The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-07
LABOR DISPUTES
TRUCE DOOMED,
OFFICIALS FEAR
Conflicts Expected Soon in
Steel, Rubber, Other
Industries.

By Scripps-HoWard Newspaper Alliance
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-Appre-
hension is growing today that the
Presidents labor disputes truce is
riding for a fall
The truce. proposed by Mr. Roose-
welt, Sept. 80, in a fireside talk to
the Nation, has been successful so
far. Only one important case gives
immediate concern-the Los Angeles
Garments lockout, which has reached
the tear gas stage.
But conflicts in the steel, auto
mobile, rubber and numerous lesser
industries are considered irrepres-
sible by many here. Temporary
measures have simply STAYED off the
showdown, some labor leaders and
officials think.
The steel industry has just re-
iterated its opposition to any COL
lective-bargaining scheme based on
Section IA as interpreted in the
Houde decision. Instead of recog
nizing a majority union as exclusive
bargainer for all employees in unit,
the industry proposes to negotiate
separately with any and all en-
ployeS' organizations.
Elections Expected
The Steel Labor Relations Board
is expected soon to give the signal
for court battle by G. 1ering cleo
lions among employees of the Du-
quesne and Mcdonald plants of the
Carnegie Steel Co. Whether labor
will wait on the slow processes of
law is a moot question.
A similar situation exists in the
rubber industry, centered at Akron,
Ohio.
The National Labor Relations
Board ordered workers elections for
tomorrow in the Firestone and
Goodrich plants at Akron, but both
companies petitioned Federal
Court to set aside the order. The
Labor Board agreed to drop its cleo
ton plans pending the court test.
I'VE can not believe" said Presi-
dent j. D. Tew, of Goodrich, that
either the Constitution or the law
will require us to deal with any one
single group of employees to the ex-
clusion of any individual or any
other group"
Auto Industry Opposed
The automobile industry takes the
same position. In this instance,
however, so-called proportional rep
reSentation for all labor unions is
in force not in defiance of the law
but by acknowledgements settle
ment to which both management
and labor agreed last March. The
American Federation of Labor is de-
termined to scrap this settlement,
but is awaiting the outcome of an
NRA investigation of labor condi-
lions in the industry.
In the Textile Union, which con-
Quoted the years biggest strike,
union leaders say another walkout
may be necessary to get any con-
cessions. The Federal Trade Com
mission and Labor Department are
completing reports on textile wages
and company finances, which may
be the basis for hearings on the
unions demand for a shorter week
with no pay cut.
Yesterday Newspaper Guild rep
resentativeS walked out of a code
hearing, accusing NRA of partisan
interference for employers in fore
ing reopening of a Labor Board de-
cision against a publisher.
In many another field the steady
PROSECUTING by the A. F. of L. pre-
sages an eventual fight.
A. F. of L. Organizing
Filling station operators, cleaners
and dyers, and workers in the chemi-
cal, leather, laundry, cement, radio
and typewriter industries are get
ting special attention. National
councils have been set up in these
industries by the A. F. of L.
The fact that the Aluminium
Workers Council obtained recogni-
ton by a short-lived strike, in pre-
ference to awaiting the laborious
proceedings of the board and courts,
has impressed many labor executives.
1t is one of the big jobs of Chair
man Francis Biddle of the National
Labor Relations Board-and of
President Roosevelt-to convince
labor and management that orderly
processes can produce results with
out undue delay.
The controversy is brewing in
Congress as we'll as in the industrial
centers and the courts. There will
be a determined effort to write the
majority-rule principle into what
ever legislation is drafted to replace
Section IA.