Subversive Influence in the United Electrical, (Investigation relative to Legislation designed to Curb of Labor Organizations) 54-613 SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON SUBVERSIVE INFLUENCE IN THE UNITED ELECTRICAL, PITTSBURGH AND ERIE, PA. 40435 Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1954 1 1 COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY WILLIAM LANGER, North Dakota, Chairman ALEXANDER WILEY, Wisconsin JOHN MARSHALL BUTLER, Maryland PAT MCCARRAN, Nevada OLIN D. JOHNSTON, South Carolina SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT AND OTHER INTERNAL SECURITY LAWS REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE INVESTIGATING SUBVERSIVE INFLUENCE IN THE UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO, AND MACHINE WORKERS OF AMERICA, PITTSBURGH AND ERIE, PA. (Investigation relative to legislation designed to curb Communist penetration and domination of labor organizations) Hearings were held in Pittsburgh, Pa., November 9, 10, and 12, 1953, in both executive and public session with respect to subversive influence in various locals of the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America in district 6 which comprises western Pennsylvania. The principal points in the testimony are as follows: (1) Although the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America was expelled in 1949 from the Congress of Industrial Organizations because it "has fallen into the control of a group devoted primarily to the principles of the Communist Party and opposed to the constitution and democratic objectives of the CIO ** ** and although the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America has been repeatedly exposed by various committees of the Congress as Communist-controlled, it is still certified by the National Labor Relations Board as the bargaining agency for several thousand workers in the electrical, radio, and machine fields. (2) UE District 6 has an estimated 20,000 members in various locals in western Pennsylvania who are employed in vital industrial establishments, including establishments producing defense materials. These 20,000 workers each pay an average of $2 per month to various agencies of the UE (local, district, and international), making a total estimated income from dues of UE in western Pennsylvania of approximately $40,000 per month. (3) The following persons, all of whom are active in the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America in district 6, which comprises western Pennsylvania, were identified by witnesses before the subcommittee as Communists: John Nelson, president, Local 506, UE. Allan D. McNeil, district representative, district 6, UE. Thomas J. Fitzpatrick. Robert C. Kirkwood, business agent, Local 610, UE. Alexander Stabor, steward, Local 506, UE. Willard Bliss, editor, the Union News, published by Local 506, UE. Thomas Flanagan, international representative of UE. Thomas J. Quinn, president of Local 601, UE (East Pittsburgh). Harold K. Briney, president of Local 601, UE, Wilmerding, Pa. When interrogated by the subcommittee, each of the above-named persons refused to answer any questions concerning Communist Party membership or Communist Party activity. (4) The following persons who were formerly active in the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America in district 6, |