THE WORKER, APRIL 25, 1967 Page 3
Voice of Youth To Be Heard at May Day Rally
THE MAY DAY slogans of ending the war and draft, independence for Puerto Rico and equality for black Americans are bringing youth into participation and planning for the celebration.
A spokesman for the 81st May Day Planning committee announced that Jose Stevens, co-chairman of the New York area Du Bois Clubs will be a speaker. Blyden Jackson, Harlem Communist leader has been designated rally chairman by the committee.
Jackson, in describing the forthcoming event, said “The Jet Set Band is going to entertain. They are great. The band has been playing for young people and is quite popular.”
Speakers for the event will include Mrs. Grace Mora Newman, sister of Dennis Mora, now in prison as one of the “Fort Hood Three” for refusing to fight in Vietnam; Juan Mari Bras, secretary-general of the Puerto Rican Movimiento Pro Independencia, Chris Kearns of the Catholic Worker, Herbert Aptheker, noted historian, and Esther Carroll, trade unionist.
Barbara Dane, folk singer, will also be a featured entertainer.
The May Day celebration will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1, at Union Square.
340,000 Strike Three Firms In Rubber Union’s Biggest Walkout
THE BIGGEST STRIKE in the 32-year history of the United Rubber Workers idled three of the Big Four tire manufacturers Friday as 340,000 workers walked out with the expiration of their contracts.
Peter Bommarito, president of the 159,000-member union, said prior to the strike that the rubber workers needed more money now “because the cost of living has increased so much in the last year.”
Bommarito cited the fact that productivity has increased and the profits of the tire corporations have skyrocketed.
The companies affected Friday were Firestone Tire and Rubber, B. F. Goodrich and Uni Royal, formerly the United States Rubber Co.
Negotiations with Goodyear were continuing past the deadline on a day-to-day basis but were reported to be shaky.
The union and the General Tire and Rubber Company, the fifth largest tire producer, began talks last week on a contract that expires May 17.
The strike, whose major issues are a substantial wage boost and increased unemployment benefits, was expected to be rough.
The rubber companies have stocked their warehouses with a three-month supply of tires, and union sources have revealed that the companies entered into a financial assistance agreement to aid struck companies in meeting fixed costs.
The strike closed down the three companies’ 39 plants in Ohio and 15 other states. The union has 75,000 members employed by the Big 5.
The union’s wage demand was not specified, but Bommarito said the workers who now receive an average of $3.30 per hour, were fighting to “bring our wages up to the level of our brothers in auto plants.” The average among auto workers is around $3.44, but they, too, are entering negotiations and will also be seeking “substantial” wage increases.
The rubber workers are seeking 2 cents an hour more for their Supplemental Unemployment Benefits. Management now pays 5 cents per hour per worker into the SUB fund, and the worker receives 65 per cent of his salary weekly during layoffs. This figure is SUB combined with unemployment compensation.
The raise would bring the payments to 92½ per cent of the worker’s regular salary. If he was not eligible for state compensation the SUB payments demanded would give him 95 per cent of his salary.
Work conditions are also included in this set of negotiations; pensions will be negotiated in September.
Bommarito indicated the ability of the rubber companies to meet his union’s demands by citing last year’s profits in the industry: Goodyear, $123.9 million; Uni Royal, $46.2 million; Firestone, $48.8 million.