Document rwMEZ1M4p5gV93vkgGZ425Vq

FILE NAME Corning OC DATE 1957 May 9 DOC OC150 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter to Corning from Consultants RE The Asbestos Workers Union EEON EM so 5467 IRA 1. BROUGHT & ASSOCIATES CONSULTANTS 1138 EDISON BUILDING TOLEDO OHIO MAY 13 1957 MAY 0 1957 May 9 1957 Mr. Harold Boeschenstein President Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporati National Bank Building Toledo 4 Ohio Lear Mr. Boeschenstein z Two serious blows have been dealt by the Asbestos Workers Union during the past several months to the Fiberglas Industry The first blow was outlined in my letter of April 25 which indicated that a wage premium had been demanded by the 1957 New York local in their wage negotiation agenda This we were successful in having deleted The second blow and a more alarm- ing one was dealt recently by the union during their Western States Conference held in Oakland California which was attended by business agents from all over the westera portion of the United Stat In the published minutes of their meeting which was mailed to each of the twenty thousand members the following state ment was made The problems of Asbestosis and Silicosis were discussed at large stemming from the report of Local No. 16 in which it was revealed that eleven members passed away this year A large number of the men had definite symptoms of the aforementioned hazards of our trade Most of the locals in attendance spoke on this vital subject President Sickles speaking from an International paint of view said the International is compiling facts and figures on this matter C President Sickles stated further that the regulation requiring the companies to furnish safety equipment still helds The Navy Yard employees explained the safety precaut^> taken by the Navy Yards in regard to this matter At this time a motion was made seconded and passed that the International continue to investigate the causes of Asbestosis and allied lung ailments caused by fibrous materials and to determine what measures can be found to combat and prevent these diseR385 Mr. Boeschenstein -2- May 9 1957 | The circulation of this statement to the union member- ship will no doubt cause an increasing amount of alarm throughout the country as to the health hazard All of this in my opinion emphasises the need for the immediate application of recomme onsmade in our report of January 15 1945. Is nut shell the secommendations were that every branch sales office should be ta intimate and frequent contact with all business agents in their sales territory The relationship should be sufficiently close so that the branch manager or the industrial salesman would acquire immediate knowledge of unrest brewing in the local which might spread throughout the United States All business agents are either sales assets or sales Habilities If the business agent is a friend of the industrial salesman he will inform him of pending trouble In my opinion the industrial salesman wherever located should convey an attitude of cooperative good will to all business agemis along with the health program If trouble or unrest is detected it should be promptly reporte>so that remedial steps c^nbe taken IB gmw cc Mr. Winkle Mr. Kessler Mr. Bright Mr. Burch Mr. Mr. Mr. Williams Crepps ~ Maher Ira L. Brought