pa1778data.pdf

U.S. STEEL DUQUESNE WORKS
HAER No. PA-115
(Page 38)
repair shop resented the fact that the repair of small motors was
conducted by outside contractors rather than by themselves. In
both instances, management defended its practice of contracting
out these types of work on the grounds of practicality. Because
of the small amount of engine reboring work required at the
Duquesne Works, management argued that it was not practical to
purchase an expensive reboring machine for the tractor repair
shop. On-site engine rebuilding required a prohibitively
expensive inventory of spare parts to cover the varied types of
mobile equipment at the works. Using a similar argument with
regard to the repair of small motors, management cited the
expense of carrying an inventory of parts for the numerous
variety of small motors used at the works and the fact that
outside shops were more properly equipped to perform this type of
work.
The third concern—the question of using non-craftsmen or
unauthorized craftsmen to do work falling within the jurisdiction
of specific craft groups—was shared by nearly every tradesman in
the mill. Painters complained that production workers in the bar
mills were performing work that properly belonged to themselves.
Pipefitters objected to the reduction of regularly assigned men
in the bar mills after April of 1957 from seven to three workers
and suggested that much pipefitting work in this area as well as
throughout the mill was being performed by millwrights. The
alleged practice of using millwrights to perform work which
legitimately belonged to other craft groups also incurred the
wrath of the mill's riggers. They complained that work such as
the installation of a new crane monorail at the electric furnace
plant was being conducted by the millwrights at their expense.
Management, for its part, replied to these objections by
observing that the lines between craft and non—craft work as well
as between different kinds of craft work were often blurred but
stated that it would do all it could to plan job assignments
which would satisfy all craft groups within the mill. jl
51 Minutes of Special Meeting Between Members of U.S.W. Local
#12 56 Grievance Committee, Representatives Maintenance Shop
Employees, and Management of Duguesne Works, (October 17, 1958);
Minutes of Special Meetings Between Duquesne Works Management and
Members of U. S. W. Local 1256 Grievance Representatives of the
Masonry Department Employees (November 17, 1958), Carpenter Shop
Employees (October 23, 1958), Pipe Shop Employees (November 13,
1958), Locomotive and Tractor Shop Employees (November 5, 1958),
Electric Repair Shop Employees (October 28, 1958), Paint shop
Employees (November 6, 1958), and Rigger shop Employees (October
31, 1958); Pipefitter Work Stoppage (May 21, 1959). All documents
are in the Industrial Relations Records of the Duquesne Works at
the Labor Archives, University of Pittsburgh.