Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1937-12-09
GETTING DOWN TO
TACKS'
II CRUCIAL TEST

That Labor itself recognizes its
entire fate hangs in the balance and
depends on the outcome of negoti-
ating committees of the two great
groups of A. +. of L.. and G.. /. o.
is clearly demonstrated by misgiv-
ings found in expression from with
In its WI ranks. Typical is a COM
munication sent out recently by the
Hosiery Workers Union of Phila-
delphia. Among other things, the
president wrote, "the fate of the en-
tire labor movement lies in the
hands of the two negotiating con-
mittees. While it is true that over
seven million people have been or
ganized in a relatively short time,
a wave of reaction has set in. Major
employers have combined i'll huge
organizations to resist efforts of
their employees to organize and bar
gain with them. Vigilante groups are
s%pringing up everywhere. The only
way to counterfeit these efforts of
employers is a unified labor move
ment."
Continuing, this labor leader
writes, "it is possible for labor to
bring its full force to bear while
G.. /. O. and A. r. of l.. are bicker-
ing and combating one another. The
al%l-important thing is a peace pact
that will bring unity. That must be
attained at all costs. To us it is a
burning problem. Let us assert our
selves, let us come to an understand
ing that the army of seven million
workers today will march under one
banner to organize twenty-three mil
lion unorganized workers." There
you have an expression of a union
leader himself, one who heads 90
thousand workers, now affiliated
with C. |. O, His letter was sent to
every nnion in the country.
81 Il
Mr.. VIM. Leader is right. a wave
of reaction in public opinion has
set in against the contending forces
in organized labor that has promot-
ed strife and hardship in sections
where, until John l.. Lewis C. /
o. sprung into existence, employers
were experiencing little difficulty in
effecting hour and wage schedules
with local unions. Industry has new
er challenged the right of laborers
to collective bargaining, nor has il
refused to deal with existing unions
They do however, and will, resist
efforts to throttle the peaceable op-
GRAFTON of factories or the challenge
of a mans right to work under con
ditions satisfactory to himself.
One of the strongest bones of con.
tention, as fostered through c. /. 0.
is the "checkoff'' system. Wonder
of the casual reader knows whar
that means. I'll confess / didn't
until a few weeks ago | happened
to be afforded the opportunity OF
having it explained and discussed
in a union meeting. The checkof.
system simply is an agreement en-
tered into by an employer to deduct
union dues from the pay envelope of
every worker unless he carries a re-
ceipt showing he is paid up with his
local. This of course means that an
employer would be forcing every man
who works in his factory or business
establishment, be it large or small
to be a Union member. Most EN-.
pioyers hold, and justly so, this re.
quirement to be un-American, deny.
ing to a nan the rights and privil
eyes to which he Is entitled under
the constitution. If, through efforts
of its own leaders - aver though
some of them be u%nprincipled dema.
gogues of the worst type-workine
people can be induced to affiliate
with unions and through such ar
agency, negotiate working agree.
ments, employers should recognize
their organized groups. On the 9th.
er hand, should men be satisfied
n in fact ask the right. to work
for employers as free agents without
the dictation of organized groups
thai too should be their privilege
y y
sat in on a meeting of some
three hundred union members. Hac
heard so much about unions beint
overridden with foreigners and radf
Gals that 1t was a pleasant expert
ence to find this group for the mos
part made up OF a splendid assemb
lage Of clean, intelligent-looking
,s,or{oo, NON onI v~L1:~ l.