Evening star., 1935-02-24
AT. OF |. CLAIMS
10000 AUTO MEN
Green Says That Number
of Automobile Workers
Are "Paid Up"
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, February 23.-William
Green, American Federation Of Lsbor
president, claimed ''paid-up" union
membership of 10000 in the automo-
bile industry today and said no strike
was planned.
I'VE are thinking in terms OF
peace-in terms of collective bargain
ing and independent workers" he
said. He conferred here today with
the National Council of A. F. OF l..
automobile unions on a plan to weld
auto workers into one large union.
Authorize Negotiations.
After Green's conference with
National Council, a group which rep
resents l45 automobile labor unions,
Francis j. Dillon, federation organ
izer. issued a statement saying the
council had authorized Green to open
new negotiations with the automobile
manufacturers for a mutually salts
factory working agreement relating
to wages, hours and conditions of
employment"
Dillon disclosed in his statement
that Green would try for an immedi-
ate contact with the manufacturers,
explaining that the council delegates
would remain in Detroit to learn
whether the manufacturers will deal
with Green.
Dillon's statement indicated that
the A. F. of L. would continue to dis
regard the bargaining agencies being
set up by the National Automobile
Labor Board.
Green made his claim of 10000
paid-up union members and approXi-
mately the same number delinquent
in their dues because of unemploy-
ment, in the face of Automobile
Labor Board figures showing that the
A. F. of L. represents only per cent
Of the automobile workers.
Only Few Favor A. F. of L.
The Labor Board said that of the
$1,000 employees of 19 automobile
plants who have voted in collective
bargaining primary elections, only
1882 expressed preference for the
A. F. of L. Eighty-six per cent OF the
eligible employees voted, the board
said.
Green, an avowed enemy of the La
bor Board established by President
Roosevelt a year ago to check a
threatened strike, said that under its
plan of selecting collective bargaining
committees in auto plants no free,
independent election could be held"
He criticized its program, under
which representation is proportionate
to the strength of various labor groups
in each plant, and urged abolition Of
the board. He proposed as substitute
a Labor Relations Board under the
jurisdiction of the National Industrial
Recovery Administration. The pres
ent board, headed by DR.. Leo Wolman,
is responsible only to President Roose-
Welt
Cites Organization Difficulties.
Green said the A. F. of L. is expert
encing the most difficulty in organic
ing unions in the automobile, steel
and rubber industries.
Until 18 months ago." he said ''au-
tomobile men showed no desire to or
ganiZe, because of seasonal and other
conditions. I'VE organized metal pol
ishers and some of the crafts, but
never general automobile labor. Now
we are trying to bring all classes of
labor into our ranks"
A. F. of L. members in the automo-
bile industry now belong to Federal"
labor unions, under direct jurisdiction
of the parent organization. The plan
under discussion today called for for
nation of al autonomous "interna-
tionar' union to include all divisions
OF labor within the industry