Evening Star Newspaper, July 1, 1936, Page 14

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1936. e T S B e TO THE PUBLIC AND THE EMPLOYEES 1 the STEEL INDUSTRY ACAMPAIGN to unionize the employees of the Steel Industry has been announced. In order that the employees and the public may know the position of the Steel Industry in the face of the threatened drive, the Industry makes this statement through the American Iron and Steel Institute, Petsons and organizations not connected with the Industry have taken charge of the campaign. There are many disturbing indications that the promoters of the campaign will employ coercion and intimidation of the employees in the Industry and fo- ment strikes, The objéctive of the campaign is the “closed shop,” which prohibits the employment of anyone not a union member. The Steel Industry will oppose any attempt to compel its employees to join a union or to pay tribute for the right to work. No employee in the steel industry has to join any organization to get or hold a job. Employment in the Indystry does not depend upon membership or non- membership in any organization. Advancement depends on individual merit and effort. These are fundamental American principles to which the Industry will stead- fastly adhere, The Steel Industry believes in the principles of collective bargaining, and it is in effect throughout the Industry. The overwhelming majority of the employees in the Steel Industry recently participated in annual elec- tions under their own representation plans and elected their representatives for collective bargaining. The elec- tions were conducted by the employees themselves by secret ballot. One of the purposes of the announced cam- paign is to overthrow those plans and the representatives so elected. The Steel Industry is recovering from six years of depression and huge losses, and the employees are now beginning to receive the benefits of increased operations. Any interruption of the forward movement will seriously injure the employees and their families and all businesses dependent upon the Industry, and will endanger the wel- fare of the country. ‘ The announced drive, with it8 accompanying agi- tation for industrial strife, threatens such interruption. The Steel Industry will use its resources to the best of its ability to protect its employees and their families from intimidation, coercion and violence and to aid them in maintaining collective bargaining free from interfer- ence from any source, AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL INSTITUTE