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