anaheim-gazette 1953-03-26

THE S IS NO "There Public Sa When that was sa of the American Fed vin Coolidge thirty-f no law which express in Boston, but the a truth thus stated was and overwhelmingly of the entire United S When that was safe of the American Fed vin Coolidge thirty-fifth no law which expressly in Boston, but the act truth thus stated was and overwhelmingly of the entire United States putably true and just The strike against 3,000,000 people, served fornia Edison Company the purpose intended would have been much public safety, health and against the police service. Fortunately, the loss great majority of men vented the widespread otherwise would have caused by deluded and The strike is a real Where public safety is an electric utility, it is or rightful weapon. It abandon vital posts of others from filling thecessful, would immediate chain of disastrous coastal accidents, enormous eventual paralysis of Like war, a strike so hatred and the constant violence. Men and womenized by their strike left that it is they who are ning of the strike" by cause." The picket-line place which no one must throned. Although many complete their working pany, during the strike endeavor to destroy its to serve. To have used this ugon at all against the The picket-line place which no one must throned. Although many complete their working pany, during the strike endeavor to destroy it to serve. To have used this ugly pon at all against the wrong and indefensible sible demands of the management—demands was son of normal judgment management had the power and then to pull a strict health, welfare and safe demands is to go far be and even of decency. We are now convinced that Mr. Rapattoni, the sible for this strike, fh determined to have his SOUTHERN THE STRIKE ITS NOW THE ISS "There is No Right to Strike Against the Public Safety by Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime When that was said to President Gompers the American Federation of Labor by Cal-Coolidge thirty-four years ago, there was law which expressly forbade a police strike Boston, but the absolute and inescapable thus stated was immediately recognized overwhelmingly approved by the people the entire United States. It is just as indisposition of compulsory union members to call this strike. In other words, during long four months in which he subjected Company's bargaining representatives much abuse, he was not in fact bargain good faith. This was, of course, strongly cated by the fact that before even starting negotiations, he insisted upon and obt When that was said to President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor by Caldridge thirty-four years ago, there was law which expressly forbade a police strike Boston, but the absolute and inescapable with thus stated was immediately recognized and overwhelmingly approved by the people of the entire United States. It is just as indisputably true and just as inescapable today. The strike against the electric service of 100,000 people, served by the Southern California Edison Company, had it accomplished purpose intended by those who called it, would have been much more destructive to the public safety, health and welfare than a strike against the police service. Fortunately, the loyalty to their duty of the majority of Edison employees precluded the widespread public disaster which otherwise would have resulted from the strike used by deluded and reckless union leaders. The strike is a resort to industrial war. Here public safety is seriously involved as in electric utility, it is in no sense a legitimate rightful weapon. It is a conspiracy both to London vital posts of duty and to prevent workers from filling them, which effort, if successful, would immediately set in motion a man of disastrous consequences causing accidents, enormous loss of property and mutual paralysis of the community life. Like war, a strike sets free the emotions of anger and the constant thought and threat of violence. Men and women on strike are victimized by their strike leaders into the delusion that it is they who are abused and the "winning of the strike" becomes almost a "holyoke." The picket-line becomes a "sacred" place which no one must violate. Reason is denied. Although many of them expect to complete their working life with their Company, during the strike they join in a common flavor to destroy its good-will and capacity serve. We have used this ugly and dangerous wea- position of compulsory union membership to call this strike. In other words, during long four months in which he subjected Company's bargaining representatives to much abuse, he was not in fact bargaining good faith. This was, of course, strongly cated by the fact that before even starting negotiations, he insisted upon and obtained from his members authority to call a strike under the representation that he needed use in "collective bargaining." Then, impossible demands both for a wage unreasonable wage increase, and for company union membership, were made, and to, during four months of bargaining frequently stalled and delayed by Mr. Rapatoni), despite explanation that the Company management had no right, power or authority to meet those demands. Finally, Mr. Rapatoni made the meaningless gesture that was willing to submit his demands to the sideration of a fact-finding committee knew, of course, that if the Company has right to meet his wholly impossible demand that it could not empower anyone else to sidere them with a view to their possible acceptance. Again, therefore, we repeat: The Company management cannot give that which is theirs to give. They cannot negotiate due this wrongful strike because collective gaining cannot be conducted under coercion. And now that Mr. Rapatoni has so clearly shown how he uses and abuses such power he has, no one should accept the responsibility of giving him more power. The foregoing leads unavoidably to conclusions and this policy: The strike is now the only issue. Until abandoned, and picket lines withdrawn, they can be no negotiations by the Company Local 47, I.B.E.W., A.F.L. The Company does not negotiate during the strike free from some coercive influence of the strike, hence without at least appearing to accept strike as a legitimate device in "collective bargaining." The picket-line becomes a "sacred" place which no one must violate. Reason is denied. Although many of them expect to complete their working life with their Community during the strike they join in a common flavor to destroy its good-will and capacity serve. We have used this ugly and dangerous weature at all against the public safety is wholly ing and indefensible; but to make impossibilities demands of the Edison Company management—demands which no informed personal judgment should have thought agreement had the power or right to meet—then to pull a strike against the public right, welfare and safety in pursuit of those lands is to go far beyond the limits of right even of decency. We are now convinced from much evidence Mr. Rapattoni, the man chiefly responsible for this strike, from the very first, was ermined to have his way, including the im- The strike is now the only issue. Until abandoned, and picket lines withdrawn, thou can be no negotiations by the Company Local 47, I.B.E.W., A.F.L. The Company not negotiate during the strike free f some coercive influence of the strike, hence without at least appearing to accept strike as a legitimate device in "collective gaining." The negotiation or collective bargain method of arriving at a contract with L. 47, I.B.E.W., A.F.L., was repudiated, and contract terminated, by the Union's office and by their resort to this strike. The methods—on the one hand peaceful negotion, and on the other a strike against the plic safety—are mutually exclusive and can be merged. By their choice of the secmethod, and so long as they pursue it, the ion leaders have made peaceful negotiatiimpossible. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMMUNITY 14 Anaheim Gazette THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1933 ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA TSELF ISSUE inst the e, Anytime" by union membership, or other words, during the which he subjected the representatives to so it in fact bargaining in of course, strongly indiefore even starting ned upon and obtained authority to call a strike on that he needed it.to taining." demands both for a wholly rease, and for compulso, were made, and held s of bargaining (freelayed by Mr. Rapation that the Company right, power or authority is. Finally, Mr. Rapatgless gesture that he is demands to the connding committee. He of the Company had no any impossible demands over anyone else to condo their possible accept- repeat: The Company drive that which is not cannot negotiate during because collective barducted under coercion. pattoni has so clearly abuses such power as accept the responsibility ver. unavoidably to these licy: only issue. Until it is ines withdrawn, there by the Company with L. The Company canthe strike free from ce of the strike, and appearing to accept the only issue. Until it is ines withdrawn, there by the Company with L. The Company canthe strike free from e of the strike, and appearing to accept the vice in "collective bar- collective bargaining a contract with Local is repudiated, and the by the Union's officers, this strike. The two and peaceful negotiatrike against the pubexclusive and cannot choice of the second they pursue it, the Unpeaceful negotiations N COMPANY