The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-06-17

The high degree of Congressional
interest in the labor situation re-
Elected in the current hearings on
proposed minimum hour and wage
law, in the studies of strikes devel-
opments, and in numerous legisla-
tive plans for stabilizing labor con-
dltions, is evidence that progress is
being made in the effort to improve
working conditions and strike a
medium as to the respective rights
of capital and labor.
Already there are indications that
under the drive for unionization of
all workers and the plans of en-
ployers to meet this wider organi-
cation of labor, the public generally
will, through the forces of govern
ment, be the arbiter of respective
rights. In other words, employers
and workers, must be and are pre-
pared to adjust their battle tactics
to public sentiment. To put it still
another way, agencies of govern
ment must be prepared to umpire
public interest is fully protected.
This is the objective of all new leg
islation dealing with labor problems.
1t is interesting to note that the
tremendous strides in labor organi-
cation today are under far different
conditions than those of seventeen
years ago, when trade union men,
bershlps passed the five million
mark. With the outbreak of the
World War, political and economic
conditions highly favorable to the
growth of organized labor were Gre
ated. The flow of European orders
into this country and later the heavy
war purchases by our own govern
ment produced state of great bust
ness activity and demand for labor.
The stoppage of immigration and
the withdrawal of man power for
military purposes also helped to |
tighten the labor market and
strengthen the bargain power of
labor.
And with industrial peace essen
tial to continued production, the
Federal Government encouraged
the extension of trade unionism and
collective bargaining.
Conditions for the present drive
for the stronger organization of la
Dor are, of course, entirely different
from those of the war period. In
stead of a shortage of labor we have
a surplus and unemployment is
wide. Personal contacts between en-
ployers and employees are fewer.
The trend toward larger establish
ments employing great numbers of
workers continues. For labor, this
means that workers must place
more dependence upon employee
representatives. In a word, individ-
ual bargaining over terms of en-
ployment is being replaced by mess
bargaining.
Increased mechanization is con-
tributing factor to maintaining fac
tory output with fewer workers.
Small and inefficient plants are be-
ing eliminated and regional shifts
of factories and scientific manage
ment are having great effect. Thus
labor's powers of adjustment to
changing conditions are even more
demanded in the future than in the
past.
Obviously, the part of the govern
ment in these changes is tremen-
dous Maximum effort is necessary
to the end that neither capital nor
labor will encroach on the rights of
the public. The farmer, who is di-
rectly affected, must be protected.
Agriculture occupies a dominant
place as source of supply for raw
materials for factory and food for
workers. And Congressional leaders
are determined that the rights of
the farmer shall not be overlooked
as our rural population watches the
fight between the organized forces
of industry and the organized forces
of labor. There are high hopes that
Congress will, through desirable
and equitable legislation now pend
ing, contribute to solution of the
problem with due regard for the
rights of all.