Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-20
ORGANIZED LABOR MEETS
WITH SERIOUS REVERSES
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskin

WASHINGTON, June 17-Or-
ganized labor has met with serious
reverses during the past year This
has been shown by the record of
events, which include wage reduc-
tons all along the line and ad-
verse court actions and decisions.
This has been admitted during the
deliberations of the lahcr leaders
during the annual meeting of the
American Federation of Labor a.
Cincinnati.
As one observer has put it, labor
is now fighting a rear-guard action.
That is II say. il is retr eating, but
contesting every foot of ground it
yields and ~endeavoring to prevent
the retreats becoming a panic and
a rout. Thus Ear 1t may be said to
have marshaled it's forces in good
order, but it is automatic that a
retreating army does now grow in
numbers or in strength and it is ap-
parent hat the leaders, from Com
pers IN down the line, are gravely
concerned by the outlook. This is
not to be taken as meaning that
there is any likelihood of a general
breaking up of labor organizations,
or that what is known as the labor
movement may be permanently
checked. But it does indicate that
labor has had to give up advan-
tages ono gained and that it must
new prepare TO resist attacks
against which heretofore it has felt
itself TO be immune.
Labor emerged from the war in
a highly satisfactory position from
its own viewpoint. Distinct adj
vances had been achieved: Wage
levels were higher than they had
ever been before. Hours of labor
had been reduced generally. with
the eight hour day and the 44-hour
week established in many trades
and industries. Punitive overtime
pay at the rate OF one and a halt
times or even twice the regular
scale for every hour worked in ad-
dition to the fixed work-day-had
come TO be accepted as labor's due.
Collective bargaining was no longer
an empty phrase. Membership in
the union had grown by leaps and
bounds. and their treasures were
full to overlooking. One interna-
tional vas said to have over 81,
100000 in its reserve fund.
Sought to Hold Gains
Naturally the men in the fore
front of the labor movement were
keen to hold these gains and their
postwar plans were all to that end.
They did not expect to maintain
war wages, but they did believe that
the principle of the living wage as a
minimum for all workers. with diff
ferentials for skill, experience and
hazards of employment, had been
so securely established that there
would W. be a return TO old wage
levels. However, they reckoned
without the business depression
that came and persisted and when
they lost the steel strike that was
called in September. 1919, and en-
countered vigorous governmental
intervention in the coal strike of
November following their cause and
their plans may be said to have re-
ceived a setback.
In the transportation industry
they lost the national agreement as
to rules and working conditions.
which had been negotiated with the
Railroad Administration during
Federal control. and certain groups
of railway workers lost the extra
pay for overtime owe eight hours
a day.
But it has been in the courts that
labor has met with what may prove
| TO be its most serious reverses.
Within the last year the injunction
has been used against the unions as
never before, particularly in West
Virginia, where restraining orders
of the most sweeping character
have been issued against the United
Mine Workers on the plea of the
anti-union operators. The union
has been restrained from sending
organizers into the independent
fields and from making any effort
to organize the miners there. I'm
der the court orders union meet
ings can not be held and union mem
bers can not even discuss the un-
ion with miners who are not iden-
titled with the organization. Also
suits for damages have been
brought by operators against unior
officials and members.
In only one instance has labor
sought to use the injunction against
employers. That came as an unex'
pected development Of a contro-
versy in the garment making indus
try in New York. when the union
secured a IA order restraining