Montana labor news., 1934-07-19
AutOworkers Form
National Council

Meeting in their
firt national conference, delegates
representing than $50 federal To-
Gals OF the United Automobile Work
ers of America, A, F. OF L., approved
the formation of a national council of
II members ito advise and assist
National Organizer William Collins in
the organization Of the industry.
This move was vigorously opposed
by a large minority who demanded an
autonomous international union, which
was promised by Pres. William Green
of the A. F. of L. when the workers
are ready for it." He declared that
the opening of political campaigns for
offices in a new union would tear you
to pieces"
The council will meet only when
called by its chairman, who is the ma
tional organizer, appointed by Presi-
dent Green, the minority complained.
Then, according to the bylaws, it will
transact only such business as is
brought before it by the national or
g%anizer.
The 1877 delegates represented II
states and were elected by workers in
an industry which in 1882 was called
the most irmly-entrenched %nonunion
industry in America. The conference
adjourned, however, with the POSSIBLE
ity of a split on the part Of federal
locals which objected openly on the
floor to what they termed auto
cracy." The minority movement was
led by the Detroit Hudson Motor To-
cal, the largest in the U. A. w. A., and
was supported by such large locals as
South Bend, Cleveland and St. Louis.
President Green, addressing the
delegates before they began consid-
Grafton OF the resolutions, told them
that it was too early for them to have
an international union. He promised
his assistance in the formation of such
a union Gust as soon as you have es-
tablished yourselves as a staying force
in the industry"
The resolution was carried in its
original motion after Collins, who act
ed as chairman throughout the SEES
sion, ruled out an amendment to give
the council authority to instruct the
national organizer.
Michigan will have four Of the II
council representatives, the other
states being apportioned as follows ;
Ohio, 2; Wisconsin, /; Indiana and
Illinois, /; New York, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey and Connecticut, l.;
Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and
West Virginia, /; and Arkansas, Iowa,
Missouri and California, l.
The first fight Of the anti-C Collins
group occurred when they attempted
to have the conference elect its own
chairman. Collins, however, ruled
that the conference had meet on the
call of the national organizer and had
no authority to take any action con-
trary to the wishes of the national or
ganizer. The important resolutions
committee was chosen by Collins be-
fore the conference met.
The conference adopted a strong
resolution urging the Automobile La
Dor Board to solve the problems pre-
sented by the speedup, seasonal lay
offs and discriminatory wage stand
ards.
Richard L. Byrd, labor representa-
tive on the auto labor board, blamed
"dictation from Washington" for the
boards record of inaction. Only re-
Gently, he declared, had the board
been empowered to issue decisions,
having been limited till then to a pol
icy of persuasion" Byrd bitterly at
tackled the manufacturers for their
attitude toward the board, in one in
stance declaring that "the General
Motors Corporation has proved that it
is not capable of living up to agree
ments."
Green attacked the company unions
in his speech and declared that the
autmobile manufacturers had better
recognize that unions in the auto in
dustry are a fact" Company-domi-
mated organizations, he declared, were
merely a subtle substitute for the
blacklist, discharge the job discrimi-
nation, and gave the manufacturers
o.4Lo-.... &c., Al ooo.-... rAo.of