**Date:** 3/10-67
**Source:** Union VP Says:
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Strike Benefits Contingent On Picketing
Cy Blanchard, vice-president of Local 218, in an effort to straighten out some of the confusions surrounding strike benefits, issued the following explanation.
He said receipt of the $25 check depends on whether or not a member appeared for strike duty at least once every five days.
Many of the members, appearing for their checks yesterday, were told that in order to qualify for them they would have to serve on picket duty today before 3 p.m. to make up for lost picket time.
Blanchard stated that with a membership of 530 members available for picket duty, the schedule calls for each man to serve three hours, once every five days. Some members have only been on duty one three-hour period while others have done more than their share.
“We have denied no one benefits,” he said, adding “we are giving every member full opportunity to fulfill his picket obligations.”
Those who are unable to picket because of health or other reasons are put to work at other things to make everything fair, he said.
With each member doing a tour of duty once every five days, the Local is able to maintain a schedule of 110 pickets a day, Blanchard stated that he hoped every member would volunteer his services for picket duty to qualify.
The ruling of one three-hour period of picket duty, once every five days, has been cleared through Cincinnati, Blanchard noted.