Evening star., 1933-07-19
RECOVERY TO TEST
!. CONTROL Of LABOR
Union Leaders Are Equally
Anxious With Industrial
Executives.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Beneath the surface Of major events
there's considerable discussion now
adays here as to the future OF labor
unions in America. The manufacturers
think the industrial control law gives
the unions big advantage and already
C mplaints are coming In as to union
izing efforts that are being carried on
intensively in non-union shops and
plants
Labor leaders. on the other hand, II
the truth be told are equally anxious.
For while they have been endowed by
the new law with the right Of collective
bargaining. they also have been forced
to swallow what amounts to compulsory
arbitration In other words it's all
very well for the unions to bargain and
bargain for higher wages but under
the code system. the industrial recovery
administration has the final say as to
what labor costs shall be-
At the moment there are guarantees
and assurances as to minimum wages
and short hours But supposing the
cost of living goes up materially and
the Wage-earners want more income.
They will get 1t naturally, but the cen
sumner will intervene to keep the wage
from going too high lest tine cost to
the public become exorbtant.
Emphasis on Minimum.
Today. therefore, the emphasis is on
minimum wages. In few months 1t
may b. an C,:'phasis on Consumer costs.
The Government having taken the full
responsibility or industrial control, can
by the licensing system close plant
or industry or business or store. 1t
also can authorize the employment OF
any kind OF labor to supplant the labor
that strikes or refuses to accept the
Government dictation. There are even
some who think labor unicns could be
licensed in a given area or industry
and that unlicensed labor unions could
be outlaWed just as unlicensed en-
ployerS.
But OF these eventualities there is
little discussion now. The main con-
Germ Is what the future power of the
labor union leader will be. II the Gov
errment settles wage questions. then
what purpose does the paying of union
dues serve? 1t will be argued by the
labor leaders that laws can be repealed
and trade unionism left high and dry
unless labor union membership is kept
up and that unioniZation is more neces
Sary now than ever as means OF COM
pelling justice for labor at Government
hearings.
Unquestionably a system Of arbitra-
ton will be evolved with a machinery
of conciliation in labor disputes and the
final authority will be the Federal Gov
ernment somewhat as in the case today
with railroad labor except that under
code control there NAV be far less
clumsiness in arriving at an adjudiea-
ton of the issues in dispute.
Sporadic Strikes Now
There are sporadic strikes now here
and there throughout the country But
in all of these instances the code plan
has not yet been put into effect En-
ployers affected by these outbreaks al
ready are appealing to the Government
for help. Labor costs are a vital factor
IN industrial recovery and the control
of prices Up to now the attention of
the public has been focused on employ
ers. AS labor troubles develop there
will be a test Of the Governments
power over labor Politics will naturally
enter into the picture somewhat though
to less degree than before because it
is unlikely anything like sympathetic
strike action would be feasible if large
groups of employees are satisfied with
the wages they receive and if. as it
would conceivably happen. a concerted
action would be a strike against the
Government itself
The Industrial Recovery Administra-
ton Is new force for labor to reckon
with and some day We shall perhaps
call the new law an act to control en-
ployes as we'll as employers in their re-
latlon TO wages paid and consumer costs
(CODyriaht