The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-18
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1884
Reforming N. R. A.


THE amendments" proposed by the N.
R. A. Labor Advisory Board to the Re-
covery Act, are reminiscent of the empty
promises made by President Roosevelt to
the workers when the Recovery Act was
instituted in June 1888 At that time, Roosevelt
made the same demagogic promises to labor OF
higher wages shorter hours, and union recognition.
But these promises were not fulfilled. Now in the
REORGANIZATION" of the NR.A, history repeats it.
self and the Labor Advisory Board, headed by VIII
liam Green, proposes amendments" designed to
reconcile the workers to continuation of the NRA.
and to serve as a cloak for the carrying through
by the NRA of the real program of Roosevelt-of
a sharp attack on the workers living standards.
The Labor Advisory Board has power what
ever in the NR.A setup. 1t was created by Roose-
welt to advise" the NRA on labor questions, in
order to create the illusion that the workers had
some form of representation in the NR.A. A few
A. F. of L. leaders were put on this board. 1t has
not in any way done anything to better workers
conditions.
Six amendments" are proposed by the Labor
Advisory Board:
~ To give power to special board, on which
labor has equal representation to impose labor
codes on industries which have not voluntarily
presented acceptable codes, to amend any code,
and to apply section IA to any industry, trade
or group not yet codified.
"2) Specifically provide for separate minimum
wages for common seni-skilled and skilled labor
in codes.
"3) Give labor equal representation with
management on all code authorities or any other
administrative bodies concerned with codes, in
Guiding the Recovery Board.
~ Include proper legislative provisions for
enforcement legislation, such as the existing ten
regional compliance boards, and a program of
mass enforcement through which inspection of
establishments will supplant Investigations of
complaints
80 Open codes upon the initiative of the La
Dor Advisory Board, and impose amendments where
the necessity has been clearly justified
80 Provide government agency with manda-
tory power to collect detailed statistics from each
industry on employment, wages, payrolls, produc-
ton, income, costs, profits and other data to aid
in long range industrial planning"
The Labor Advisory Board has made similar
proposals often in the past. 1t is not probable
that these six points will be incorporated in the
reorganized NR.A. But even if all six points we're
accepted by Roosevelt and placed in the NRA,
this would in no way turn the MIRA into an in
strument for labor. The NR.A would still remain
the weapon whereby the employers prevent strikes
cut wages introduce speedup smash unions, and in
stall the company union
These six proposals would not change the basic
purpose or activities of the N.R.A. as the instru-
ment of the employers They are similar to the
famous section IA" similar to the promises of
Roosevelt to reduce hours and increase wages.
Section IA and Roosevelt's promises, vaguely
and ambguousy worded, have themselves been
turned by the NRA. administrative bodies and
code authorities which are in the hands of the en-
ployers, into anti-labor weapons. Section IA has
led to company unions, and was used as the basis
of the infamous anti-union merit clause" in the
auto code. The six points of the L. A. B. would be
similarly used.
The Labor Advisory Board itself admits that
the NRA. has done nothing for the workers. The
Labor Advisory Board speaks of "the outstanding
failure of the NRA to achieve the detectives for
labor" and declares 'it is practically impossible to
put the benefit of such experience into effect" lex
perence with labor provisions of code. The Labor
Advisory Board admits wage abuses" and other
anti-labor effects of the codes
The proof that in spite of section IA and of
Roosevets rosy promises the MIRA has not bene-
fitted the workers is seen in the recent survey of
the National Industrial Conference Board Out of
226 employers questioned sixty per cent admitted
that relations between employers and employees
have remained unchanged; 25 per cent thought
they have become less satisfactory" and only fifteen
per cent declared conditions improved"
The Labor Advisory Board has as its chief func-
ton to keep the workers from striking or from
any struggle for better conditions to maintain the
Illusions of the workers that they can reform" the
NRA to make the workers believe they can cap
ture" the NR.A from the hands of the EMPLOYERS
that they fight inside the NRA"
The workers beginning to see that the N
R. A., no matter what its ambiguous promises and
denagogc eoloring is the weapon of the EMPLOYERS