Evening star., 1933-08-28
HIRING PROVISIONS
IN AUT0A AGREEMENT
FACE COURT TEST
Labor Spokesman Intinates
Action When Suspected
Violation Is Found.
COAL OPERATORS PLAN
TO ASK SIMILAR PHRAStNG
johnson and Richberg Tackle Job
Of Arranging New Parleys
With Mine Workers.
BY the Associat ted Press

BY the Associated Press
LABOR provisions in the automobile
competitive code just promulgated by
Fresioent Roosevelt bid fair to be tested
IN the courts
While unwilling to be quoted. an off,
clal in the inner councils of oreanized
LABOR informed reporters TODAY the no.
Sltlon OF the American Federation of
LABOR remained that certain stipula-
tlons on relations between employees and
employers should not have been left
in the code.
Describing the victory of the auto
mobile manufacturers as probably the
nrst step by industrialists to have the
same wording inserted in all codes. the
LABOR speaker intimated that as soon
as cases believed to be violations of
the law are found, court action would
be begun.
Merit System Provided.
The paragraph, protested repeatedly
by the Labor Advisory Board of the Re.
coVery Administration, stated that its
provisions did not constitute any null
iincatlon of the law giving employees
the right to organize without restraint
from their employers and to bargain
collectively.
1t provided, however, that the en-.
ployers would retain the right to h.
promote and discharge workers on the
basis OF individual merit and without
regard to afiliation with any oreaniza-
ton
Despite the assertion that no uuaH-
ncatlon of the law was sought, organ
lied labor was described today as he
neVlng that unless the new Language
meant something the manufacturers
would not have sought so vigorously
to have it inserted.
Non-unlon bituminous coal operators
are planning to seek similar phrasine
Tor their code to take the place of a
PROVISION submitted originally, announc-
ing an intention to continue open-shon
operations.
johnson Turns to Coal.
The possibility of new opposition frop,
labor came to the front as HUGH S
Johnson, the N. r. A. administrator
turned his attention to bringing the
coal industry into an agreement, which
mas been unobtainable through weeks
Richberg. the N. R. A. counsel tool
over the task Of bringing the united
Mine Workers of America and the soft
coal operators together for new con.
ferences.
Gen; johnson was represented rs
nopeful they would result in an aeree-
ment on code for the industry.
He again was said to be ready. how
ever, 10 impose code tomorrow II re-
newed negotiations failed to bring a
settlement.
Representatives of the non-union op-
orators from the Appalachian fields
met Deputy Administrator Kenneth M
Simpson while the union leaders con-
ferred with Richberg.
What proposals had been placed be-
lore the two groups remained undis-
closed. The primary points of disagree
ment nave been minimum wages, max
lmum hours, unionization and the re-
lated questions of the "check-off" de-
ductlon of union dues from miners paw.
The union has asked a IS day with
30-hour week. The non-union oper-
ators insisted upon 1894 day and q.
4O-hour week. The union wants the
check-oh recognized in the code. The
non-union operators say they will not
assent to such provision.
Volunteers Begin Task.
The union was understood also to be
opposed bitterly to inclusion of the
automobile" labor clause in the code
as proposed yesterday by the non-union
producers
With johnson and his chief aides
concentrating upon bringing this major
industry into line with the N. r. A. pro-
gram, over the country hundreds of
thousands of volunteer workers set out
to canvass every store and business
establishment and every home to bring
all industrial and commercial life under
the Blue Eagle.
Employers displaying the N. r. A. In
sigma were being asked how many en-
ployes they had added, how much their
pay rolls had been enlarged and in
what manner they were complying with
the maximum hours specified under
codes or presidential agreements.
Drive Called Milestone.
Speeding this greatest corps of vol
unteers in the country's history" on its
door-to-door canvass, johnson told his
workers and the country in a radio ad-
dress last night that either through
codes or agreement we enter this drive
with between 10 and 80 per cent of the
employers in trade and industry already
under the Blue Eagle"
The Recovery Administration de-
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