Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-05-28
Address of VIM. Green
at Atlantic City, N. j,
Continued from Page One)

|
people are employed in electric manu-
featuring establishments. Naturally
organized labor is interested in these
WorkerS-So much so that it demands
from the owners and managers Of this
great industry complete and full rec
ognltlon as an important factor in in
duStry and it seeks the opportunity
OF cooperating with management in
furthering the highest and best inter-
ests of the workers and the industry.
The one regrettable and dsquieting
development, which has occurred and
is occurring in some important parts
OF the electric manufacturing and dis
tributing industry, from the viewpoint
of organized labor, is the policy of
some corporations and some manag-
ers to oppose the organization of
their workers into bona fide trade
unions affiliated with the American
Federation of labor.
"We believe this in contrary to
sound public policy and that it is
preJudicial to the highest and best in
terests of those employed in the in
dustry and those who own and con-
troll public service corporations. The
American Federation Of Labor has
chartered organizations which exer-
eise jurisdiction over those employed
IN the electrical manufacturing and
distributing industry. The Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers of America has a member
ship of approximately two hundred
thousand workers. This is a progress
sive, business-like organization made
up of trained men, mechanics of the
highest order, workers skilled in their
line Of calling. The American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor wishes to cultivate
understanding and promote coopera-
| tlon between organized labor and the
management of industrial enterprises.
| We wish through education and pa
tlent service to bring about a cooper
tive relationship between EMPLOYERS
and employees SO that the interests of
all those associated with the industry
may be most satisfactorily advanced.
1.-The American Federation of Labor
stands committed to a progressive
wage policy. 1t holds that the earn
ing power of the worker must keep
pace with his increasing power Of pro-
ductlon. This means that as the use
of electricity and power enables the
worker to become more efficient, to
raise his standard of service, his
wage income must colTespondingly in
crease. This is a wage philosophy
which finds its basis in the efficiency
and productivity of the worker. 1t is
quite simple in that it provides that
if industry increases its productivity
through the efficiency of the workers
there will be more to divide between
the employer and the employe.
Labor insists that it must share in
this increasing amount which, Of
right and justice should be equitably
distributed. 1t is gratifying to learn
that many progressive managers en-
ployed by large electrical manufactur-
ing plants and public, utility corpor-
ations have accepted the point of view
of organized labor regarding wages.
By actual experience they have prov
ed that wages can be increased and
the selling cost of the manufactured
articles reduced. This happy result
has been brought about through the
increased productivity of the workers
and the cooperation of men and man.
agement.
"I am strongly of the opinion that
the services, goodwill and coopera-
ton of organized labor ought to be
utilized by the managers of industry
and especially by those connected
with the electrical manufacturing and
power distributing corporations. Such
a procedure would result in raising
the industry to a higher level of eff
cheney and productivity. We can only
bring about this satisfactory state of
affairs through understanding and
the proper recognition of the riohts
of all parties at interest. Nav I sug-
gest that as industry has become rev.
olutionized through the substitution
of electricity and power for hand
methods. in production. so should we