The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-06
Under New Policy Organized
Labor Has Progressed in
Membership, Effectiveness
and Financing-Public Opin.
ion Toward Trade Unions
Has Changed Decidedly

SAtAbso&4 $&s~y
Los Angeles, Oct. 5.--IR,-Instead
Of centering effort upon strike and
strife, organized labor in the United
States during the past year has
placed new emphasis upon construc-
tive achievement in cooperation with
industry and society, President
Green and his executive council de-
clare in their annual report to be
made before the annual convention
Of the American Federation OF
Labor.
Establishment in past years of
more militant aggresSiveness gave
scope for the new policy, it was
added, and under it the organized
labor movement was declared to
have progressed in membership, ef-
fectiveness, and financing.
Foremost among the achieve
ments of the American Federation
Of Labor during tn, past year is
change in public opinion toward the
trade union," the report says.
"Many employers and much of the
public are beginning to see that
the union is not simply a militant
organization with no interest in
work itself, but an agency through
which the workers in this way. the
union not only cares for the inter-
ests of the workers but is an agency
through which the workers cooper
ate in production and contribute the
experience Of those who handle tools
and machinery.
Constructive Work Emphasized
''ln no small degree is this chang
ing understanding due to the new
emphasis labor has put upon its con-
structive work. Formerly labor has
allowed spectacular incidents Of
strife to overshadow The more i'm
pOrtant events of constructive de-
velopment and service. Tie feder-
alton has taken the initiative in re-
versing this attitude by securing
publicity for more substantial de-
velopments.
by shifting attention from prob
lens of defense or aggression to
those Of constructive building, the
relative Importance of the sustained
work of the union becomes more OBJ
vious. Effort spent upon directing
decision of indu try in accordance
with the welfare of wage earners is
potential for permanent results
With the extension of this policy
throughout the whole labor move
Elent is comir more general and
keener appreciation of the value of
unions. The business advantage of
s,~s>~s~ok:os~ Loc borou>o
orally accepted"
Along this line, the report pointed
out, the federation itself had been
successful in settling a whole series
Of jurisdictional disputes between its
subordinate craft unions, many OF
them of long standing, and all OF
them prolific causes of interruption
to industry because Of resulting
union quarrels. Further, in EN-.
ployment now regulated by contract
or agreement between workers and
management, whole series Of sus.
tanned cooperative relationship has
been brought into being.
Union of Greater Value
Workers cannot help themselves
by injuring other legitimate inter-
ests in industry" it was declared
in the report. practically every
structive undertaking through which
they are making the union of great
er value to it's members and the
industry. The important fact is
the foundation upon which all such
developments must rest, and which
makes it possible for workers ia
have the spirit of partnership in
doing the days work."
Listing cooperative accomplish
nnents of this kind, the report cited
cooperative agencies for determin-
ing points of wage contracts; COOP
Grafton in fixing output standards
supply of new workers; assistance
in educating apprentices to the
draft; and service on committees
to improve service rendered con-
sumers and customers. Every
promise of further progress along
the line was declared to exist.
With all Of the change, the report
continued, the labor movement had
not forgotten older detectives, and
had set up for itself new goal. the
five day week. The traditional de-
mand for higher wages and shorter
hours in all employment had been
maintained with success.
s Wage Reductions Prevented
Sour unions have been generally
successfully in preventing wage re-
duction during the past year." the
report asserted, land quite a num-
Der have negotiated wage increases.
Where collective bargaining is in
effect, wages have increased in
amount and purchasing power.
However, there has been a decided
increase in productivity. Our stud
ies of the relation of productivity
to wages have just begun. However,
they warrant US in saying that wage
increases for organized labor have
paralleled increased productivity
much more closely than in the case
Of the unorganized or the less eff
fectively organized.
"Organized labor has been able
continuously to submit convincing
reasons why wages should be sus-
t1ined or increased. In past periods
Of depression we have been success
fi1l in inducing employers to see
tho Importance Of maintaining the
purchasing power Of wage earners.
However, there are still thousands
81 unorganized working for wages
that are far below the levels nee
ssSary to maintain the American
standard Of living"
III support .. the unremitted cam
poign for maintaining the wage
leyels, It was added, the federation
I'D embarked upon studies Of the
relationship Of wage to productivity,
S11. nricAx Good regu1tx from the