BOMBS
Che Charlotte labor journal
Bndorocd by the N. C. State
Federation of Labor «
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
Official Organ of Central Labor Union; Standing
for tko A. F. L.
VOL. XIII—No. 30
nt in Tub journal is a
INVdTMlNT
CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1943
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i - . county a m »»■■«» ■■ .
CHARLOTTE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION
PROVIDES CHRISTMAS FOR ALL ITS
MEMBERS IN ARMED FORCES AND
WIDOWS OF DECEASED MEMBERS
Officers and committee reports and routine business occupied
the attention of the members at the December meeting of Char
lotte Typographical Union No. 338 Sunday afternoon. AH re
ports submitted showed that satisfactory progress is being made
alomr all lines of endeavor in which this local is interested.
Howard L. Beatty, newly-elected
president of the Virginia-Carolinas
Typographical Conference, which
held its annual meeting in Charlotte
two weeks ago, told something of the
ideals and accomplishments of that
organization, dwelling at some length
upon the entertainment features of
the meeting, which was upon an ab
breviated scale, but which neverthe
less seemed to be satisfactory to the
delegates and visitors, “The enter
tainment cost less than $50,” said Mr.
Beatty, “which shows that small lo
cals can entertain the Conference
without placing a severe strain upon
the treasury.”
The committee, appointed at a pre
vious meeting to negotiate a new
wage scale with the commercial shops
of the city, reported that a satisfac
tory agreement had been reached,
and the local, by a secret ballot, vot
ed to accept the committee’s report.
The new scale calls for a substantial
increase in wages, together with paid
vacations each summer.
The committee appointed previous
ly to provide for suitable Christmas
presents for all members in the
armed service, reported that this
niattei' had been takeri ’care of. The
local also voted to Remember all
widows of deceased rhembers with
Christmas remembrances as has
been the custom in former years.
Corporal Larkin of] Camp Sutton,
Monroe, native of Louisville, Ky., but
who at the time of his entry into .the
service, was working at the trade in
the Chicago area, was present and
spoke, much to the edification of the
boys present, telling of some of his
experiences, dwelling more particu
larly upon his year’s stay in Alaska.
He spoke optimistically of the future
of the International Typographical
Union and plead for a larger repre
sentation from the South in that
international organization and for a
greater degree of co-operation and
harmony within its ranks in the bet
ter days that lie ahead when this
cruel war shall end and peace shall
come again to a troubled world.
The attendance Sunday was the
smallest in several months. Vice
President Claude L. Albea presided
in place of President C. J. Pridgen
who was “under the weather.” Secre
taries Burgess and Beatty were at
their posts of duty as usual .
Manager Of Social Security Board Office
Explains Relation Of Social Security
Account Number To Payments Of Benefits
Although it has been more than eight years since the first social security
cards were issued, and although nearly 67.000.000 persons in the United
States have obtained these account number cards, many people do not under
stand why this social security account number is so important. Thhrstate
ment was made today by Lone T. Proctor, manager of the Charlotte office
of the Social Security Board, who explained that the number which
appears on the worker’s social security card also appears on the individual
account that is kept for him by the Social Security Board. This card with
the holder's name and number will identify his account which he or his sur
vivors get ready to claim benefits.
The amount of benefits paid* depends upon the wages credited to the
Social Security account of the wage earner concerned. That is why each
account must show all of the credits to which the wage earner is entitled.
The matter of keeping a worker’s social security account straight, depends
not only upon the bookkeeping that is done by the employer and by the
Government, but it also depends upon the use that the worker himself makes
of his social security account number. If he fails to show this number to
each employer for whom he works, he might eventually lose some of the
benefits to which he is entitled. For unless the employer knows the number,
he can not include it in his wage report to the Government.
Each wage earner’s account is set up and kept for him by the Social
Security Board which also will handle his claim for benefits when the time
comes. The Social Security Board receives the wage records from the Bureau
of International Revenue which in turn received them from the employer.
Every quarter—that is, four times a year—the employer furnishes a complete
record showing the name, social security number, and amount of wages paid
to each person on the payroll at any time during the three months for which
he is reporting (no matter how short a time the man worked or how little
pay he received). The employer’s report shows also how much he deducted
from each man’s pay, for social security taxes, and how much payroll tax
the employer himself pays.
These wage and tax reports are collected and audited by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue. The audit shows whether or not the wages the employer
reports and the tax money he turns in agree. Then the wage reports go
to the Social Security Board, where the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance credits each item of wages to the social security account of the
workers who received that pay.
When a person applies for a social security account card, he should give
all the information about himself called for on the application blank. This
will make it possible for the Social Security Board to identify the wage
earner and his account after years have passed. Then the workers should
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STRIKE SET FOR 12:00 NOON
SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1944
November 8, 194.3
TO UNION OFFICERS
AND THEIR MEMBERS:
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
Attached is notice of strike of union employees in the Railroad Depart
ment. International Correspondence Schools, in the United States and Canada.
We respectfully request that you give this Union Labor movement as
much publicity as possible.
Cordially and fraternally yours,
G. E. HOUSEHOLDER.
Committee Chairman.
Member Lodge No. 348, Sheet Metal
Workers International Association,
, 1920 Chicago Avenue.
Knoxville 17, Tennessee.
TO ALL LABOR UNIONS:
The Committee Chairman, representing the Special Service men em
ployed in the Railroad Departmtnt, International Correspondence Schools in
the United States and Canada has announced that a Strike will become
effective at 12:00 noon, Saturday. January 15, 1944.
The Committee Chairman holds authorizations, signed by the majority of
employees, working as Special Service men. in I. C. S. Railroad Department,
covering the United States and Canada. These employees represented be
long to the following Labor Unions:^
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Order of Railway Conductors
Switchmen’s Union of North America (A. F. of L.)
International Association of Machinists (A. F. of L.)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers A. F. of L.)
Sheet Metal Workers International Association (A. F. of L.)
International Federation of Technical Engineers (A. F. of L.)
For some time the Executive Officers of the International Correspon
dence Schools have shown discrimination against the union railroad men
in their Railroad Department and favoritism towards their Industrial De
partment non-union local Representatives.
These Executives were, on September 18, 1942, asked to enter into
negotiations and sign a collective bargaining agreement, with maintenance
of Union Membership clause, but have refused to negotiate and sign any
agreement after nearly fourteen months of “stalling.”
We are of the opinion, the Executives of I. C. S. are now using “freeze
out” and “lock out” methods of getting rid of their union railroad men and
are arranging to abolish their Railroad Department, and turn this Special
Service work on railroads over to inexperienced and untrained “cheap help,”
which is non-union and anti-union.
The International Correspondence Schools have approximately 3,000
employees and we have been informed about 95 per cent are non-union and
onlv 5 per cent union.
’ In this strike we are asking the moral and economic support of all Labor
Union Officers and Members, in demanding union services. We recommend
to union men who now have courses that beginning January 15, 1944, they
refuse to send in lessons or pay monthly tuition fees until this matter is
settled satisfactorily to those railroad men in the Railroad Department,
I. C. S., who have thus been compelled to strike because of unfair treatment
and unfair labor practice.. ~ R HOUSEHOLDER.
Committee Chairman.
Sheet Metal Workers International Assn..
Member. Lodge 348,
1920 Chicago Avenue.
Knoxville 17, Tennessee.
November 8, 1943.
DANGER IN THE CATCH-PHRASE—“FREE ENTERPRISE”
Several weeks ago, one of the richest men in the world, Marshall Field,
publisher of the Chicago Sun and New York PM. in an address before a
Chicago American Legion Post on the outlook in the post-war era, spoke
some words of warning which all thoughtful citizens, especially those in
positions of responsibility, should ponder over.
Mr. Field frankly said that the transition period after the war might
bei a “very tragic period.” unless some of the war-time controls such as
forms of rationing and material priorities be continued. He said it would
be “utterly fatal” to suddenly throw them out, but it would be necessary
to continue them “until such a time as consumer goods can be produced In
sufficient volume to satisfy the pent-up demand.” .
He warned that it will be “politically popular’ in some quarters to ad
vocate throwing all of these restrictions out immediately— Perhaps, in the
name of some such misused caption as ‘free enterprise . Continued Mr.
“There is great need of redefining that term, ‘free enterprise. Frankl)
I don’t like some of the people who are clamoring for it from the housetops.
Does it mean, to some, freedom from the rules of ethics, freedom to exploit
public resources, freedom to keep inventions from public knowledge, freedom
to monopolize, freedom to restrict production in order to raise prices? Let
us demand that all who use that term define what they mean by it.
Here is a forthright rationalization by one of the wealthiest men of our
times, a man who probably has more to lose by the failure of our capitalistic
economic system to function efficiently in the post-war transition, than any
of the reactionary individuals and political partisans who clamor for a return
to laissez faire under the pseudonym of “free enterprise.
Unfortunately greed is better organized and is more influential in high
places, than any other element in our national life. We Must not pwuit
the economy falacy of “every man for himself and the devil take the hind
most,” to govern our post-war thinking and action, f we do, the Devil
will take all of us.”—St. Louis Tribune.
make sure that his employer—every employer for whom he works—gets his
full name and his social security number and gets it right.
PATRONIZE JOURNAL ADVERTISERS
Do Your
C hristmas
Shopping
NOW
PATRONIZE JOURNAL ADVERTISERS
SIGHT OF STATURE OF LIBERTY
ENOUGH TO MAKE 68-YEAR-OLD
MISSIONARY DANCE WITH JOY
GASTONIA, Dec. 7—Miss Attie Bostick, Baptist missionary
to China for the past 43 years, who was one of the 1,200 or more
former prisoners of Japan who arrived in the United States last
Thursday on the Gripsholm, arrived in Gastonia this morning,
spent a few hours here with ffriends, and went on to her home
at Shelby.
“It was wonderful to set foot on my native soil again,'’ she
declared as she stepped from a southbound Southern train and
was greeted by a group of friends. “You should have seen me
dance when we passed the Statue of Liberty as our ship came
into port,” she said, and added, “and you know I’m no dancer.”
Miss Bostick is 68 years old.
Miss Bostick arrived in New York City on the exchange liner
Gripsholm after a safe voyage, leaving behind 43 years of serv
ice as a missionary in China—43 years that no enemy will ever
be able to blast from the hearts of the Chinese people, 43 years
filled with happiness mingled with tears, heartaches and tragedy.
“SOUTH, LAND OF PROMISE FOR
INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION AND
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT”
RICHMOND, Va.—Dec. 8.—Describing the South as “the land of
promise for industrial expansion and economic development” in the postwar
period. President William Green of the American Federation of Labor said
Tuesday southern states “need not and must not commit the mistake of
trying to establish a low wage economy and antiunion legislation as an in
ducement to business.
In an address prepared for delivery before the Catholic Conference on
Industrial Problems, Green said “Industry has learned that profits in the
future must depend on expanded production rather than reduced labor costs.
“Also,” he added, “the experiences of southern industry with union labor
in the '-var production program have served to dissipate former fears and
prejudices. Labor and industry in the South, as in all other sections of the
country, have worked together in close teamwork to win the battle of pro
duction.
“This spirit of teamwork, in my judgment, will be projected into the
postwar period as the basis for the solution of our major industrial problems.
That is the American way of doing things. It is the only way we can win
the peace on the home front. I appeal to the employers of the South and
the people of the South to join with labobr in building during the postwar
period a stronger and more secure America for the future.”
MANPOWER “SHORTAGES” ARE- -3' -
BEING LICKED BY INCREASED
EFFICIENCY OF WORKERS
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Efficiency of workers is rising at so rapid a rate
that the much-ballyhooed “manpower shortage” is being licked—and, as
organized labor has contended, without the need of compulsory legislation to
require workers to go where ordered.
That was made clear both in official statements and in action by the
army closing down or curtailing operations of a half dozen big factories
making shells and other ammunition.
One of the big reasons for the huge cancellations, army chieftains said,
is that “production records have been far in excess of expectations.” General
L. H. Campbell, Jr., chief of ordnance, said the Wrar Departmtnt now has
enough ammunition “for any crisis, no matter how unexpected.”
Meanwhile, Donald M. Nelson, head of the War Production Board, credit
ed mounting labor productivity in part for substantial increases during Oc
tober in practically all war materials, particularly aircraft.
His lieutenant. Vice Chairman Charles E. Wilson, added that “the utili
sation of manpower in the aircraft industry is becoming very much better.”
Paul V. McN--*t, chief of the War Manpower Commission, admitted that
the same is true in other industries.
Now that the commission has finally gone after “labor hoarding,” in
efficient supervision, bad scheduling of production, and other evils at
tributable to management, “we have been able to scale down tremendously
—or even cancel outright—the demand for new workers in many, many in
stancs.” McNutt let it be known.
“If we could make maximum use of our available supply of workers—
eliminate waste—we could release a margin of additional productive effort
that would carry us over the top,” he said.
“There are enough men and women at work today in our plants and
factories—if properly utilized—to take up the load on all of our current
production schedules."
CANTEEN DRIVE IS EXTENDED
THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY;
MANY MORE WANT TO DONATE
Beginning this morning and continuing until next Wednes
day night, the campaign for $7,000 with which to finance the
Christmas canteen party for service people at Charlotte Armory
Auditorium will be waged with “redoubled vigor and effective
In making the announcement,
Thomas W. Bird, and W. Irving Bul
lard, cochairmen of the finance com
mittee, acknowledged the necessity for
“far greater participation in the fi
nancial phase of the project” in order
to reach the goal, and apipealed for
“all-out effort and all-out giving, now
while the opportunity remains.”
Decision to extend the campaign
until Wednesday night was based upon
the realization that many people who
will contribute to the fund have not
yet done so. “The opportunity for
these folks to become hosts, at the
rate of one dollar for each member of
the armed forces to be entertained as
their guest,” campaign officials said,
“thus is extended a few days.”
Mr. H. M. Victor, Treasurer
Charlotte Soldiers’ Christmas Canteen Party
P. O. Box 1476, Charlotte, N. C.
Here is my I Christmas present of $_for_
uniformed members of the United States Armed Forces at the rate
of $1 each to provide “A Home Away From Home” at the Christmas
Canteen Party to be held at the City Auditorium Christmas afternoon
and evening.
Yours very truly,
THE MARGIN BETWEEN FREEDOM
AND SLAVERY FOR LABOR MAY
BE TEN PERCENT