The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

18 THE OSHAWA TIMES, Tuesday, May 26, 1964 - BUSY GEORGE BURT STILL FINDS TIME 70 JOKE By KEN SMITH Canadian Press Business Editor WINDSOR, Bee (CP) Burt, the leader who eats big man- t for breakfast, says he he knows the reason for comparative labor peace t has settled in recent years r thi pire : "M ent," he says sol- emnly, "has seen the light." With a new and tough series of contract talks due to start this fall, not even Mr, Burt can keep a straight face after that remark, and he bubbles out a delighted chuckle to prove he = doesn't relly mean it and is only { poking some more fun at the " j - troubled auto t of the negotiating table. , it's no mean feat for = him still to be able to find something to laugh about after 2% years as Canadian director of the powerful, one-time trucu- lent and still militant United Auto Workers Union. Under his guidance, the 60,- 000-man UAW has engaged in + some of the mightiest struggles, against some of the toughest opponents, in Canada's labor history, And he has won. "The aims of collective bar- gaining have changed since 1939 when I was first elected direc- tor," he says. SEEK SECURITY NOW "In those days our essential fight was for union /recognition. Well, new we ara accented by both management and society-- at least, generally. Workers' security is the issue now." A smallish man with a quiet, high-pitched voice, Mr. Burt looks at first glance more like a soft - hearted schoolteacher than a skilled and, when neces- sary, rough-and-tumble union leader. But watch him when someone opposes something he believes in--his puckish face starts to glow with ruddy indignation and his mouth clamps in a. thin line. He is a man who cut his teeth in the bitter 1937 strike at the General Motors Plant in Osh- * awa, when the late premier ' Mitchell Hepburn established police squads to repel the "in- vading"' international union or- ganizers from Detroit. He has seen police and picket clash and knows what it is to have to meet clandestinely to try to organize workers into a union. He has been abused and reviled by business, politicians and newspapers, but he has never wavered from his basic philosophy--improving the lot of the man who works for hourly wages. ' BEARS NO GRUDGE "I don't mind the things that were said about me--after all, : I've said a few nasty things about them in my time too," he + Says of the old days. "I'd hate to think they bear me any | grudge." An effective and rapid-fire talker, he likes to make his point when addressing an audi- ; ence by using facts--an oppos- + ing negotiator once called him | the master of the one-sided fact --but when necessary he can boil his listeners with the stuff . that sends people to the ram- } parts. In negotiations, * men. + One, seen by his union aides, | _ is calm, firm, fair. The other, the one manage- , ment has to deal with, is a com- * bination of Atilla the Hun and! | Shylock. | _ A senior Ford of Canada offi- , Cial, before the start of a long strike , a decade ago, once exploded: ' "Burt is the most impossible' man that ever lived!" Snapped the union leader when told of this: '"'That's what I was going to say about him-- + Now Ford is even taking our H words away from us." | Completely devoted to his work, he once was reported by | his assistants to be home in | bed, ill. He was found at the {scene of a small strike at) { nearby Amherst , talking to} j the picketers. TRAINED AS PLUMBER ; George Burt, 60, was born in the Toronto suburb of Mimico. Trained as a plumber and pipe- |! fitter, he took a job in Oshawa) in 1927 but was laid off a year) later. ere mee ee ee (+t -- eee ee he is two) ; men who sit on the other side! bargaining with him just] but it's clear he blames man- agement attitudes for the old troubles. ng| PRAISES SWEDEN He uses the recently estab- lished Volvo plant at Dart- mouth, N.S. as an example. "Tt was organized without any difficulty and I'm certain it was because Sweden, where Volvo's parent firm is, has a much more enlightened attitude to- ward unions than North Amer- ica has, "It would have been much harder to reach agreement if 't had been an American com- pany." As a recognized, and re- spected, elder of Canadian la- bor, Mr. Burt doesn't get the Although Mr. Burt eats, sleeps and breathes the UAW-- he is on: the board of director: of '*~ international union and' has, next to president Walte~ Reuther, the most years of service on it--he is closely in- volved in other union work, too. AIDS WINDSOR GROWTH He has been a vice-president of the Canadian Labor Congress for years and has been a lead- ing ---- for Canadian la- bor in foreign fields. He also practises what he preaches about unions taking a) more active role in commu ; Marks 25 Years As UAW Chief "I can see nothing but pro- gress," Mr. Burt says. "The in- dustrial nature of the country is being emphasized more and more all the time and as it affairs and is a director--along| grows so will trade unions.' Hanging over him, however, \like, all other union leaders, is "\the bug-a-boo of automation. with Chrysler of Canada pres:-! dent Ron Todgham -- of the Greater Windsor Foundatio~ group established to promote' growth in Windsor. What of the future for trade unionism in Canada? For personal use or for @ Company use are» abuse he used to two decad former auto executive. "In a moment of heat during negoti- telligence and his legitimacy, but no one questions his honesty and sincerity." go. | "Put it this way," said one) ations, we may question his in-} definite od wheal vou fease a new . bd No insurence PHONE 723-4634 There Are Special Benefits For All BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND SALESMEN ACADIAN other, PONTIAC 6. BUICK Request + +.» One rate covers costs No meintenance costs as ee + Phone or come in " MILLS AUTO LEASE LTD. 266 KING ST. WEST "rorm wna Wet workers in | Sweden aren't afraid of autome- tion while. Canada's are," he says, "'That's because in Swe den there is a confidence be- tween labor, management and government that isn't estab- lished yet in Canada. "One of our problems is that there's been no real research in Canada on the effects of auto- mation. There are few figures and those that are available are without authority. "Our fear is that the replace- ment of workers under automa- tion will be gradual, so the pub- lic won't get steamed up about REBUILT HOUSE d solution will have to be a it labor-management-gov- ernment effort, he feels, and a grandfather five times, Mr. Burt now lives with his wife in an old farmhouse fronting on Lake Erie near . He drives to and from work each day in his small Oldsmobile. There are three or four acres of land with the house--'my wife likes flowers"--and Mr. Burt, an inveterate woodworker when he has some spare time, has a workshop in a shed by the garage. He also has two it and the government won't move." ~~ and in the summer swims The father of three children| mo Burts bought the house ago when it was panne ease. plastering and down and he he spent geven| course the plumbing. repairing it in. "1 id all the wane mye mba oe a lot. ji i | | $7,950 -- $9,150 Department of Defence Production Ottawa PURCHASE RESEARCH PROJECT OFFICERS FOUR PROJECT hy ore required to 0 underis santas ond ci produce savings, gente. 3 the Federal preferably in engineering, b or improvements in the pur- ote Se RON Se ae ee ee ee ee APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM. university graduates or accounting, or bers of a prof | engineering: or accounting association, OR non-graduotes possessing ex- tensive experience in fields closely related to the duties. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE IN "Nedustriah En- gineering, Product Engineering, or in. Cost Accounting in- cluding estimating, budgeting"@nd cost onalysis, and a good general knowledge of products ond industrial processes, Applications will be particularly welcome from those who are now carrying out extensive and complex cost and. op- erational studies for senior FOR FURTHER DETAILS and appli MEDIATELY to THE CIVIL SERVICE management. ications forms, write IM- COMMISSION. OF CANADA, OTTAWA 4. Please ask for information Circular 64-2252. . Vi | fy \ ON SAVINGS Interest from date of deposit Free Chequing Privileges Deposits by Mail postage paid envelopes provided free Hours--9 to 5 Fridays--9 to9 _ Saturdays--9 to 1 GUARANTY TRUST CANADA'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT TRUST COMPANY 32 KING STREET EAST 728-1653 FROM THE ORIENT! Special purchase of a wide A, Graduated Necklets, 60.00. EATON Special B. popular lengths. Ordinarily Ordinarily Ordinarily Matinee Length, Approx magnificent lustre. Ordinarily 135.00. Each inee and choker lengths in the group graduated cultured pearls. All with 10K white gold clasps. EATON SPECIAL PRICES: Delicated graduated cultured 37.95 Uniform Necklets. Evenly matched cikaed pearls in pearls with larger centre pearl. Ordinarily Ordinarily 200.00, Each C. Baroque Necklets -- Large-size cultured pearls with Matinee length, approx. 22', Ordinarily 202.50. Each ...... EATON'S MALL LEVEL, DEPT. 215 there's so much Lustrous Cultured Pearls range in styles... both ma Price, each EATON SPECIAL PRICES: Choker Length: Small cultured pearls, 85.00. Each Medium cultured pearls, 100.00. Each .. Large cultured pearls, 150.00. Each .. e2", Choker length, approx. 15". ; uniform and 134. 50 119.95 PHONE 725-7373 t- Ww Aa Reine Sterling Silver Jewellery An Excellent Choice for Graduation Gifts! or ou t EATON'S 14 ONLY... Elegant Split Skin MINK STOLES Specially Low Priced! The 'timeless' little fur... a wardrobe accesssory to wear on almost any semi- formal or formal occasion. Choose from five luxurious natural shades: @ PASTEL @ PEARL @ NATURAL WILD @ DARK RANCH @ SAPPHIRE BLUE EATON Special Price, each 169-00 EATON'S UPPER LEVEL, DEPT. 248 PHONE 725-7373 Available Only at EATON'S! to open and hold two EATON Price, each E --- Hinged Bracelet with safety chain, rye silver with hand-engraving. Matches eorrings and EATON Price, each D -- Delicate Hand-Engraved, Oval Shaped Locket on a fine chain, Hinged pictures. Approx. locket. Approx. yy" wide. F--Small Round Earrings approx. have screw backs EATON Price, poir .. tee e ee eeeeronns eeeeee EATON'S MALL LEVEL, DEPT. 215 5.75 PHONE 725-7373 New From Helena Rubinstein, . . 'LONG-LASH' MASCARA "GLENEATON" DEBS FROSTY WHITE SUMMER SHOES A trio of smart new Summer designs in cool white calf leather. You'll like Gleneaton Debs, they're comfortable, fashionable and "'Sanitized" too! A white shoe is a wear-with-every- This new concept in mascara helps build ge tes thing shoe during.every month under the sun! Sizes 7 to 9, AA and 6 to 9 B widths. your own lashes as it separates, curls and colours. It's water-proof, smudge-proof and odourless, too. Colours of black, brown or navy blue. Each 3.00 Refill, each 1.75 Also Available: A 15 sown matching pas- é IN @ gb Eye Liner Pencil, ac pha fete vs i @ Eyebrow Exclusive Pencil aid : EATON Price, pair * ] Qs 2 @ ¢when a prolonged and bitter) Brush Combination, each @ Eye Shadow Stick:-- easy to EATON'S MALL LEVEL, DEPT. 252 *strike at Ford was settled on| EATON'S MALL LEVEL, DEPT. 212 PHONE 725-7373 EATON'S MALL LEVEL, DEPT. 238 PHONE 725-7373 ethe so-called Rand formula, un- ; : EATON'S Telephone Order Service Open Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday Nights until 9 He went to the General Mot- | } ors' body-works plant and re-| mained there until 1939 when he| + moved to Windsor as Canadian | director of the UAW. +. "Our department was. one of | the leaders in that 1937 strike,' The recalls. 'We'd had several | ; shutdowns after the company | 4 tried to speed up the work. | ' "During one of the shutdowns 4an underground group called in) *a UAW organizer from Detroit. | ?That' 's when Hepburn started! + talking about the foreign agita-} {tors coming in to stir up trouble. | ~ The big break in the union- {seourity struggle came in 1945) English Earthenware Cups and Saucers BY CONWAY! Here's a timely special for your home or cottage! : Sturdy earthenware cups are creamy white inside ; with delicate shades of pink, yellow, blue or green : on the dutside. Each cup has it tel saucer. EATON Special Price, 4 cups and 4 saucers ... C. EDIE. A dress purnp with an illusion. heel. Open shank and narrow cut- outs on vamp, B. AGGY. A fashion leader, the open sling back. This one with elasticized straps to vamp and lat- tice like cutout work, Illusion heel only. A. ROXANNE. Simple lines in an illusion heeled step- in pump with elasticized throat and a perforated design on the vamp, PHONE 725-7373 flected from workers by the company whetlfér the workers belonged to the union or not Mr, Burt may not bear any| grudges for the personal abuse| heaped on him jn past strikes, |