WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:13.480 Down through the 60 days, I'm sure that we've said a few thousand well-chosen words in answer 2 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:15.400 to your question since all day. 3 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:18.960 Are you going to stay in as long as Mr. Ruther stays here? 4 00:00:20.880 --> 00:00:27.940 We are available to meet with the Union on a mutually arranged schedule. 5 00:00:29.040 --> 00:00:33.560 Mr. Ruther is present. We're sure that we'll be here to listen to him. 6 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.860 We haven't seen him since the first day of negotiations. 7 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:39.780 You think his presence will help any? 8 00:00:41.620 --> 00:00:48.840 In the process of collective bargaining, I think that the leaders of the Union are always 9 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:53.200 necessary to the ultimate and equitable solution of our problems. 10 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:57.720 What do you think the chances are of a settlement by the contract deadline at midnight tonight? 11 00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:03.120 I wouldn't like to comment on that. I'm always an optimist. 12 00:01:03.360 --> 00:01:08.220 Well, if there is no contract settlement by midnight, what is the company's position? 13 00:01:08.860 --> 00:01:15.000 The company's position or operating policy, if we have no agreement at midnight tonight, 14 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:19.000 was announced yesterday by the corporation. 15 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:27.400 It has been a matter of widespread public dissemination in the press and radio of the country and TV. 16 00:01:28.440 --> 00:01:31.680 Well, apparently you'll continue operating without a contract, 17 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:35.120 but what will the terms of the agreement be with the workers? 18 00:01:36.100 --> 00:01:39.620 As I just said, we made an announcement yesterday. 19 00:01:39.620 --> 00:01:44.740 I don't have it here, but we would be very happy to furnish you with the 15-point operating policy, 20 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:49.280 which was released to the public and the unions yesterday. 21 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:52.500 Well, I understand there are going to be two exceptions to the present contract. 22 00:01:52.720 --> 00:01:53.640 Can you tell me what they are? 23 00:01:53.640 --> 00:02:00.840 Well, the contract expires, and with the expiration of the contract, certain things terminate. 24 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:07.420 For example, the requirement that a union member belong to the union to the extent of paying dues 25 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:10.460 is a requirement of the expired contract. 26 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:18.980 Further, the checkoff of union dues, which is pursuant to the individual authorization by the worker, 27 00:02:20.100 --> 00:02:22.520 is contingent upon having a live agreement. 28 00:02:22.540 --> 00:02:30.220 So that when that agreement expires, our requirement to check off union dues automatically expires. 29 00:02:30.480 --> 00:02:31.660 And also the union shop? 30 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:36.300 The union shop also is a condition of the agreement. 31 00:02:36.300 --> 00:02:39.280 And when the agreement expires, well, that provision expires. 32 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:45.980 Now, the union shop is a requirement that employees, as a condition of employment, 33 00:02:46.440 --> 00:02:50.020 pay periodic union dues, and that sort of ties into the checkoff. 34 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:14.740 Are you prepared to make any further concessions today? 35 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:19.500 Well, the process of collective bargaining is a give and take process. 36 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:26.580 And the union is prepared to enter into good faith, practical collective bargaining on a give and take basis. 37 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:28.900 We are not prepared to surrender. 38 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:32.080 Do you have any comment on GM's plans to operate without a contract? 39 00:03:32.660 --> 00:03:36.600 Well, we are still hoping that the corporation will be willing in this situation, 40 00:03:36.640 --> 00:03:40.220 in the absence of an agreement by the terminal date, midnight tonight, 41 00:03:40.220 --> 00:03:45.560 to extend the contract in this situation as they have in the past. 42 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:51.600 Never before in 22 years of relationship with the corporation have we had a situation 43 00:03:51.600 --> 00:03:56.500 where the corporation has canceled the agreement and been unwilling to extend the agreement 44 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:58.240 to facilitate further negotiation. 45 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:01.980 We are hoping, obviously, that the corporation will reconsider that matter 46 00:04:01.980 --> 00:04:05.180 in the event we do not have an agreement by the terminal date. 47 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:09.620 But do you have any comment on the 15 points that the company listed yesterday for operating? 48 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:14.360 Well, it is quite obvious that the corporation, if they choose not to extend the contract, 49 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:21.640 are going to be, find it necessary and advisable to continue the essential gains 50 00:04:21.640 --> 00:04:26.000 that the union has won from the corporation in past negotiations. 51 00:04:26.660 --> 00:04:32.100 And we are obviously glad that the corporation is not going to try to take this opportunity 52 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:35.360 to try to take back some of these things that we had some difficulty 53 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:37.320 in getting the company to give in the first place. 54 00:04:37.320 --> 00:04:38.460 What about the union shop? 55 00:04:39.320 --> 00:04:40.980 Well, we are not concerned about that. 56 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:45.880 The thing that we are concerned about now is not Dew's collection or the union shop. 57 00:04:45.960 --> 00:04:49.920 We are concerned about workers and their families and their problems. 58 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:53.920 And these are the things that we are not going to run away from. 59 00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:56.240 Now, this is not a new experience. 60 00:04:57.020 --> 00:05:03.900 I can give you a list of many items that represent gains that GM workers have today. 61 00:05:03.900 --> 00:05:08.940 And we got them all by insisting upon having these problems met 62 00:05:08.940 --> 00:05:13.460 under circumstances where the General Motors Corporation refused each of these matters. 63 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:18.700 I mean, the pensions that Mr. Curtis talks about in his cute little pamphlet. 64 00:05:19.140 --> 00:05:23.980 We had to wait for pensions. GM Motors refused to give them pensions. 65 00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:30.560 Vacation pay, call-in pay, overtime pay, the insurance program, the Blue Cross plan, 66 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:36.440 all of these things, we had to fight to get these things because the GM Corporation said no. 67 00:05:36.700 --> 00:05:41.520 And they said no until the workers said, well, we won't go forward without an answer. 68 00:05:42.080 --> 00:05:43.620 And the same thing will happen now. 69 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:47.620 Whether it happens between now and midnight or after midnight, 70 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:55.140 ultimately the GM Corporation will be obligated and required to sit at the bargaining table in good faith 71 00:05:55.140 --> 00:06:01.520 and give workers and their families that increasing measure of economic and social justice that we are seeking. 72 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:04.940 Now, we're not trying to blaze any great new trails. 73 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:08.160 We know that we're living in a period of economic difficulties, 74 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:13.320 but there are certain basic minimum things which the Corporation will have to give us. 75 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:15.660 And they will. It's a matter of time. 76 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:19.180 We would prefer to do it sensibly and sanely between now and midnight. 77 00:06:19.580 --> 00:06:22.900 But if we can't do it that way, then we'll wait beyond midnight. 78 00:06:22.900 --> 00:06:27.420 But ultimately, they will say yes to some of these things as they have in the past. 79 00:06:28.440 --> 00:06:34.240 Do you think if you have to wait through the summer that the UAW workers will maintain full discipline? 80 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.920 I have unlimited faith in the rank-and-file members of our union. 81 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:42.060 They know where we have come from together. 82 00:06:42.760 --> 00:06:48.320 They know that the things that they enjoy in the plants were not served to them on a silver platter 83 00:06:48.320 --> 00:06:51.100 out of the fullness of the heart of these great corporations. 84 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:56.740 And I believe that they will understand the common sense approach that our union is making 85 00:06:56.740 --> 00:07:01.600 when we suggest to them that they not be provoked into rash action, 86 00:07:01.960 --> 00:07:04.460 that they keep their feet on the ground, 87 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:11.140 and that ultimately the situation in the industry will be such that the corporations will be prepared 88 00:07:11.140 --> 00:07:15.900 to bargain in good faith at the bargaining table and work out some of these problems. 89 00:07:15.900 --> 00:07:22.560 Now a worker who's still on the job, I don't think is going to run away from his responsibility to the unemployed. 90 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:24.900 A worker who is still on the job... 91 00:07:45.900 --> 00:07:45.940 ... 92 00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:00.420 ... 93 00:08:00.420 --> 00:08:01.700 ... 94 00:08:06.700 --> 00:08:08.100 ... 95 00:08:36.660 --> 00:08:38.060 ... 96 00:08:38.060 --> 00:08:38.080 ... 97 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:38.100 98 00:08:39.740 --> 00:09:03.780 I mean, I made it clear the other day when the contention of the union that the company had not bargained on a single item. 99 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:07.920 And this was challenged by a corporate spokesman. 100 00:09:08.140 --> 00:09:15.540 And I sent the gentleman a telegram asking to tell me one item, one item on which they have bargained. 101 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:20.440 As a matter of fact, there's a section of the contract which the company talked about changing way back. 102 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:21.680 It's their request. 103 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:24.440 And we've suggested now that they make that little change. 104 00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:25.820 They don't want the change now. 105 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:32.740 They have not bargained about a single item either of an economic nature or a non-economic contract matter. 106 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:39.140 Now obviously there's no purpose in sitting there and wasting their time and our time in this kind of a situation. 107 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:45.520 Although we will be there until midnight and we will be there beyond midnight for as many hours as they care to meet. 108 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:51.640 If there is the slightest demonstration that the corporation is prepared to bargain in good faith. 109 00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:58.860 Last Saturday, Mr. Riggle, you were inclined to answer a question about what legal alternative the union would have. 110 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.720 Have you checked that possibility yet? 111 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:07.020 Well, our legal experts are watching this situation very closely. 112 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:13.220 And when we finish at midnight tonight, we would hope to have a contract. 113 00:10:13.800 --> 00:10:20.100 If we don't have a contract and the corporation's position continues as it has been now for these many months, 114 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:24.140 as saying to our union, here is the old contract. 115 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:26.120 We will not change it in the slightest. 116 00:10:26.640 --> 00:10:28.140 You can either take it or leave it. 117 00:10:28.140 --> 00:10:33.580 If that's their position, then we will have to carefully evaluate our legal position 118 00:10:34.140 --> 00:10:36.980 and determine what we think is appropriate action in that respect. 119 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:41.300 We have made no decision as of now because we hope to bargain yet today. 120 00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:46.340 The union has yet hasn't sought assistance from the federal mediators and conciliation service. 121 00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:52.680 Well, we were contacted by the federal conciliators, as was the company, I'm sure. 122 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.500 And we said that we would welcome them. 123 00:10:56.500 --> 00:11:01.620 As a matter of fact, I would like nothing better than if you fellows would pick a small committee of three 124 00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:04.300 to sit in the back row to find out, is there any bargaining? 125 00:11:05.280 --> 00:11:08.880 There's just no question about it that they're not bargaining in there. 126 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:15.300 And when the corporation tries to play the numbers game, we have 120 plants, 127 00:11:15.660 --> 00:11:17.740 and they've got 10 demands in common. 128 00:11:18.140 --> 00:11:22.200 Right away, that makes 1,200 demands. 129 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.960 That isn't the way you bargain. 130 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:29.180 Maybe it makes clever public relations, but it will not solve a problem. 131 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:31.840 We're looking for answers to problems. 132 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:34.800 There are a lot of unemployment in General Motors. 133 00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:38.420 There's 90-some million dollars in the SUB fund. 134 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:43.080 We want that money in the pockets of workers so they can buy the things they need for their families. 135 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:47.640 The money was put there to help GM workers during periods of unemployment. 136 00:11:47.640 --> 00:11:55.640 And yet the General Motors Corporation is unwilling to work out provisions whereby monies belonging to GM workers 137 00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:59.900 can be had by them during the periods of their difficulty. 138 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:05.640 We can just go over all these issues and show you that what the company is doing is making propaganda 139 00:12:06.180 --> 00:12:07.360 when they ought to be bargaining. 140 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:10.880 How is the union's financial position now? 141 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:16.380 The union's financial position is not a problem in these negotiations. 142 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:21.360 We obviously have been affected, as everyone else has, by the recession, 143 00:12:21.540 --> 00:12:27.360 by the reduction in employment in the automotive industry and in other basic industries under our jurisdiction. 144 00:12:28.260 --> 00:12:34.460 But we are in a position where we will be able to meet the financial needs of the union during this period. 145 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:40.600 And therefore, if the company believes that cutting off the checkoff in the union shop is going to bother us, 146 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:42.440 they're just kidding themselves. 147 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:48.360 There are some basic human problems that we are going to solve in 1958, 148 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:55.320 either between now or midnight, or sometime between the midnight deadline and some future date. 149 00:12:55.740 --> 00:13:00.920 We're going to solve these problems, and the sueners of GM Corporation recognizes that. 150 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:03.380 What they ought to do is go back and read a little history. 151 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:07.720 They ought to find out what position they took on the Blue Cross Plan back in 1941. 152 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:11.500 They said, no, never, we won't go down the road to socialism. 153 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:13.400 Now they're bragging about the Blue Cross. 154 00:13:13.780 --> 00:13:15.860 They said they would never go down the pension road. 155 00:13:16.020 --> 00:13:17.280 Now they're bragging about it. 156 00:13:17.380 --> 00:13:19.360 They said never for the GAW. 157 00:13:19.520 --> 00:13:20.980 We got the beginning of one. 158 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:24.820 I mean, this has been, they were against vacation pay, they were against call-in pay, 159 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:28.860 they were against night shift premium, they were against vacation, all of these things. 160 00:13:29.520 --> 00:13:34.000 It seems to me that a fellow ought to get a little bit wiser because every day he gets a little bit older. 161 00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:39.060 To what degree are the auto workers and the electrical workers working in concert? 162 00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:44.380 Well, we shall maintain a very close working liaison between the two unions. 163 00:13:44.520 --> 00:13:46.180 Their decisions are theirs. 164 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:51.240 Their contract is a matter which they have to decide on and make decisions on, 165 00:13:51.660 --> 00:13:53.420 and the same is true with the UAW. 166 00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:57.780 We will work together in a friendly kind of way, maintaining close liaison, 167 00:13:57.940 --> 00:14:00.480 so that they know what we're doing and we shall know what they're doing. 168 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:04.980 But we are not interfering with their decisions and they are not interfering with our decisions. 169 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:07.100 We have a close, friendly working relationship. 170 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:09.960 Is it your understanding they will work without a contract, as you will? 171 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:11.500 This is their decision. 172 00:14:19.040 --> 00:14:20.480 You mean the news... 173 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.480 Well, we propose, we propose, 174 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:33.000 it is my intention to stay at the bargaining table all day until the deadline, 175 00:14:33.020 --> 00:14:38.380 hoping that we can work out a sensible and satisfactory settlement. 176 00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:40.780 Comment on the chances of meeting the deadline? 177 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:45.800 Well, we've always worked up against deadlines and we always obviously are optimistic. 178 00:14:46.540 --> 00:14:51.380 Although I'm advised, well, I have not been at the bargaining table excepting for the first day, 179 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:56.680 I've been advised that the corporation to date has been unwilling to bargain on a single issue. 180 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:00.540 Either of an economic or a non-economic nature. 181 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:06.180 Now there are, as we have said, some very serious and pressing human problems 182 00:15:06.180 --> 00:15:12.500 that need solution now that can be brushed under the rug for two years or can't be ignored. 183 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.100 The problem of the unemployed, the problem of the pensioners, 184 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:20.480 the problem of workers whose jobs are being transferred, whose plants are being shut down, 185 00:15:20.880 --> 00:15:23.580 and many other problems that need solution now, 186 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:28.680 and the union is asking for a sensible, reasonable approach to these problems. 187 00:15:29.260 --> 00:15:35.380 But unfortunately to date, I'm advised that the corporation has been unwilling to give consideration to any of these problems.