Montana labor news., 1934-10-18
Arbitration OF Labor Disputes Is Goal;
Section IA Is Law Of The Land" Cites Figur-
es To Prove 60 Per Cent Less Strikes This Year
Than In 1919.

San Francisco.-In a brilliant address
delivered before the 54th annual con-
%vention of the American Federation OF
Labor, now in session here, Secretary
Frances Perkins, of the U. S. Depart
ment OF Labor laid especial emphasis
upon President Roosevelt's recent APP
peal for a truce between capital and
labor, declaring that the Roosevelt Ad-
ministration is opposed to compulsory
arbitration OF labor disputes.
Compulsory arbitration would effect
no useful purpose, for while coercion
might avert impending trouble it would
not prevent outbreaks in the future"
she asserted.
After referring to the agencies of the
various labor boards as constituting a
pattern that might well be followed
when collective bargaining breaks down
Miss Perkins said that when employ
ers and workers were unable to reach
agreements and then voluntarily sub
mitted to arbitration these government
boards would be available to them.
But submission 70 these agencies
should not take the form of compul-
sion" she said.
Commends Section IA of MIRA
Stating that, while some employers
were still reluctant to engage in col
lective bargaining, they were finding
it convenient to do so; and predicted
that these employers would come to
see that, in negotiation with employ
ees, is to be found a method Of CO.
operating for future prosperity.
Section IA OF the National Indus
trial Recovery Act is the law OF the
land" Secretary Perkins declared, adj
ding that it was not surprising that, in
a year and a half, there should be a
difference of opinion as to the mean
ing Of that section. While complete
compliance could not be expected in
a year and a half, compliance had been
fairly effective by a large number of
employers and would improve.
Proposed Social Security Program
Praised
Miss Perkins described the admins
tration's social security program which
is to include unemployment insurance,
old age pensions and provisions for the
i'll and disabled, and maintained that
the plan for social insurance will not
retard recovery but will mean the de-
velopment Of a more stable income
which should not put a bottom to any
future depression.
Disproves Epidemic of Strikes"
After high praise Of the work Of Cen
eral Hugh s.. johnson in MIRA, indicat-
ing definitely that she does not wish to
be in the position Of being pleased with
his retirement, Secretary Perkins sub
mitted statements and figures to dis
prove the current cry of IAN epidemic
of strikes"
In 1919, she said, there were an aver
age Of 292 strikes a month, and in 1884
an average Of 121 strikes a month. In
the first half Of 1919, 1,301,00 0 men
were involved, and the first half of
1884, $4,000 men were involved.
In the first six months of 1884, $780,
600 mar days had been lost by strikes,
compared with 8,250,000 man days lost
in the first six months of 1919.
In 1924, she said, the average strike
lasted fifty-one days, as compared to
twenty-seven days in 1884.
Referring to the general policies of
the New Deal, Miss Perkins said that
the Roosevelt administration could
not be expected to give us the millen-
Mum on a silver platter" However,
she spoke of the marked recovery of
the last year and of the increase in
employment and payrolls since she last
addressed the convention twelve mon
tbs ago,
Miss Perkins received a huge bunch
Of roses when she stepped upon the
platform and was greeted by William
Green, president Of the federation.