. It certainly has not been with the request less in this matter. There has been extremely poor communication of Local 153 tainted by corruption-a detailed, financial report listing un- Picket Captains and notified between the labor movement and the unorganized. We hear so ion income and outgo to the odd cent testifies to that. Diners Club that they would much about "union families," but how many union fathers, hus- dis- "Its convention in Minneapolis was the very model of continue recognition of the Din- bands and brothers speak favorably about their unions at home, democracy-secret ballots in the election of officers, un- ers Club credit card. or instill the union spirit in their children. In how many of these limited floor debate from the rank-and-file delegates, even re- The strike was led by Busi- self-same "union families" is the white collar son, daughter or jection of leadership recommendations on occasion. ness wife a member of his or her appropriate union? Representative Warren "Its top officers reflect the kind of middle-class stability of Mulligan with assistance from For the record, how many of our OEIU members are vocal in the members they represent and the workers they seek to lead. all members of the Local 153 its behalf? How many of us who belong to the OEIU make this "The Union's organizers generally are young, clean-cut staff. fact known to our friends, neighbors or relatives? If each of us and personable men who would not look out of place at a All employees of the Diners talked up the merits and value of unionism in general and the Chamber of Commerce convention or a sales meeting." Club have returned to work and OEIU in particular-and did it regularly and with zest, sincerity Sam Romer will be missed in labor circles. The Office are in the process of having De- and enthusiasm-we might be surprised by the change in attitude Employes International Union, in particular, feels that it has partmental meetings for pur- and understanding of the unorganized in our areas. It's certainly lost a friend. poses of drawing up collective worth a try from all of us. bargaining proposals.