Evening star., 1937-01-02
Secretary Perkins Sees Year
Of Better Pay and Conditions
Working Men and Women of Nation
Face Improved Order-Critical
Phases of 1886 Reviewed.

their unlawful, ruthless tactics of for.
mer years will not be tolerated.
I'VE shall pursue our purpose re-
lentlessly, but legally and peacefully.
If any strike. violence or bloodshed
occurs as a result, it will not arise
from our organizers or their activ-
tiles"
In the automobile industry the
Lewis group, as the year ends. has
singled out General Motors Corp,
giant Of the industry. upon which to
center organization efforts and de-
mands for collective bargaining.
Other organization developments
are too numerous even to tabulate
in such a review as this, but three,
in addition to those in steel and auto
mobiles, seem worthy of mention:
Following the strengthening Of
their organization, the Federation of
Flat Glass Workers, o c. I. o. union,
called strike because Of refusal of
their demands for a preferential shop.
a check-oh system and certain wage
and hour conditions. With at least
rs per cent Of the industry tied up,
the strike has become recognized as
a potent weapon in bringing the
automobile industry to terms, since
absolute shortage Of glass supplies has
badly crippled that industry.
Editorial Workers Union.
Second has been the unionization
of editorial workers of the Nations
newspapers in the American News
paper Guild to the extent that that
organization now has approximately
Is written contracts with newspaper
publishers. in addition to about a
dozen verbal agreements. Granted an
A. r. Of L. charter, the guild has
gained cooperation of other fedora
ton unions in the newspaper field.
A third specific labor development
Of interest was the growth of the
United Electrical and Radio Workers,
an industrial union which has been
accepted into c. I. o. membership, and
that unions successful peaceable in
vasion Of the General Electric Co. In
an election conducted by the National
Labor Relations Board and sanctioned
by the company, the main plant at
Schenectady, N. Y, went on record
in favor OF the outside union. I'm
mediately the company accepted the
decision, distributed bonuses to all
workers and prepared to meet the
representatives of the U. E. and r.
Meanwhile, the federation. still the
parent body Of American labor, has
dedicated itself principally to sup
porting legislation beneficial to labor.
Among the objectives are 30-hour
week, acceptance of the child labor
amendment and acceptance by in
dustry Of the collective bargaining
principle.
William Green, president, says:
American labor stands at the
threshold of this new day. strong,
erect, courageous. determined to take
advantage OF the economic improve
ment, to build higher wage level and
q more tolerable condition of employ
ment.
THE earnings of industry must be
more equitably distributed.
We expect to press for the acceptance
and enactment OF legislation designed
to make labor free and accord it the
widest opportunity to organize and
unite its economic strength"
Effect on Politics.
In politics, the story is tied in close
ly with the success OF President
Roosevelt and his party. Yet the in
fiuence Of labor undoubtedly was an
important factor In that success.
Center of considerable speculation,
for instance, has been Labor's Nom
Partisan League headed by John
Lewis, George l.. Berry and Sidney
Hillman.
Mai. Berry offers the following:
'Labor's Non-Partisan League en-
tered the field early In the year with
its primary ayowed purpose the re-
election OF President Roosevelt. Prior
to 1895, outside of purely local sit
uations. there was no concentrated
labor vote. But in 1896, the forces Of
labor set to work with little money,
and no organization TO speak Of, and
In little more than six months built
up an overwhelming sentiment for
President Roosevelt's reelection. 80
II (the kag1e) II no temporary or