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Statement byGATEWAYCOMPANYWe feel that the general public Is entitled to a statement relative tothe causes and the present status of the controversy between the Gatewayformer*On May 31st, 1946, a strike was called by the Union under the following circumstances:1. The Union failed to establish whether or not a majority of our bona fide regular employees were members of the Union.2 At 7:00 a, m. the Union representative, at the time of presentingh contract, issued an ultimatum that there would lie a strike unless the contract was immediately signed. This was at a time when the President and General Manager was out of town and no company representative had anysign3. Therates of pay for plant employees averaging 17' ^c per hour more than those in effect in several dairy plants in this vicinity which operate under “closed shop” contracts with the Union and which would cost $22,276.00 more jwr year for plant workers only, than it would at the wage scale paid by suchcompetitive plants.#4. After the strike was called, instead of indulging only in peaceful picketing, our customers and loyal employees were intimidated, threatened and, in some instances, subjected to acts of violence. Interlopers slipped into our plant and performed acts of criminal destruction and sabotage, all of which resulted in the issuance of a restraining order from the Circuit Court of Jasper County, Missouri.The report has been circulated that some of our milk driver-salesmen make only $22.00 per week. The actual facts are that during the periodbetween January 1 and April 30, 1046. such employees had the following average monthly earnings:XumtMM of Bowie* Avers#* Monthly Earning*WHOLESALE ...... 4 $267.MiRETA11..... 9 $178.84The wholesale driver-salesmen work their routes six days per week.while the retail routes run every other dav. However, the retail driver-salesmen are on call to help out, if needed, for relief work on their “off days. Our records indicate that they actually work slightly less than five d a vs per week on the average.Thus, our wholesale driver-salesmen earn approximately $10.28 per working day (26 days per month), and those on the retail routes about $8.13 per working day (22 days per month).The management of the Gateway Creamery Company has no quarrel with organized labor, as such: we realise that the country is suffering the pangs of reconversion from wartime to peacetime and that labor unrest is in the air. However, we feel that the present abortive strike wasunfair, that no real controversy as to wages, hours or working conditions existed, and that in an organised society the personal and property rights of the employer should be respected, along with the rights of the employee.In view of the foregoing and during the pendency of the present controversy, we request the patience of our customers and of the general public. Milk is a commodity of life and an absolute necessity for children and many adults. If it is within our power, we plan to serve tfie requirements of the public.Respectfully submitted,GATEWAY CREAMERY COMPANYBy JOHN' W. GARRETT,PreMd*nt.By L. O. SHAFFER,rotary.
Newspaper Details
Joplin News Herald
Joplin, Missouri, US
Mon, Jun 10, 1946
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 05 Jul 2023
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