Evening star., 1934-09-23
TEXTILE WORKERS
SENT BACK TO Jobs
Union Chiefs End Strike by
Accepting Roosevelt
Proposals.
Continued From First Page)

10 appoint boards such as that pro-
posed.
Union leaders we're frankly elated
over most features of the plan and Of
the board report. The removal of all
labor disputes from the jurisdiction
of N. R. A. and their sworn enemy,
Hugh S. johnson, was especially
pleasing to them.
Although the boards settlement
will not put into effect tomorrow all
the demands on which the strike was
predicated, they regarded 1t as hold
ing tremendous advances, for labor,
and a promise that ultimately those
demands would be met.
The union had asked industry
wide recognition; a 30-hour week at
the same total wage now paid for 40;
a new determination of differentials
between the wages of skilled workers
and the code minimum, and elimlna-
ton Of the stretch-out.
Impartial Boards.
The gains for labor, its spokesmen
contended, lay in giving these ques-
tions over to the determination Of
impartial bodies. and the end Of what
they called employer dominated"
settlements of complaints of section
Ia violations.
The textile strike was the third
great threatened or actual conflict TO
disrupt basic industry and force
President Roosevelt to put forward the
good Offices of the Government. Pre-
viously there were the steel and auto
mobile problems.
The present settlement plan went
much further in concessions to labor
than either of its predecessors. They
provided only for the appointment of
boards of three to adjudicate disputes
arising from union activities.
The board for the automobile in
dustry was appointed by agreement
between employers and employed,
with both binding themselves to abide
by its decisions
In the plan was incorporated the
principle, since abandoned, of pro-
portional collective bargaining repre-
sentation when two or more unions
have members in particular shop.
Conducted Elections.
The Steel Board was appointed
under a resolution adopted at the close
Of the last Congress, and was empow-
cred to conduct elections for the de-
termination of which union should
speak for the workers. Behind both
these settlements lay the bitter COM
pany union issue, acute because OF
the rapid organization of labor under
the impetus Of the national industrial
recovery act.
This issue was never prominent
hardly mentioned in fact-in the tex
tile strike, although, as reported by
the Winant board, the United Textile
Workers increased their claimed
membership from $4,000 to 100000.
In addition to recognition. the tex
tile workers concentrated on wages,
hours and stretch-out, with the result
that the mediation boards plan pro-
iected the Government into a new
field Of industrial activity.
While there is precedent in N. r. A.
for governmental determination Of
wages and hours, there is none for
governmental restriction of the num-
ber of machines which an employe
may be required to operate.
In his statement. Green said:
The strike is to be deplored. It
was carried on, however, far beyond
the point where it could and should
have been terminated, because of the
refusal of the employers to respond
10 the request OF the Board of In
ouiry Cthe winant board) to agree
to arbitration.
1T now remains to be seen whether
the employers will still maintain an
unreasonable and hostile attitude.
The responsibility for the continuation
of the strike for more than 10 days
rests squarely with the employers who
refused to accept arbitration offered
by a duly constituted governmental
authority.
In my opinion the textile workers
won great moral victory.
First. the appointment Of the board
OF inquiry for the textile industry by
the President of the United States.
Second, the report of the board
which fully suStains and supports the
demands OF the workers for redress
OF serious grievances and economic
wrongs.
Third. the vindication Of the posi-
ton of the workers in demanding the
right to engage in collective bargain
Ing, and the creation of an impartial
tribunal for the settlement of future
disputes and grievances which may
arise between employers and en-
ployes."
Strike Heads Statement.
The Strike Committee, in its state
ment issued last night and addressed
to the Executive Committee of the
U. T. w. asserted the union has won
an overwhelming victory" 1t recon-
mended that we now go forth in
triumphant campaign Of organiza-
ton
While manufacturers continued to
maintain silence on their attitude to-
ward the settlement. German last
night delivered a radio speech in
which he emphasized the future or
ganization plans of the United Textile
Workers.
ROOSEVELT is GLAD.
By the Associated Press.
The giant textile strike f1ickered