The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-23
Roosevelt Is Told OF Attacks on
Workers Rights and Organizations
Asked for Public Declaration Right Strike Against Government
Suppression of Unions Auto Open Shop Code and on
Compulsory Arbitration Under MIRA

WASHINGTON, D. C.-The follow
ing statement was handed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt by the united front
delegation which saw him Thursday
when Bill Dunno exposed the MIRA
as a Slavery Act" to Roosevelt.
The undersigned urge upon you an
immediate public declaration con-
corning the policies of the admins
tration regarding the elementary
rights of workers to organize and
elect their own representatives as set
forth in Section 7 (a) of the Indus
trial Recovery Act, and regarding
elementary political rights such as
right of assembly, right to strike,
picketing, freedom from police inter
ference, arbitrary arrest, etc.
This section itself is very vague
and the formulation of codes under
the Act has produced such an addi-
tional variety of Interpretation that
it is impossible to get from them any
clear picture of the administration
policy, with the significant exception
that no penalties are applied to en-
ployers but that workers attempting
to organize and better their wages
and working conditions are the sub
ject of vicious attacks in which the
lives of number of workers have
been lost. In the wave of strikes
which is running across the country,
state and local authorities in scores
OF places, acting evidently on what
they believe to be the administra-
TONS policies, are denying the rights
of workers to strike and picket estab-
lishments under a code. Police, spe-
cial deputies and troops are being
used against strikers in rapidly in
creasing number Of instances. Your
own pronouncement, urging sus-
pension of strikes during this period,
places a weapon in the hands of the
employers and the state and local
authorities who are generally on
their side in industrial disputes and
struggles. In view of the conflicting
stands taken by the National Recov-
cry Administration in its labor policy
in newspaper interviews and formal
decisions, and in view of the wide
spread attacks on the rights of labor
all over the country, we urge upon
you an immediate public declaration
on these points:
Cd The maintenance of the rights
OF workers to organize, strike and
picket, without curtailment whatever
even against establishments operating
under the general or special codes or
agreements. This right should be
maintained inviolate against all
forms of forcible interference, and
irrespective of the character of the
organization involved. The political
beliefs or sympathies of members of
these unions should not affect their
rights.
CD The government should not
modify the right of workers to organ
lie In unions of their own choosing
by requiring workers to join spe-
cific union as a condition of employ
ment. No discrimination should be
tolerated against any union. Where
there are two or more unions in the
same industry, they should be recog-
nAed and dealt with in accordance
with the wishes of the workers in
these industries. Joint representation
on negotiation and grievance COM
m1ttees composed of workers from
the two or more unions should be set
up by free elections, thus assuring
representation for minorit.es on
these committees Nothing in the
above shall be construed to be a
declaration in favor of the so-called
open shop or in opposition to what is
sometimes called the closed shop,
provided the right of minoriths is
protected as suggested.
CD The present situation demands
that unions directly or indirectly
controlled by employers should be
outlawed-the so-called company
unions. They cannot satisfy the
conditions laid down for collective
bargaining, since they are not the
genuine expression of the workers
choice. Unless such unions are spe-
officially outlawed, they will continue
to be openly and covertly used as
means by which employers will seek
to prevent workers from organizing
unions of their own choosing.
(4) A public declaration should be
Issued Immediately against the pro-
vision in the Auto Code giving en-
ployers the right to employ, dis
charge or promote employees accord
Ing to merit. General johnson has
admitted that this provision was
1t is opposed by the entire
labor movement as a. means of dis
elimination against unions. 1t should
be at once withdrewn sine ii emas-
culates the right Of workers to or