Montana labor news., 1934-06-07
The Washington Scene
By Len De Caux

ONtl lHC NdShS ioDUi I'm
two notes are insistent and clear. One
is that the widest issues OF govern
ment control over labor matters and
workers organization are involved; and
the other, that strike prevention
through mediation and arbitration ma
chinery, on somewhat the same prin-
ciple as h e Railway Labor Act, IS
foreshadowed.
Why then have so many employers
voices been raised against the bill
Don't they trust the government and
aren't they opposed to strikes? Part
OF the opposition is due to die-hard
employers who believe the government
can save them only when they can't
save themselves. But this opposition,
though dying hard, is dying neverthe-
less. for most employers are coming TO
realize they will need their government
more and more in the future.
Ss#
A comparison with the existing rail-
road legislation is perhaps suggestive
The Railway Labor Act has made the
railroads practically strike-proof
through a most difficult period; it has
performed the very duties set for the
Wagner bill. Why were the railroad
companies enthusiastic for the Railway
Labor Act from the first, while there
has been so much dissension over the
Wagner bill2
For one thing, the engine and train
service Brotherhoods were strongly or
gained and their recognition was not
at issue when the railway act was
drawn up; and for another, the COM
panies felt sure that the act would not
seriously hamper their already estab-
lished company unions, despite clauses
presumably safeguarding the workers
right to organize without company in
reference. Then too, at a time OF
rising prices and rising profits, the
laws delays and its check on strikes
appealed to the companies. And when
these delays might have worked against
them, when they felt they had the
whip-hand to force wage-cuts, they
were able to set the law aside and
settle matters quickly by direct nego-
tiations.
If American Federation Of Labor
unions were similarly strongly and long
organized in decisive industries, if COM
pany unions had also acquired an es-
tablished position side by side with the
A. F. of L. unions, and if prices and
profits appeared sure OF rising indef-
initely, there is little doubt that all the
b ig employers would welcome some
kind OF a Wagner bill with open arms
But the degree to which they are un-
acquainted from experience with the
"reasonableness" OF A. F. Of L. unions
are anxious for their company unions
and fear ~hampering rather than help
in another deflation period, represents
the degree to which some employers
have opposed the Wagner bill.
#*#
To preserve the peace between cap
ital and labor which passeth all under
standing" more far-sighted employer:
have long been seeking some such per
manent legislation as the Wagner bill
and nearly all the changes in the new
bill are designed to mollify their bro
theirs who see not peace but a SWORD
to make them realize that the pen
if not mightier than, is at any rate a
powerful ally Of the sword.
Even the name has been changed tc
p e a sc jumpy employers to whom
Labor Disputes Act" suggested the
very thing they feared. It is now
called the Natl. Industrial Adjustment
Act. More tangible concessions are in
volved in the re-wording of the "un-
fair labor practices" section. Now it i.
only declared unfair" for an employer
ito attempt, by interference or coer.
cion' to impair the right to organize
whereas in the original bill "interfer-
ence, influence, restraint, fovar, coer-
cion, lockout. or any other means
were also labeled unfair.
The original bill forbade an employ
er ito initiate, participate in, supervise
or influence the formation, constitution
bylaws, other governing rules, opera
tons, policies or elections of any labor
organization" The revised bill favor.
ably reported by the Senate labor COM
mittee would permit an employer tc
initiate a company union and favor il
in many ways, provided he did not
interfere with or dominate" it or con
tribute financial support, though he is
specifically permitted to pay employees
for time during working hours spent
on its business.
Arbitration is provided for in the new
bill in the following terms "The board
shall have power to act, and to appoint
any agent or agency to act, as arbitra-
tor in labor disputes, when parties
agree to submit the whole or any part
OF a labor dispute to the arbitration OF
the board or its ~appointees."
Three Of the proposed adjustmen
board OF five would be appointed dir
ectly by the president ito represent the
general public, and the other tw @
would be drawn from panels of six re-
presenting capital and labor and like
wise appointed by the president. This
board is to determine workers repre-
sentation for collective bargaining. II
is given only permissive powers to de-
clar that a majority organization can
speak for all the workers in a given
plant.