Evening star., 1934-06-01
STEEL INSTITUTE
RAPS WAGNER BILL
Would Intensity and Enlarge
Strike, Statement
Declares.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June IA statement
vigorously assailing the revised Wag-
ner labor bill now before Congress as
a measure which would intensity and
increase industrial strife was issued
yesterday by the American Iron and
Steel Institute.
The statement follows:
Notwithstanding notifications, the
revised Wagner bill embodies most OF
the objectional features of the original
bill. Despite statements to the con-
trary by proponents of the bill, 1t re-
tains the un-American principles that
were the subject of vigorous protests
by employees and employers alike be-
fore the Senate Labor Committee.
Although the revised bill purports
to be measure to promote industrial
peace, the practical result of its
passage would be exactly the opposite.
Its enactment would set the stage for
conflict which not only will retard
national recovery. but will injure en-
ployes and employers for all time
Fears Closed Shop.
"The provisions of the bill would
tend to strangle employe representa-
tion plans now in effect, under which
millions of industrial workers are en-
joying the benefits of an effective and
modern form of collective bargaining
THE bill would tend to impose the
closed shop through requiring en-
ployerS to deal with labor organiza-
tions now representing small mi
nority Qess than 10 per cent? of the
industrial workers of the Nation, thus
giving these unions a recognition and
membership through legislation which
they have been unable to win by vol
untary appeal. 1t is based upon the
vicious theory that there must be con-
fiict and strife between employers and
employees. Its provisions would drive
wedge between them.
1.-The unfairness of the bill to en-
ployes and its bias in favor of the
professional labor unions is plainly
shown in the provisions of the
measure which declare certain acts TO
be unfair labor practices.
Sees Union Coercion.
while properly forbidding any CO.
ercion or intimidation by an employer
of his employees, it contains nothing
that would prevent labor organizations
from exercising any manner of CO.
ercion or intimidation against en-
ployes. 1t Is a we'll known fact that
union organizations frequently adopt
ruthless and sometimes brutal forms
of intimidation to win members to
unions and to induce workers to strike.
The net result of the bill would
be to create a labor union monopoly
with great injury TO millions OF en-
ployes, to employers and TO the public
"No attempt is made to extend the
function of the proposed adjustment
board to basic questions OF hours OF
labor. wages and working conditions.
1t is designed only to further the ad-
vancement of labor organizations and
the imposition of the closed shop.
Such legislation will not solve any
labor difficulties. but only perpetuate
industrial warfare.
The very existence of such board
will tend to promote agitation on the
part of professional strike fomenters.
Wide Powers Hit.
"The board is given virtually un-
restricted Jurisdiction to determine the
manner in which representatives for
collective bargaining shall be chosen
The result of this will be national
control of local labor relations, which
will deprive employees of the freedom
of proceeding on their own volltlon
and in their own manner in the Selec-
ton of their representatives. This is
contrary to the g-established and
recognized principle that individuals
should be free to negotiate engage
ments for their employment, and Is
bound to produced discord among the
employees themselves and between
them and their Employers.
Under one provision Of the bill, II
a union is not strong enough to dom1-
nate the plant, it will be possible for
the plant to be so subdivided as to
give union recognition to part Of it,
however small, thus giving foothold
to union labor where the employees
might be predominately in favor OF
the open shop.
The bill forbids contributions by
an employer toward the expense OF
operating the representation plan OF
his employees 1t is apparent that such
provision is a blow aimed against
employe representation plans, many
of which have been in operation for
years. Such plans make for industrial
harmony, which is for the good of the
EMPLOYERS as well as their employees,
and there is no sound reason for
making it unlawful for the employers
to help defray the expense of operat-
ing them.
Time for Truth"
"In notable contrast to this proV1-
sion, the proposed bill places no re-
straint upon the amount of dues to
be collected by the union labor or
ganizations or upon the use of their
funds. Moreover, the proposed bill
requires no accounting to the en-
ployes for dues paid by them, the
aggregate of which, even with COM
paratively small labor union member
ship, is known to be large.
cit is time the American people
were told the truth about the motives
back of the industrial troubles that
organized labor is now threatening.
The threatened disturbances cannot
be explained away on the ground that
they are merely manifestations Of
business recovery. Their real causes
are to be found in the determination
of national labor leaders to exploit
section (a) of the recovery act for
their selfish ends at any cost in total
disregard of the welfare of workers or
Of the whole Nation"