The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-15
NRA Hears How
AL Keeps Back
AutOPIant Strike
Continued from Page y


encourage strikes" william Collins,
National Representative of the A.
f. of L. in the auto industry de-
clared in the opening speech before
the strike breaking Labor Board.
Clay williams, tobacco employer
and Vice Chairman of the Board,
was presiding. William Green. head
of the A. F. of L., and John L. Lewis,
head of the U. NJ. W. A, both Of
whom sig-@S the open shop and
merit clause" Cfire-at- wild auto
mobile code, led the QUESTIONABLE
as Labor" representatives on the
Labor Board.
Collins significantly failed to de-
mand increased wages to meet the
rising cost Of living. Nor did Col
Inns say a word about elimination
of the speed-up or the right of the
workers to elect shop and depart
ment committees, or the abolition
of discrimination against women
and Negroes. He was mainly con-
cerned with obtaining the exclusive
recognition of the A. F. of L. in the
automobile industry. A. F. Of l..
delegates said they held meeting
yesterday and decided to demand a
20 per cent wage increase and a
straight 4o-hour week.
Phil Raymond, National Secretary
of the Militant Auto Workers Union,
scheduled to speak late today, filed
statement with the National La
Dor Board charging that THE N. R.
A. Boards have helped the Manu-
facturers" and that Auto workers
continue to be denied the right to
organize into unions of their own
choice" Raymond declared: eve
demand an end to the victimization
of all union workers and the i'm
mediate reinstatement of all work
ers discharged for union organizs-
ton"
Workers in the automobile in
dustry have found through bitter
experience that they cannot depend
upon government agencies or the A.
F. of l.. officials to safeguard their
interests. 1t has only been through
the exercise Of their united might
and the strike weapon that the
workers have been able to improve
their conditions and receive con-
sideration for their grievances"
The Auto Workers Union de-
manded $35 minimum wage for
a 30-hour week, with corresponding
increases in wages to cover further
rises in the cost of living, and a
80 per cent increase for those now
receiving an amount above this
minimum Other demands included:
No overtime; a guaranteed minimum
of 40 full weeks work year; aboli-
ton of the speed-up bonus and
piece work schemes: election by the
workers Of department committees
to regulate all production schedules;
the right Of the workers to organize
into unions of their own choice; no
interference with the right to strike
and picket and no compulsory ar
bitration
In addition the Auto Workers
Union demanded the immediate en-
actment of the Workers Unemploy-
ment and Social Insurance Bill Oh.
r. 1899.
Arthur Greer, President of the
A. F. OF L. Federal Union of the
Hudson Motor Company, told the
assembled employers and their
strike breaking agents, who sit with
them as Labor" representatives
Green, Lewis, that he didn't know
how long we can keep the men
back. The men are demanding i'm
mediate action The situation is
similar to a finder box. I may say
jestingly, that there are men with
matches ready to set the finder box
on fire"
You're speaking f1guratively, of
course" interjected Green. What
you mean is that there is danger of
a strike" Yes" replied Greer.
John A. Bailey, head of the A. F.
of L. union in the Buick plant. tes-
tifying "as a simple worker" re-
vealed that he had persuaded the
men to go back to work" After
describing the September 1 Buick
Company election, where the work
ers were forced to join the COM
pany union" Bailey declared:
There is great unrest in the Buick
plant The workers quit work and
came to meeting. I persuaded
them to go ba * to work on the
basis that thei' grievances would be
taken care GrSby the National Labor
Board"
Collins ctmnplained to the Board
that Con; hunist leaflets are dis
tributed 4 over Detroit, but A. F.
Of L. distributors are arrested. ;"
despite the fact that the A. F. of L.
is perrnittt8 to put up their notices
on the buGetin boards of the vari-
Gus plant especially the Kelsey
Wheel Coupany.