Imperial Valley press., 1937-09-06
Labor Reviews
Gains of Year

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Continued from Page One)
the morganized," has each month
swung more deeply into what had
been recognized as definite A. F
Of L. fields. These growing con-
flicts resulted in actual street
fighting between rival picket lines
as in certain Cleveland knitting
mills which both factions were try
ting to organize.
In the maritime trades, in tex
tiles, in the electrical trades, In
the government service, in oil
aluminium, and a dozen other in
dustries, the two are directly COM
peting for members.
Labor Party Move Grows
Politics: Labor's first direct ma
tional political bid in many years
came in the presidential campaign
of late 1886 when Labor's Non-Par-
tisan League, backed by both or
ganized labor factions, worked for
Roosevelt's election, and the Unit
ed Mine Workers and other unions
made substantial campaign contri-
buttons.
Throughout the summer of 1887,
many local labor organizations be-
gan operating in local primaries
In an effort to secure local admin
istrations favorable to labor. The
c. I. o. has been most active in
these moves, as much of the A F.
OF l.. membership still sticks to the
Gompers formula of reward oul
friends, punish our enemies" re-
gardless of party.
Victories and Defeats
Strikes: The year opened with g
sitdown strike in the far-flune
plants of the General Motors cor
poration engineered by the United
Auto Workers, union taken owe
from the A F. of L. and rejuvenat
ed by the c. L o. The sudder
effectiveness of the new form o
strike launched a wave of discus
sion of its legality and implication
that has not yet subsidized. A simila
strike at Chrysler followed, botl
terminated by signed agreement
with the U. A. w.
Then, early in March, came tn
sudden decision o. the U. S. Stee
corporation to sign contract wit
Lewis C. I. o. stee. union, tn
Amalgamated Association of Iror
Steel and Tin Workers.
Early in June a strike agains
three independent" steel companie
was begun and bitterly carried ol
along orthodox lines for more thai
q month before failure was general
ly conceded, though the strike ha
not yet been officially called off
Mass picketing was followed b!
widespread violence and the deatl
of some "a men in conflict with po
lice, ke-breakers. or "back-to
work" employees. A citizens vigi
lante movement, begun in Michigan
during the motor strikes, added Il
at Hershey, Pa, in a chocolat
strike, and climaxed during tn
steel strike, combined with Nationa
Guard activities to enable worker
to filter back to their jobs. Prob
ably a million dollars was spent b.
the c. I. o. in this unsuccessful
maneuver.
Labor Law Gains Small
Legislative: Specific labor legis
lation was meager, including prin
cipally the Guffey-V Vinson Bitumin
JUS Coal act poviding a commission
to regulate that industry, and tn
railway retirement amendments
which cover 100000 men with
pension system generally conceded
TO be a model.
The Wagner Labor Relations ac
was upheld by the U. S. Suprem'
Court, but efforts to amend its pro
cedure and that of the Labor Rela
tionS Board were defeated.
A tremendous amount of worl
was done by the board in ameli
Grating labor disputes, with NOR
than 5000 cases closed between Octo
Der, 1885, and June, 1887. OF these
73l were withdrawn, 364 lapsed 70
lack Of evidence, 1745 were amicabl.
settled, and 1872 were given hearings
Between July, 1896, and July, 1881
81 elections were held on petition
of A. F. of L. unions and 20 OF
petitions OF c. 1. o. unions