The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-03
Jones Tells How
NRA Brings Gun
Rule on Docks
Continued from Fage y

(Goftitued from Faye y
strike wave, the hearings served to
expose in toto once more the skull
duggery Of American Federation Of
Labor officials against the sweep
toward independent labor organiza-
tons that conceded with the introduc-
ton of the New Deal Such an expos
ure came all inadvertently today from
A. Filene. internationally
known merchant and capitalist econo-
mist. Summarizing what he learned
in trip around the nation, from
which he has just returned, Flene
said the collective bargaining provi-
sions of the MIRA. (the promise
branded long ago by the Daily Work
er as demagegic gesture designed to
create illustons) is not being enforced.
Then FileEfe naively blurted:
"Ehe opposition to the labor poll
!eieS that 1 have been describing is
largely basH1 on a general fear by
employers that the A. +. Of L. is
not organized either locally or ma
tionaily 10 use greatly increased
power t''rough a great increase in
union strength, with safety to bust
res and le~'timate business inter-
ests in fact local leaders
Of the A. F. of L. told me on their
own initiative that this was so, and
that in some places they had been
Obliged to take over the control of
some newly formed labor unions
where the new leader with no
understanding of the situation, were
siT1p'y using their new powers to
fight the employers in wavs con-
sidered unwise by the A. F. of L.
leaders themselves"
So, even Mr.. Filene found out that
the newly organized workers who were
virtually forced into the A. F. Of L.
organization and its direct and
BY the governments aid to A. F. Of
continuous drive against independent
unions-are ready to fight-so ready,
along with their new local leaders,
that the old hands Of the A. F. of L.
but policies which would serve the
boss interests Filene serves by, for ex-
ample, adopting fixed policy of
wage differentials against the Negro
people. This. despite the fact that
Filene himself, declared that "the
average Of all workers, skilled and
produce about $40 worth Of
Goods a day." and innocently asked.
where does it go?" he naturally
didn't say that most Of 1t goes to
employers.
Stop Group From Speaking
Two representatives of the indus
trial Union of Marine and Shipyard
Workers, an INDEPENDENT group bit
terly opposed to the A. F. Of L., told
the N.RA. officials today that
they were consistently Disseminated
against by the code-making ofiHials.
When a hearing was held on the
code, they said, they were allowed
to speak only on minimum wage
their demand for the right to speak
on the entire waoe scale being sum-
marily squeelched.
A week later, A. F. of L. officials
met MIRA. officials and agreed upon
the entire scale-a scale which pro-
vided a minimum vase for skilled
labor in private yards which was low
er than that then paid to urel-illed
labor in government navy yards.
M.WLU. Excluded
Jones also told how the M.WI.U.
was excluded from code conferences
He told how his union learned in
directly on Feb. 8 Of a meeting held
on the previous day by Deputy Ad-
ministrator J. B. Weaver, in charge OF
the Marine Code. The owners and
A. F. of L. union leaders we're present
but the militant union was not noti-
fed. The MWIU. protested and
Jones pulled out letter from Weaver
Tie replied that your organiza
ton was not invited inasmuch as you
stated before the public hearings
that unless the code presented by the
M.WI.U. were adopted you would
adopt the M.WIU. through strikes
and other measures this attitude
is definitely not one which would tend
to develop harmonious relations be-
tween management and labor
1--WE answered that our attitude is
to defend workers and not to ac-
complish the impossible = harmony
between us and the bosses" Jones
continued.
Demands Right to Strike
Jones demanded "a minimum OF
1925 to every seaman and longshore-
man. in wages or in cash unemploy-
ment relief" an eight hour day for
every man aboard; the right to direct
negotiations by elected committees of
the workers; and the right to strike.
Leslie H. Jones, of Baltimore, spoke
on behalf Of the Unemployment
Council, reporting how seamen there
have won control of relief. This vic
tory. the result of two years mass
fight. Jones declared. Showed sky
pilots and salvation army lassies to
administer relief"