The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-15
JOINT BOARDS ANSWER

The following is a copy Of the reply
of the New York Joint Board of the
Furriers' Union to President Green of
the American Federation of Labor;
August 5, 1926.
"Mr. William Green, President
American Federation of Labor,
Washington, d. G.
Dear Sir and Brother:
Confirming our previous letter ac-
knowledging receipt of yours of July
10Th notifying us of the appointment
of committee to investigate the con-
duct Of the recent successful strike of
the Furriers' Union Of New York un-
der the leadership of the New York
Joint Board, we beg to state that the
following is the decision Of the Joint
Board after thoro consideration of
your letter, which you will recall we
informed you we believed of sufficient
importance to place before full meet
ing of the board at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
What MotIvates Probe7
"The Joint Board is astonished at
the ordering of such an unexpected
and extraordinary investigation. The
investigation was unexpected because
of the highly successful nature Of our
strike. Our victory was clean one.
We won the forty-hour week for the
workers in our industry; we secured
substantial wage advances; we Sc
cured far greater control over the in
dustry than the union has ever had
before; we greatly strengthened our
organization numerically and infused
it with a new vigor. Our great IT.
week struggle won not only the plaud-
its and support Of the entire mass of
needle workers, but Of wide ranks of
the general labor movement as well.
Hundreds of kilograms and letters
poured in to US from central bodies
and local unions all over the country
congratulating us on our fight for the
forty-hour week and pledging support.
1t was one of the most substantial vic
tories won by the labor movement in
our industry in recent years. Hence
our establishment at the American Fed
Grafton of Labor executive council or
dering special investigation of this
splendid and successful example of
working-elass solidarity.
Interfere with Autonomy.
THE investigation is extraordinary
because you neither state the grounds
upon which the investigation was or
dered nor upon whose initiative it is
being undertaken. What are we ac-
cused of? Your letter docs not state,
beyond the vague general assertion
that the American Federation of La
Dor is interested in our International
as well as all others, and that there
fore the strike was ordered investi-
gated to learn if it were conducted in
accordance with the principles and
practices of the American Federation
of Labor. This is an unusual proceed
ure indeed. Is the American Fedora
ton of Labor in the habit of ordering
special investigation of strikes simply
because it is generally interested in
the welfare of the organizations con-
cerned? We think not. On the con-
trary, the American Federation of La
Dor policy has always been to grant
the affiliated organizations great lati-
tude in the conduct of their strikes.
Such an investigation as the one pro-
posed is almost, if not altogether, with
la1 in anrsfa Il
practice. Our Joint Board requests
from you a definite statement of the
specific reasons for the proposed in
vestigation.
Who Initiated Move?
"Our Joint Board desires to know
also upon whose initiative the inves-
tigation was ordered. Was it pro-
posed by the executive council itself
or upon the application of our inter-
national? And if the investigation
If proposed by the executive council
upon its own initiative, is this not an
invasion of the autonomy of our inter-
national? And if the invesvigation
was asked for by our International
why does not your letter make this
clear? Our Joint Board wishes infor-
nation on this point which touches
one Of the most vital features of trade
union practice, the question of the
rights and duties of the affiliated or
CARNATIONS.
Proud Of Successful Strike.
I'VE are proud Of our long, hard
fought and successful strike. We have
no objection to 1t being investigated
by fair and properly authorized com
mittee. Our Joint Board is a loyal
and disciplined section of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor. But we in
sist upon knowing why the inyestiga-
ton is being undertaken and upon
whose initiative. We also propose
that our Joint Board be allowed three
members upon any such committee,
and that II conduct its hearing pub
licly in a hall which will permit the
attendance of the largest possible
number Of trade unionists and the