The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-28
The Revised Wagner Bill

IN THE heat of the class battles in Toledo,
l the recent Minneapolis truckers strike,
and the stubborn, militant and persistent
Iongshore strike, the Roosevelt government
is forging one of its sharpest strike-break-
ing weapons.
The Wagner bill, held in reserve for just
such an occasion, has been given the presl-
Dental X and is now being rushed through Con-
gress in time to mobilize the whole power Of the
government in an effort to prevent the steel work
ers from striking for union recognition and I'M
proved conditions.
just yesterday the revised Wagner bill was pub
Hshed Though completely re-cast as to phrases,
it retains the main strike breaking intent Of the
original bill.
Fer the purpose of deceiving the workers, Sen
ator Wagner labeled his original bill an anti
company union" measure. OF course, even the
original bill did not provide for action against COM
pany unions The present BILL the one that Roose-
welt is rushing through to adoption, declares that
company unions are to be regarded as labor or
EXAMINATIONS" The company unions are given gov
eminent recognition and support.
While declaring that the bosses shall, however,
be prohibited from contributing to the support OF
the company union, the law tells the employers
how they can hire special agents for the company
union, put them to work in the various depart
menLS, ana Unen on COIlpdAly pay oPCAO oil HAAOAA
time, forcing the workers into the company unions
The original draft of the bill deliberately threw
in lot of phrases apparently against the company
union in order to fool the workers, and permit the
A. F. of L. leaders to get support for it. Now, when
the bill very clearly itself supports company unions
the A. F. of L. still appeal to the workers to sup
port the Wagner bine-a definite, thinly disguised
strike-breaking instrument.
wHOT1C-H not act11al1v mentioning compulsory ar
bitration the bill virtually provides for it. Under
arbitration it declares that arbitrator will be
appointed by the new National Industrial Adjust
ments Board if both the employers and employees
agree. But under unfair labor practices" the Sec
rotary of Labor can designate what he considers an
unfair labor practice" The board then i'm
medately has Jurisdiction and steps into strike
situation in order to smash the workers rights.
In this manner the A. F. of L. wants to help
the Roosevelt regime smuggle in compulsory ar
bitration.
The whole set-up of the revised Wagner Bill
shows it clearly to be an instrument drawn up by
the bosses government in this critical period of the
growing militancy of the workers in an effort to
use the whole force of the government against the
workers right to organize in unions of their own
choice; against the right to strike and picket; and
to enforce the starvation slave codes of the NR.A-
while the bosses profits are preserved.
The actual strike breaking intent of the bill is
virtually admitted by the administration through
its deeds in rushing through the measure precisely
at this period of the tremendous advance Of the
strike wave for the purpose of ending these strug
giles.
It is this bill the A. F. of L. leadership has en-
dorsed 1t is for this strike breaking measure that
Norman Thomas Socialist leader, wrote a special
editorial in the Socialist New Leader" urging all
workers to support it,
Every worker, through his organization, through
struggle through fighting for the right to organ
ize and to strike in the fight against the COM
pany unions, should resist the passage of the
Wagner bill And if it is passed, through the mass
action of the workers, reject it and render 1t use
less to the expoiters.