Montana labor news., 1934-07-12
Of the Federal
Labor Disputes Law
Empowers Government Boards
to Hold Elections by Emploes
to Choose Collective Bargain
ing Agencies - Fine or Jail
Term Prescribed for Employ
ers Who Interfere.

Service; Special Release OF June
10, 1934.)
The new labor disputes law enacted
by the United States Congress on June
10, 1884, authorizes the president to
appoint a board or boards to investi-
gate labor disputes arising under the
National Industrial Recovery Act and
conduct secret-ballot elections by EN-
ployes to choose agencies for collec-
tive bargaining as provided in Section
IA Of the National Industrial Recov-
cry Act, with a mandatory provision
against the law being used to impede
the right of working men and women
to strike.
The text OF the new law follows:
Investigate Labor Controversies.
Resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled, That in order to further effec-
tuate the policy Of Title I of the Ma
tional Industrial Recovery Act, and in
the exercise of the powers therein and
herein conferred, the President is au-
thorized to establish a board or
boards authorized and directed to in
vestigate issues, facts, practices, or ac-
tivities Of employers or employees in
any controversies arising under Sec
ton IA of said Act or which are
b%urdening or obstructing, or threat
ening to burden or obstruct the free
flow of interstate commerce, the sal
aries, compensations, and expenses Of
the board or boards and necessary
employees being paid as provided in
Section 2 Of the National Industrial
Recovery Act.
Elections by Secret Ballot.
"Sec. 2. Any board so established
is hereby empowered, when it shall ap-
pear in the public interest, to order
and conduct an election by a secret
ballot OF any of the employees of any
employer, to determine by what per-
son or persons or organization they
desire to be represented in order to
insure the right of employees to organ
ize and to select their representatives
for the purpose of collective bargain
ing as defined in Section IA Of said
Act and now incorporated herein.
Compulsory Powers.
For the purposes Of such election
such a board shall have the authority
to order the production Of such peril
nent documents or the appearance Of
such witnesses to give testimony un-
der oath, as it may deem necessary to
carry out the provisions of this reso-
luton. Any order issued by such a
board under the authority of this sec
ton may, upon application of such
board or upon petition Of the person
or persons to whom such order is di-
rected, be enforced or reviewed, as the
case may be, in the same manner, so
far as applicable, as is provided in the
case Of an order Of the Federal Trade
Commission under the Federal Trade
Commission Act.
"Sec. 3. Any such board, with the
approval of the president, may pre-
scribe such rules and regulations as it
deems necessary to carry out the pro-
visions of this resolution with refer
ence to the Investigations authorized in
Section | and to assure freedom from
coercion in respect to all elections.
Penalties Are Prescribed.
Sec. a.. Any person who shall
knowingly violate any rule or regula-
ton authorized under Section 3 Of
this resolution or impede or interfere
with any member or agent of any
board established under this resolu-
ton in the performance of his duties,
shall be punishable by a fine of not
more than $1,000 or by imprisonment
for not more than one year, or both.
"Sec. 5. This resolution shall cease
to be in effect, and any board or
boards established hereunder shall
cease to exist, on June 10, 1885, or
sooner if the president shall by proc
lamation, or the Congress shall by
joint resolution, declare that the emer-
gency recognized by Section / of the
National Industrial Recovery Act has
ended.
Strike Right Affirmed.
"Sec. 6. Nothing in this resolution
shall prevent or impede or diminish in
any way the right of employees to
strike or engage in other concerted &C
t%ivities."