"THREE UNIONS HEARD ERE WORKERS CHOOSE," Toronto Star. July 22, 1943. Page 2. --- Joint Meeting Held in Jarvis Sees Machinists' Group Given Mandate ---- In Jarvis Tuesday evening spokesmen for three unions - two affiliated with the C.I.O. and one with the A.F. of L. - placed their cases before workers of two war plants and then asked the workers to vote for the union they wanted to represent them.
The three unions were the United Steelworkers of America, C.I.O., the United Automobile Workers of America. C.I.O., and the International Association of Machinists. A.F. of L. After hearing the representatives of all three, a majority of the workers voted for the machinists.
The workers were from the John Bertram Machinery Co. and the Pratt and Whitney Co.. both of Jarvis. Russell Harvey. A.F. of L. organizer and one of the men to speak on behalf of the machinists' union, said today the vote was "informal" and no agreement has been made with either of the companies, whereby the companies will bargain collectively with the union chosen.
"Our organization program is just getting under way in the plants," he said, "but we consider Tuesday's meeting something new and an excellent method of enabling workers to choose the union they want to represent them."
The joint meeting was held at the request of the workers, who stated their desire in a petition signed by 80 per cent. of their number.
Alex Reith. grand lodge representative of the International Association of Machinists, said the three unions had made a "gentleman's agreement" whereby the losers will not attempt to organize in the two plants.