Evening star., 1934-03-25
Business Recovery Under the N. r. A.
Brings Labor Problems to the Front

from interference, restraint or CO.
ercion Of employers of labor. or their
agents, In the designation OF such rep
resentatives or in self-organization,
or in any other concerted activities
for the purpose of collective bargain
ing or other mutual aid or protection. 4"
Organized labor took this as a sane
ton to go out and unionize the
workers of America. Since N. r A.
was set under way the country has
witnessed the most intensive labor
organization drive since war days.
That drive has been carried on by
both employers. through company
unions, and by the American Fedora
ton Of Labor through independent
unions. Thus far the principal honors
to the employing group and their
company union set-ups.
~ %x
Now the battle is on to turn that
tide, and on its outcome may depend
the fate of N. R. A. Large employers
already have asserted that if they had
known they were to face any such
SlludGIO1l IlICy NOulu IlOL IldNC dSCCpICO
the recovery program so readily. They
are apprehensive about the prospect
Of dealing with independent unions.
This is particularly true in the mass
production industries like steel auto
mobile, textiles and rubber.
Employers In those fields have COM
pany unions. Under the law the right
is given to workers to choose who
shall represent them. Senator Wagner
and Gen. johnson both express the
opinion that most Of the company
unions are imposed upon the men
and do not represent their wills.
They are pictured more rs grievance
committees and complaint boards for
labor. rather than as really effective
agencies for collective bargaining to
determine the share that labor shall
have Of corporation income.
But the employers have asserted
they are carrying out the letter and
the spirit Of the law by showing
willingness to bargain with any
group Of employees. Labor, on the
other hand, Is demanding that II q
ma jority Of workers in an industry de-
eide that they want outside union
membership, then the union must be
the bargaining agency.
However. the law is ambiguous 1t
does not say how workers shall choose
representatives, or whether represent
atives when chosen should speak for
all workers or only for those who say
they want to be represented, or who
shall say whether the rights Of the
workers have been protected.
Into this situation has been thrown
the Wagner bill, now before the SEN
ate Committee on Labor, which def
nitely would outlaw the company
union and would create a permanent,
powerful National Labor Board with
broad authority to settle the labor
problems Of industry.
Around this bill is to be waged a
bitter fight. Many of the country's
largest employers are organizing to
oppose its acceptance. Labor is mar
shaling its full force to obtain its
adoption. Passage of the bill would
answer the questions that have arisen
over interpretations OF section IA OF
the N. r. A. The answer would be
in labors favor
Defeat would leave the way open
for court interpretations Of the labor
section Of the recovery act. But labor
threatens that If the Wagner bill is
defeated. strikes quickly will break out
in key industries.
This gives rise to the observation
frequently heard in Washington that
the first months of N. r. A. we're
months of progress and profit for en-
ployers, while the months just ahead
may be months of adjustment wherein
labor seeks to get bigger share Of
the corporate income.
Even after year of rising profits
and better times, industrial leaders
still are wondering what the New Deal
will do to the profit system in the.
long run.
(Copyrieht 1934)