Montana labor news., 1936-04-09
Green Outlines Plans to
Organize Steel Industry

WASHINGTON. - (FP) - William
Green, president OF the American Fed.
Grafton OF Labor, has asked all presi-
dents OF national and internationa.
unions by letter to advise him as soor
as possible how much money their or
CARNATIONS can contribute TO the
launching of an organization campaign
in the steel industry.
Green submitted a preliminary cam
paign plan which contemplated the
raising OF $75O,OOO for the drive, the
direct supervision OF the campaign to
be undertaken by a Competent repre-
sentative of the A. F. OF l." working
directly under Green, the carrying on
of the campaign with the co-opera-
ton and approved OF the Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers, and the calling Of a confer
ence "of representatives of ~organiza-
tons interested and directly affected
Iby any organization campaign"
The letter to the presidents was seen
as an oblique answer to the proposal
of the committee for industrial or
ganization to organize the steel indus
try. The group Of eight unions, headed
by John L. Lewis, proposed raising a
81 100000 fund, $4,000 OF which they
would donate, and asked that the drive
be conducted by the A. F. OF L. along
industrial union lines. Green on re-
|ceipt OF the proposal said he would
submit it to the May meeting of the
executive council.
Green's letter to the national and in
ternational presidents cited the de-
cision of the 1884 San Francisco con-
vention of the A. F. Of L. directing the
executive council to Organize, man
age, promote and conduct a campaign
of organization in the iron and steel
industry at the earliest practical date"
Because OF the internal d~issension
which arose between groups within
the Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers and the Of
ficers Of that organization, it seemed
impossible and inadvisable to attempt
to inaugurate an organizing campaign
among the steel workers during the
year 1885," Green's letter said.
He also quoted the decision of the
1885 Atlantic City convention of the
A. F. of L. which decided, that the
orders Of the San Francisco conven-
ton be put into force and effect at
the earliest possible date"
ut is the duty of the organized la
Dor movement to inaugurate and con-
duct an organizing campaign in the
steel industry" Green said. "The
thousands of workers who are en-
ployed in the manufacture of iron
and steel products ought to be accorded
the widest opportunity to become
members Of the organized labor move
ment, and the greatest degree OF pro-
lection possible. We can, through an
organizing campaign, accord to the
unorganized workers in the steel in
dustry the opportunity to become mem
bers of the organized labor movement
and to mobolize their economic re-
sources in order to secure freedom,
higher standards of living, and the
enjoyment of tolerable conditions of
employment.
1.-THE A. F. of L. will launch an or
ganizing campaign in the steel indus
try upon just as large and comprehen-
sive a scale as financial contributions
national and international unions
affiliated with the A. F. of L. will per-
nit. That campaign will be carried
forward just as energetically, intelli-
and vigorously as possible"
One Of the first nswer to Green's
request for money came from John L.
president of the United Mine
Workers and chairman of the com
of industrial organization. He
stated his position had been set forth
the letter sent by the c. I. o. con
the proposal to organize the
steel industry.