U.S. Board of Inquiry on the 1959 Labor Dispute in the Steel Industry Records, 1960
Collection Number: 5074

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
U.S. Board of Inquiry on the 1959 Labor Dispute in the Steel Industry Records, 1960
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5074
Abstract:
Steel Companies Coordinating Committee vs. United Steelworkers of America : documents, 1959-1960. Consist of the transcripts of the proceedings (2 vol.), the Board's final report, and the exhibits submitted by the union and the steel companies.
Creator:
U.S. Board of Inquiry
Steel Companies Coordinating Committee
United Steelworkers of America (USWA)
Quanitities:
1 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

This Board of Inquiry was created on October 9, 1959 by President Dwight David Eisenhower according to powers granted him under the national emergencies section of the Taft-Hartley Act. The Board was empowered to investigate the dispute which led to an industry-wide steel strike by the United Steelworkers of America (USWA).
The dispute began on April 10, 1959, when the steel companies proposed that the collective agreement that was due to expire on June 30 be extended another year without alteration. Rejecting this suggestion, the union asked for a new agreement which was to include a twelve cents per hour increase, a cost-of-living adjustment, and improved fringe benefits. When no progress in negotiations occurred despite an extension of one month in the agreement, the USWA called a strike on July 15th. The October 19 report of the Board was without effect and, at the direction of the president, the attorney general began an injunction action against the strike which took effect on November 7th. The Board was reconvened on November 10th and issued its second report on January 6th, 1960. The major road blocks to settlement identified by the Board were the dispute over a wage increase and the differences over work rules, with the companies insisting that the total package could not exceed 2.7 percent. On January 15, an agreement was signed that provided for a seven cents per hour pay increase, a cost-of-living adjustment and improved pension and health benefits.

Consist of the transcripts of the proceedings (2 vol.), the Board's final report, and the exhibits submitted by the union and the steel companies.
Union exhibits before the first Board include a statement of issues and the position of the union by its attorney, Arthur J. Goldberg; correspondence between the union and the major steel corporations, April-October, 1959; a brief by Goldberg on the -national emergency issue; a brief by Leon H. Keyserling on the steel strike and the recession of 1958; a brief by Meyer Bernstein on the issue of foreign competition; and briefs by staff officers of the union on other specific economic issues.
Major steel companies involved in the strike include the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, ARMCO Steel Corporation, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Great Lakes Steel Corporation, Inland Steel Company, Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, Raiser Steel Corporation, United States Steel Corporation, Wheeling
United States. Board of Inquiry on the 1S59 Labor(CONTINUED} Steel Corporation and Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, among others. Exhibits presented by this group include a statement of management's position, correspondence between the corporations and the union, April-July, 1959, statistics bearing on the dispute, and statements on inflation, profits, and foreign competition, among other documents.
Exhibits submitted to the second hearing include exchangee of offers between the union and individual companies; statements on behalf of the union by Goldberg, David J. McDonald, USWA president, and George Meany; and statements on behalf of management by R. Conrad Cooper and K.C. Lumb, among other documents.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

U.S. Board of Inquiry on the 1959 Labor Dispute in the Steel Industry Records #5074. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 5073: U.S. Board of Inquiry to Report on Certain Labor Disputes Affecting the Maritime Industry of the United States Records

SUBJECTS

Names:
Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation
ARMCO Steel Corporation
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
Great Lakes Steel Corporation
Inland Steel Company
Jones & Laughlin Steel Company
Kaiser Steel Corporation
Republic Steel Corporation
United States. Board of Inquiry on the 1959 Labor Dispute in the Steel Industry.
United States Steel Corporation
United Steelworkers of America
Wheeling Steel Corporation
Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company
Bernstein, Meyer
Cooper, R. Conrad
Goldberg, Arthur J.
Keyserling, Leon H. (Leon Hirsch), 1908-1987
Lehaczky, Paul M.
Lumb, H. C.
McDonald, David J. (David John), 1902-1979
Meany, George, 1894-1980
Perkins, John A.
Taylor, George William, 1901-
Subjects:
Mediation and conciliation, Industrial--United States--Cases.
Iron and steel workers.
Employee fringe benefits. Mediation and conciliation, Industrial. United States.
Insurance, Health. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
Insurance, Health. Mediation and conciliation, Industrial. United States.
Mediation and conciliation, Industrial. Steel industry. United States.
Retirement. Mediation and conciliation, Industrial. United States.
Strikes and lockouts. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
Strikes and lockouts. Steel industry. United States.
Wages. Mediation and conciliation, Industrial. United States.
Wages. Steel industry. United States.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1
Exhibits, Transcripts, Reports
Box 1 Folder 1
Vol. 2 Presidential Board of Inquiry - United Steel Workers of America and Certain Companies in the Steel Industry (2nd Hearing)
Box 1 Folder 2
12 Companies (Steel Companies Coordinating Committee) Exhibits A-J3
Box 1 Folder 3
Miscellaneous Exhibits
1959
Scope and Contents
April 13, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 4
15 Companies (Other Steel Companies) Exhibit A
Box 1 Folder 5
Iron Ore Companies Exhibits A-B1
Box 1 Folder 6
11 Steel Companies (2nd Hearing) A-J
Box 1 Folder 7
Union Exhibits C-G
Box 1 Folder 8
Union Exhibits K-S6
1959
Box 1 Folder 9
Union Exhibits K-S6
1959
Box 1 Folder 10
Union Exhibits (2nd Hearing) A-R
1959
Scope and Contents
July 14, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 11
Union Exhibit H-J Appendix E
1951
Scope and Contents
July 3, 1951.
Box 1 Folder 12
Union Exhibits B-11 - B-18
Box 1 Folder 13
11. Arbitration Decision.
1957
Scope and Contents
July 13, 1957.
Box 1 Folder 14
12. Decision of Impartial Umpire.
1959
Scope and Contents
May 18, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 15
13. Arbitration of Decision.
1953
Scope and Contents
January 31, 1953.
Box 1 Folder 16
14. Recommendations of Wage Stabilization Board.
Box 1 Folder 17
15. Non-Economic Proposals - United States Steel.
1959
Scope and Contents
September 8, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 18
16. Report to United States Steel Local Unions.
1959
Scope and Contents
September 17, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 19
17. Report to Bethlehem Local Unions.
1959
Scope and Contents
September 17, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 20
18. Report to Bethlehem Negotiating Committee.
1959
Scope and Contents
September 25, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 21
1st Hearing. Exhibit C. The National emergency Issue - Arthur J. Goldberg.
Box 1 Folder 22
1st Hearing. Exhibit D. An Economic Documentation of the Steelworkers Position in the 1959 Steel Strike - Otis Brubaker, Director, Research Department, United Steelworkers of America.
1959
Box 1 Folder 23
1st Hearing. Exhibit E. Statement by Robert R. Nathan, Consulting Economist, United Steelworkers of America.
Box 1 Folder 24
1st Hearing. Exhibit F. The Steel Strike of 1959 and the Recession of 1958 - Leon H. Keyserling, Former Chairman, Council of Economic Advisors, Consulting Economist and Attorney.
1958-1959
Box 1 Folder 25
1st Hearing. Exhibit G. The Issue of Foreign Competition - Meyer Bernstein, International Affairs Representative, United Steelworkers of America.
Box 1 Folder 26
1. Steelworkers' Conference Proceedings, Vienna, Austria.
1959
Scope and Contents
March 19-21, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 27
2. Minutes of Steelworkers' Conference, Vienna, Austria.
1959
Scope and Contents
March 19-21, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 28
3. Comparison of United States Steel and Bethlehem Employment Conditions in the United States and Venezuela.
1959
Scope and Contents
April 9, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 29
1st Hearing. Exhibit H. The Union's Analysis of Contract Proposals - David Feller, Associate General Counsel.
Box 1 Folder 30
1st Hearing. Exhibit I. Supplemental Statement of the Issues and the Position of the Union - Salaried, Office and Technical Workers - John J. Pasting, Director, Office and Technical Department, United Steelworkers of America.
Box 1 Folder 31
1st Hearing. Exhibit J. Statement of the Union with Respect to Insurance, Pensions and Supplemental Unemployment Benefits.
Box 1 Folder 32
Appendix A: Non-Contributory Insurance Agreement.
Box 1 Folder 33
Appendix B: Pension Agreement.
Box 1 Folder 34
Appendix C: Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Agreement.
Box 1 Folder 35
Appendix D: Steel Industry's Proposal on Insurance Pensions and SUB.
Box 1 Folder 36
Appendix E: Comparison of Age Pensions Under Basic Steel Industry Pension Plan and Under 25 Selected Non-Contributory Pension Plans.
Box 1 Folder 37
1st Hearing. Exhibit K. Union Statement on Status of Negotiations with Lake Shipping Companies.
Box 1 Folder 38
1st Hearing. Exhibit L. Union Statement on Iron Ore Negotiations.
Box 1 Folder 39
1st Hearing. Exhibit M. 1959 Wage Policy statement of International Wage Policy Committee.
1959
Scope and Contents
April 30-May 1, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 40
1st Hearing. Exhibit N. Proposals of United Steelworkers of America for the 1959 Negotiations.
Box 1 Folder 41
1st Hearing. Exhibit O. Union's Offer.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 15, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 42
1. Calculation of Additional Pension Costs
Box 1 Folder 43
2. Calculation of Industry Insurance Plan - Murrary W. Latimer, Industrial Relations Consultant.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 15, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 44
1st Hearing. Exhibit P. Union Comments on steel Industry's Insurance Proposal.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 17, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 45
1st Hearing. Exhibit Q. Union Comments on SUB Offer of the Steel Companies.
Box 1 Folder 46
1st Hearing. Exhibit R. Union Comments on Pensions Offer of the Steel Companies.
Box 1 Folder 47
1st Hearing. Exhibit S. Miscellaneous Exhibits Submitted by the Union at the End of Hearings.
Box 1 Folder 48
Hearings. 1. Union Memorandum on Union Proposal of October 15 and Company Proposal of October 17.
1959
Scope and Contents
1959? No year specified.
Box 1 Folder 49
Hearings. 2. Union Statement on Cost of Supplemental Unemployment Benefits.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 17, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 50
Hearings. 3. Union Statement of Cost-of-Living Proposal.
Box 1 Folder 51
Hearings. 4. The Wage Increase Proposals.
Box 1 Folder 52
Hearings. 5. Union Proposal - the Second Year Wage Increase.
Box 1 Folder 53
Hearings. 6. Salary Contract "Replacement Value" Considerations.
Box 1 Folder 54
12 Companies. Exhibit A. Statement of R. Conrad Cooper.
Box 1 Folder 55
12 Companies. Exhibit B. Statement of the Companies' Position.
Box 1 Folder 56
1. Letter from Twelve Major Steel Companies to President, United Steelworkers of America.
1959
Scope and Contents
April 10, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 57
2. Letter from Twelve Major Steel Companies to President, United Steelworkers of America.
1959
Scope and Contents
June 10, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 58
3. Letter to Employees of the United States Steel from W.F. Munford, President.
1959
Scope and Contents
August 7, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 59
4. Extension Agreement Between United Steelworkers of America and Twelve Major Steel Companies.
1959
Scope and Contents
June 27, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 60
5. Letter from Twelve Major Steel Companies to President, United Steelworkers of America.
1959
Scope and Contents
July 12, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 61
6. Letter from twelve Major Steel Companies to President, United Steelworkers of America, in reply to Union Proposal.
1959
Scope and Contents
July 14, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 62
7. Background Statistics Bearing on the Steel Dispute.
Box 1 Folder 63
8. Background Statistics Bearing on the Steel Dispute - Supplementary Tables.
Box 1 Folder 64
9. Steel Industry Review of Background Statistics Bearing on the Steel Dispute.
Box 1 Folder 65
10. Statement by R. Conrad Cooper on Behalf of the Negotiating Team for the Twelve Steel Companies.
Box 1 Folder 66
11. Economic Matters of Fact - A Steel Data Book.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 1, 1959
Box 1 Folder 67
12 Companies. Exhibit C. Companies' Statement on Employment Cost Competition.
Box 1 Folder 68
12 Companies. Exhibit D. Companies' Statement on Inflation.
Box 1 Folder 69
12 Companies. Exhibit E. Companies' Statement on Profits.
Box 1 Folder 70
12 Companies. Exhibit F. Summary of Companies Statement on Foreign Competition.
Box 1 Folder 71
12 Companies. Exhibit G. Clarification of Position of the 12 Companies with Respect to the Contract Changes Covered by Paragraph 2 of the Companies Proposal.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 1, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 72
12 Companies. Exhibit H. Statement on Behalf of Great Lakes Steel Corporation - Seniority Issue.
Box 1 Folder 73
12 Companies. Exhibit I. Statement by H. Conrad Cooper.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 18, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 74
12 Companies. Exhibit J. Twelve Companies' Offer.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 17, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 75
1. Summary of Estimates of Employment Cost Increases - Industry and Union Proposals.
Box 1 Folder 76
2. Estimates of Increased Company Cost of Insurance and Pension Proposals.
Box 1 Folder 77
3. The Estimated Employment Cost Impact to the Steel Industry of a One Cent Per Hour Increase in Wage Rates.
Box 1 Folder 78
15 Companies. Exhibit A. Statement of the Companies' Position.
Box 1 Folder 79
Iron Ore Companies. Exhibit A. Statement Submitted by Certain Iron Ore Companies - W.F. Montague.
Box 1 Folder 80
1. List of Iron Ore Mining Companies Involved in United Steelworkers strike.
Box 1 Folder 81
Iron Ore Companies. Exhibit B. Memorandum Submitted to Board of Inquiry by Certain Iron Mining Companies Operating in the Lake Superior District - W.F. Montague.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 17, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 82
1. Table 1 - Estimate of Iron Ore Situation.
1959-1960
Box 1 Folder 83
Report to the President.
1959
Scope and Contents
October 19, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 84
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit A. Statement of David J. McDonald.
1959
Scope and Contents
December 28, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 85
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit B. Statement of George Meany.
Box 1 Folder 86
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit C. Statement of United Steelworkers of America - Arthur J. Goldberg.
Box 1 Folder 87
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit D. Summary of Companies' and Union Proposals (Based on United Sates Steel Proposals).
Box 1 Folder 88
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit E. Union Proposal - Production and Maintenance Employees.
Box 1 Folder 89
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit F. Union Proposal - Continental Can Company, Incorporated.
Box 1 Folder 90
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit G. Union Proposal - Aluminum Company of America.
Box 1 Folder 91
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit H. Union Proposal (S.U.B.) - Reynolds Aluminum Company.
Box 1 Folder 92
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit I. Union Letter to Each Company Requesting Company by Company Bargaining.
Box 1 Folder 93
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit J. Letter to United States Steel Corporation, Attention R. Conrad Cooper (For Each of the Eleven Companies and for Each Chairman).
Box 1 Folder 94
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit K. Letter to the President of the United States from David J. McDonald.
1959
Scope and Contents
December 3, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 95
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit L. Letter to All Companies Covered by Taft-Hartley Injunction from David J. McDonald.
1959
Scope and Contents
December 9, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 96
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit M. Motion and Memorandum in Support of Motion - District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania.
Box 1 Folder 97
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit N. Memorandum Regarding 2B Example in the Steel Companies' Coordinating committee Advertisement.
1959
Scope and Contents
December 28, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 98
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit O. Can Package (Can Industry).
Box 1 Folder 99
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit P. Alcoa Settlement.
Box 1 Folder 100
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit Q. Union Cost Estimates.
Box 1 Folder 101
2nd Hearing. Union Exhibit R. Letter from Arthur J. Goldberg to Chairman, Presidential Board of Inquiry.
1959
Scope and Contents
December 31, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 102
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit A. Opening Statements - R. Conrad Cooper.
Box 1 Folder 103
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit B. Company Proposal to Union.
1959
Scope and Contents
November 15, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 104
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit C. List of Eleven Companies' Last Offers.
Box 1 Folder 105
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit D. Explanation of the Eleven Companies' S.U.B. Proposals.
Box 1 Folder 106
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit E. Comparison of Companies' and Union Proposals Regarding S.U.B.
Box 1 Folder 107
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit F. Statement by H.C. Lumb.
Box 1 Folder 108
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit G. Statement by R. Conrad Cooper.
Box 1 Folder 109
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit H. Summary of Companies' Estimates of Employment Cost Increases - Companies' and Union Offers - Cents Per Hours Worked.
Box 1 Folder 110
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit I. Price Waterhouse Cost Report.
Box 1 Folder 111
2nd Hearing. Companies' Exhibit J. Letter from R. Conrad Cooper to Chairman, Presidential Board of Inquiry.
1959
Scope and Contents
December 31, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 112
2nd Hearing. Miscellaneous Exhibit. Statement of Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Box 1 Folder 113
2nd Hearing. Miscellaneous Exhibit. Detailed Analysis of the Industry Proposal of November 15 and the Kaiser Settlement.
Box 1 Folder 114
2nd Hearing. Miscellaneous Exhibit. Letter from Steel Companies to David J. McDonald.
1959
Scope and Contents
December 19, 1959.
Box 1 Folder 115
2nd Hearing. Miscellaneous Exhibit. Memorandum of Agreement.
Box 1 Folder 116
2nd Hearing. Miscellaneous Exhibit. Decision of Dissent of the Supreme Court on the Injunction.
Box 1 Folder 117
Transcripts. 2 Volumes, 182 Pages.
Box 1 Folder 118
Final report to the President.
1960
Scope and Contents
January 6, 1960.