Montana labor news., 1933-05-04

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boris reply to Roosevelt's initiation
policy was the declaration that it
would inaugurate a fight for wage
raises to offset the predicted increase
in commodity prices.
This militant determination of or
ganized labor was made clear by the
Executive Council of the American
Federation of Labor, at its Spring
meeting here, when it authorized Will
liam Green, president of the Fedora
ton, to announce that the council was
determined to safeguard the inter-
ests of wage earners by insisting up
on increases in wages Immediately.
Social Welfare Jeopardized.
Mr.. Green's statement follows:
"The Executive Council of the
American Federation of Labor is full
ly a%pprecative of the fact that the
new policy of currency initiation just
announced by the Administration is
a matter of moment and of grave i'm
portance to Labor.
an operation it will seriously af-
feet the economic and social welfare
of the masses of the people. An in
crease in the price of articles which
enter into living costs is bound to
follow the Inauguration of currency
initiation. In fact, the primary pur-
pose of initiation is to elevate price
levels and to increase commodity
prices.
LabOr's Buying Power Curtailed.
obviously, Labor will be at a de-
cided disadvantage if commodity
prices increase and wages remain sta
tionary at the depressed level to
which they have been forced through
the pursuit of a wage deflation policy.
"The buying power of the masses
Of the people has been greatly re-
duced through the imposition Of re-
auctions in wages. 1t has already
reached the point where the workers
are unable to buy either in quantity
or in frequency.
eff prices r to be driven upward
through currency initiation the very
limited buying power of the masses
of the people will be further cur
tailed.
"This is especially true because it
is reasonable to conclude that the
price of the necessities of life will in
crease under the inspiration and in
~fluence of currency initiation.
Cost of Living Mounts.
when there is added to this plan
the further proposal to increase the
price of agricultural products through
the imposition Of a tax to be collected
by professors of farm products, which
will add very greatly to an increase
in the cost of living of the masses
of the people, we have a full r~ealiza-
ton of the plight of Labor under the
operation of currency initiation and
the enactment of the agricultural bill.
Labor realizes that an acute situa-
ton is being developed as a result of
these economic, financial and legis-
lative proposals. Government work
ers who are passing through a period
of wage deflation and of increasing
unemployment, through dismissals
from the service and impending dis
missals, have had no opportunity to
readjust themselves to their changed
financial and economic status.
Laboring Millions Are Injured.
"The effect of these proposed
changes upon the millions of part
time workers will be most injurious.
Part-time work means part-time pay.
They have already suffered a double
reduction part of which is reflected
in reduced wages and the other part
in reduced working time. An increase
in commodity prices will add very
greatly to the economic and finan-
cial difficulties of this group Of work
ing men and women.
Suffering of Jobless Increased.
"The millions who are unemployed
will also be seriously affected.
"Unless the relief allowance now
being made by relief agencies is in
creased proportionate with the in
crease in commodity prices the relief
agencies will be compelled to sub
stantially reduce and in many in
stances withhold the very small
amount of relief now being distributed
among those who are dependent and
suffering. The problem of supply