SAM DOLÓOFF sabotage and poor quality products ... • (N. Y. Times; Dec. 22, 1972). A headllne in the N. Y. Times (May 26, 1973) reads «General Electrlc workers are dlscountented wlth work ltselh. What the wlld cat strlkers demand THE ISSUES lnvolved in the wlld cat strlkes are: 1) The monetary settlement was not regarded by the workers or the employers as of prlmary lmportance. Grlevances --complalnts about condltlons on the Job- are more lmportant to the workers because they involve thelr dally living relatlonshlp with supervlsors In thelr place of work where they spend so much of thelr llves; lmportant as wages lncreases are, the workers value thelr dignlty as human belngs more; 2) the employers are more susceptible to monetary agreements whlch can be passed on to the consumer In the form of hlgher pr!ces. But settlement of grlevances encroaches upan the rlght of the employers to regulate the lite of the worker wlthln the factory, and the employers' rlght to determine the rate of productlon. The employers are afrald that such encroachments wlll gradually lead to what they fear the most: workers control of lndustry; 3) the lncreaslng wlld cat strlkes lndlcate the beglnnlng of a revolt of the plaln worker agalnst the union leadershlp apparatus. Plant condltlons was the key lssue In the 1973 negotlatlons for a new contract In the auto lndustry. The workers demanded voluntary overtlme; that the workers walk off the Job lf there Is a health or safety problem; that workers shall not be dlsclpllned untll they have been glven a chance to present thelr slde through grlevance procedures. The unlon leadershlp was under considerable pressure from the members and local leaders to llmlt the freedom of the employer to make declslons about speed of productlon, layoffs, automatlon, etc. On the other hand, the vlce-presldent of General Motors sald that the hlghest prlorlty In bargaining for a new contract was cretentlon of management's freedom and the responslbl!lty to make declslons In areas vital to the success of the business. . . !.e. proftts. The wlld-cat strlkes over the last twenty years In baslc Industries, lnvolves In varlous degre~s these lssues. 100
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTExMDY2NQ==