Evening star., 1937-07-04

AT the present time, labor unions
can be sued in the Federal courts
as demonstrated in the Apex hosiery
and other cases incorporation might
facilitate the service Of process. but
would not broaden the right 20 bring
suit.
! There is also the belief that incorpo-
ration would guarantee financial re-
sponsibility. but there is no as
surance this would be true. Ordinary
business corporations often fail and
cannot pay their debts and jude-
rnents The same thing would apply
to union corporation. If a union
has funds, they can be reached now
| by legal proceedings, and it is dim
cult to see how incorpora ton would
facilitate the satisfaction OF a judg-
ment.
No Compulsion on Work.
1t has been asserted that lncorpora :
tion would assure the performance of
| contracts. but this belief has no
foundation in fact. Generally speak
ing. men cannot be compelled to work
under the terms of our present Con-
stitution, and no court could order
the members of union to perform
services under the terms of con-
tract even If the LABOR organiza ton
was incorporated
Finally, incorporation would not as
sure any higher quality OF leadership
for labor organizations. II labor
leader can insure his continued cleo
ton in an unincorporated union, he
could do the same thing in An in
/ corporated one.
Great Britain tried to meet the
labor problem after the general strike
in 1926 by passage Of the trade dis
putes and trade unions act. This
legislation prohibited general or SYM
pathetic strikes by providing that a
strike COR lock-out) should be illegal
if called for any purpose except the
furtherance Of trade dispute in the
industry in which the strikers were
engaged, or if the object were to
coerce the government directly or by
inflicting hardship on the community
Picketing was declared illegal il
conducted in such numbers or in q
manner to intimidate workers OF
cause any disturbance
Must Confess Political Contribution.
The act also required trade unions
to make a separate accounting OF
political contributions and funds and
to report them to the government.
1t is not likely that such severe
restrictions will be imposed in the
near future in this country, but some
corrective steps might be taken.
Assuming that particular industry
comes within the commerce clause
the Federal Government could bar
sit-down strikes, which are clearly
illegal. To condone them Is to con-
tribute to lawlessness.
Workers could and should be pro.
tected from coercion, not only from
the employers but from labor leaders
Strikes could be prohibited unit
after cooling period" during which
demands could be considered in m
atmosphere free from violence anc
economic pressure.
Strikes called In deliberate violation
Of contracts could be forbidden
although it is difhcult to see how such
= law could be enforced However
it would stamp the strike as illega
from the outset.
General and sympathetic strike!
could be regulated and union onicial
required to account for expenditures
affected with . public interest suct
as political contributions.
The plain fact Of the matter Is
however, that there are already
enough laws on the statute books te
permit the correction of most Of thes<
evils. Forcible occupation Of plants
intimidation Of workers by violence