Document 3Q4gmXO3MknmLgnazbvxarpBn

FILE NAME Corning OC DATE 1942 Jan 7 DOC OC139 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Internal Memo RE Asbestos Strategy and Union OWENS - CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION . COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE Attention of Mr. Harold General Offices Toledo January 7 1942 Boeschenstein Ohio . . Ect Ect printin printin printin printin THE : & EJM thinks there is the germ of a major strategy here He suggests - 1. Compilation of asbestosis file as suggested 2. Explere with Aetne what we can get in way of autometic pianola coverage in nature of ; public liability coverage extended by cedar chest manufacturer against moth holes 3 X step a how to utilize and get results @. go to uniez cold turkey and lay it on line b or - start with people we know in union and build up confidence in worker that he is protected and there is no risk Cc. -- ---- -------- with Explore Explore with with Iveton ------ -- -- aho Matcht inad Queries 1. Would we have to do same in Equipment field 2. How would this affect our terms and conditions of sale ECA bw Edward C. Ames ae CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE General Offices Toledo Ohio Marshall t Attention of : Mr. E. J. January 7 1942 00 Mr. Harold Boeschenstein Kr W. P. Zimmerman t then Subject ASBESTOS WORKERS UNION : 1. The issue was joined Review of 1941 2. A horgolese horgolese what em per batten pewls aoa fi fl ete the feat . . . 2. Our health story was drawn together 3.- Xysing " SY OS 6 nS ae L hee Se mm ae fo 3 Our strategy has been to attack each situation locally se C ae ee ~ Immediate Developments Ahead for 1942 ' ag 7 2% ett +t gt fF Mee 1 a 1 Siebert article to appear in January issue of INDUSTRIAL re MEDICINE 2 Gardner article in preparation for JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE . 3. Sulzberger program under way . Strategy for 1942 Should it not be to take the offensive The following plan is suggested library 2. Gather as a reserve an impressive file of photostats of medical literature on asbestosis Available are two covering medical literature to 1938 citing referencesbitboliosgco rr ae ps hieosf publications in which the lung and skin hazards of asbestos are discussed This file would cover five or six hundred pages which can be microphotographed in the library of the Surgeon General in Washington or in some other medical liability coverage 2. a Explore through Aetna the feasibility of working out a plan whereby our products could be extended to all members of the Asbestos Workers Union wherever and when- ever they are handling Fiberglas products This would involve same 2,000 workers all of whom would have to be rayed rays to be interpreted at Trudeau by Dr. Sampson and in all probability given a physical examination before group coverage became effective on a set date b If feasible approach Union leaders with offer plan as follows presenting 1 A demonstration of Corning's willingness to work FoC rm L Attention of OWENS CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE General Offices Toledo Ohio Sabject ^' with A.F. of L. Union Labor 2 A means of extending to Union members on construction jobs the same kind of insurance protection and industrial hygiene precautions now available to workers in private industry 3 An irrefutable demonstration of the willingness of a reputable commercial insurance company to underwrite such a risk and of the manufacturer to carry the premium cost c If reaction is favorable arrange for Aetna representatives to present plan at Union district conferences and meetings of locals or at general convention of Union in fall of 1942. Prosentation to be accompanied by distribution of Aetna leaflets ex- plaining the insurance and telling the Fiberglas health story d If reaction is unfavorable use the asbestosis weapon to let them stew We may be sure that word the proposal will reach competition and may give us a lover with which to go direct to the locals under the union's professed law of local autonomy This procedure may provide an opportunity to promote dissension in the ranks that conceivably could bring about throw of the present Union leadership a The proposal can be exploited publicity to our advantage either way If the reaction is favorable it is a step unprecedented in the industry taken by a manufacturer so confident of the absence of unusual hazard in his materials that he has joined forces with Aetna = at a rate more favorable than could be granted to any competitive manufacturer - to protect and reassure labor and assume liability attaching to any occupational hazard attribu- attribu- table to his materials If the reaction is unfavorable the way is opened to spread word among the locals about the refusal of the Union officals to make this protection available to the members and to play all the stops on asbestosis Implied is the threat to distribute to all members of the Union copies of the U.S. Public Health Bulletin 241 on Asbestosis Principal advantages of the whole plan are that it would take out of the realm of rumor and gossip all the stories of injuries that are floating around would enable us to document such stories and would enable us to take the offensive in telling the health story of Fiberglas where it would do the most good Sea