Unionists call meeting to plan concessions fight

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St. PAUL, Minn.—An organizing meeting to initiate a National Conference Against Concessions has been scheduled for Aug. 10 in Gary, Indiana.

The National Conference was first proposed at a meeting here on June 28 attended by representatives from union locals in eight states. The participants met to discuss the battle against concessions being waged by the membership of UFCW Local P-9 against the Hormel company in Austin, Minn.

They concluded that the pattern of local unions being left to fight against concessions on their own must come to an end. They proposed a broader meeting in Gary to take the first steps. A letter drafted out of the St. Paul meeting states, in part:

"Meatpackers in Minnesota cannot afford to have their battle separated from the rest of labor, nor can the rest of labor afford such a defeat.... We all remember the devastating impact the initial Chrysler agreement had on the rest of labor.

"The concessions of the last five years have done nothing to save jobs and in fact have only served to sharpen the competition that pushes the downward spiral of wages. Enough is enough!"

The letter is signed by 13 local union officials. The signers include David Arian, president, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13; Ron Weisen, president, United Steel Workers 'Union Local 1397; Jim Guyette, president, United Food and Commercial Workers Local P-9; and Pete Kelly, president, United Auto Workers Local 160.

The corporations have been emboldened in their concession drive by the refusal of top union officials to fight back. But the resulting vulnerability of Steelworkers (continued from page 1: “'State of emergency' fails to halt S. African revolt EMBARGÒ AFRICA- FREFDOM COMMIT TEL”) on July 21, is the first against a major steel producer since 1959.

"They were cheering the strike plans like they were at a football game. The response was tremendous, just unbelievable,, said one USWA local official.

Ironically, Wheeling-Pittsburgh has pleaded poverty because it spent money modernizing its facilities. By claiming that modernization is not profitable for the stockholders unless the workers pay for it, Wheeling-Pittsburgh is linking the growth of the steel industry to a perspective of permanently reducing the standard of living of steel workers.

Wheeling-Pittsburgh workers already had agreed to drastic contract concessions twice since 1978, including $120 million in the last three years alone. As a result, their pay package has been reduced by $4 an hour, even before considering the losses from inflation.

In the latest round of negotiations with Wheeling-Pittsburgh, the union had made two proposals for more concessions and was even prepared to make a third. But the company wanted still more.

In a letter to strikers, USWA District 23 Director Paul Rusen expressed the determination of the members when he the unions has begun to promote a new mood in the rank and file. They have reacted in union locals around the country by throwing out the existing officials and electing new leaders who fought the concessions.

It is elements of this new local leadership that are organizing the Aug. 10 meeting and pushing for a call for a National Conference.

The purpose of the Aug. 10 meeting is to hear proposals from unions in each industry and region of the country as to how the National Conference should be organized and what actions should be focused on. The meeting will adopt an agenda and establish a structure to aid in organizing the conference. Union locals throughout the country are encouraged to send representatives.

The meeting will convene at 10 A.M. on Saturday, Aug. 10, in Gary, Ind., at the Genesis Center, 4th and Broadway. It will continue until Sunday noon, if necessary. Persons wishing to make room reservations may call the Interstate Motel, Route 20, Gary, Ind., (219) 938-6065.

To register and obtain further information contact the National Rank-and-File Against Concessions, c/o UAW # 879, 2191 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55116.

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