American Flint Glass Workers' Union - 1952 Strike

Flint Glass Negotiations Continue

as 6,200 Strike in Three States.

Settlement of negotiations between the AFL Flint Glass Workers' union and 11 manufacturers is being sought in Toledo as 6,200 workers went on strike in three states.

Picket lines were thrown up early Saturday at one Muncie plant, the Kimble Glass Company, employing 400, after failure to reach an agreement before a union deadline.

Negotiations Recessed.

Industry - wide negotiations in Toledo are being continued between the National Association of Manufacturers of Pressed and Blown Glassware, representing 11 firms, and the union. Recessed at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, negotiations will resume Monday.

The breakdown of negotiations does not affect Ball Brothers Company or other eastern Indiana glass plants in the container industry. AFGWU workers in the plants consist mostly of mold-makers, whose contract is being negotiated at Toledo.

Ralph Edgar, vice president, employee and public relations, at Ball Brothers, issued the following statement Saturday:

"The breakdown of negotiations at Toledo, O., between the glass industry's Pressed Ware manufacturers and the American Flint Glass Workers' Union, which resulted in a work stoppage Friday midnight at the Kimble Division of Owens-Illinois Glass Company, has no effect on operations at Ball Brothers Company.

Sees Considerable Progress.

"Negotiations with the union with respect to the moldmakers in the glass container industry, of which Ball Brothers is a part, are still continuing at Toledo, where considerable progress is being made toward an amicable settlement and a new contract. The Ball Company is hopeful that the discussions with the moldmakers will produce a new contract at the earliest possible moment."

"All work schedules are being continued on a normal basis at the Ball Muncie plants and all employees in all divisions and departments are requested to report for their regular shifts until further notice. There has been no breakdown of negotiations between the Flint Glass Workers and the container branch of the glass industry."

Union President Harry Cook said all of the companies had been told they would be struck unless an agreement was reached by Friday midnight, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to the Muncie plant, reports from four cities Saturday indicated 6,200 other glass workers were idled as follows: Libby Glass Division of Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Toledo, 1,300; Federal Glass Company, Columbus, O., 1,400; Anchor-Hocking Glass Company, two plants in Lancaster, O., 2,800, and Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, Clarksburg, W. Va., 1,300

Wage Hike Is Issue.

Main issue between the union and company is the demand by the former for a 20 per cent wage hike or 20 cents an hour, whichever is higher. This has since been modified, but neither union nor management would say how much.

The Kimble Glass Company, which makes glass insulators and glass building blocks, employs 400 operators and moldmakers who are members of Locals 517 and 32, AFGWU. Approximately 50 moldmakers at Ball Brothers Company are members of Local 50, AFGWU.

Work is continuing at the Anchor-Hocking plant and Overmyer Mold Company at Winchester, and Armstrong Cork at Dunkirk.

Kimble officials termed the strike a surprise since no work stoppage ever occurred in the past during contract negotiations. Final settlement was usually retroactive to the contract expiration date.