Montana labor news., 1935-10-17
Hot Issues Confront A.
F. Of |. Convention

ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.-(FP)-
Like straws in the wind, the pre-con-
vention meetings Of the various Amer
lean Federation of Labor departments
pointed to the bitter conflicts almost
inevitable in the fifty-fifth annual CON
vention Of the federation at Atlantic
City.
The issues were clearly drawn by the
time the delegates OF the 40 state led
erations, 100 national and international
unions and the $50 city central bodies
took their seats. What the department
tai conventions failed to bring into the
open, the annual report OF the A. F. OF
l.. executive committee added. Between
them all, the following hot spots loom:
/. Industrial unionism vs.. craft
unionism- both sides seem lined up
for a knock-down and drag-out fight.
Pres, John P. Frey in the Metal Trades
Department confab served warning that
a pro-industrial unionism stand by the
federation might mean that his depart
ment would become a rebel"
Equally determined, however, IS the
Brewery Workers Union, fighting
desperately the decision OF last years
convention giving its transfers over to
the teamsters' union, a decision which
has led to terrific jurisidictional battles.
The newly-chartered %autoworkers' and
rubber workers internationals, the
strong needle trades unions and the
United Mine Workers of America will
all lend powerful support to industrial
unionism.
The autoworkers, particularly, have
sent their delegation of seven from
their recent convention to fight for the
right to elect their own officers, to or
game the entire industry and to have
local autonomy.
2. This last issue, the autonomy OF
international unions, is another po-
%tential trouble-maker. The executive
council report recommends adoption Of
an amendment to the declarations con-
%stitution empowering it to suspend any
international which permits Commu-
nists to be members. This infringement
upon the inner business of an interna-
tional threatens to cause a real battle.
1t is known that one of the arguments
fused by officials Of the American News
paper Guild, in advocating A. F. Of l..
utilization, was the fact that the fed
eration's constitution permits complete
local autonomy. The American Fed
Grafton of Teachers and the Interna-
tional Fur Workers Union, which
merged recently with the left-wing Fur
Workers Industrial Union, are both
Immediately affected by the issue.
3. The Labor Party question almost
certainly will be raised despite the ex-
ecutive councils recommendation that
the n%on-partisan political policy be con
tinued.
T. The building trades split, as wide
apart as ever, is another headache. The
department headed by w. J. Melon
ough will appeal Green's recognition OF
the department headed by ]. w. Viii
liams as the official one, For organized
labor as a whole, this fight is more
than a jurisdictional question, Or a
struggle for power. The building
trades workers were the key to the
victory in the strike against the Roose-
welt wage on WPA, it is pointed out.
A decisive split in their ranks would
weaken labor tremendously in its ef-
forts to maintain decent working stand
ards on federal projects.
On the international front, little ex-
citement is expected. Sentiment seems
widespread for the continuation Of the
boycott against German Nazism, and
Green is likely to be backed in his
statement that American labor insists
on strict neutrality by the U. S. in the
Italo- Ethiopian war.