Evening star., 1937-09-12


there appears little likelihood for
reconciliation between the tpo
factions.
By JOHN c. HENRY.
Pressing its recently declared war
fare against the National Labor Rela-
tons Board, the American Federation
OF Labor, in its forthcoming conven-
ton at Denver in October, will con-
sider demand that the board "set
its own house in order" by a drastic
shake-up of field personnel.
Leaders of the federation who feel
most strongly that the board has
shown partiality toward the Com
nittee for Industrial Organization in
It's conduct thus far in relation TO
labor's factional strife are Of the
opinion that the initial and greatest
fault can be laid to the regional
working in the field.
The suggestion that the federation
place itself on record in favor Of some
major changes in the boards admins
trative personnel will be advanced
by spokesmen for the metal trades
department, probably the most power
full unit in the federation, which Is
holding its own convention in Denver
during the week preceding the A. F.
OF L. meetings
John P. Frey, president of the
metal trades department, will start
the anti-board drive in his opening
day report to his convention, 1t WAS
learned yesterday, with the expecta-
ton that the department delegates
will follow his leadership to the ex-
tent of adopting resolution criticiz-
ing policies of the board and proposing
q shake-up in its personnel
Amendment to Be Urged.
Frey also will urge adoption OF a
resolution calling for amendment to
the national labor relations act SO as
to provide for employe representation
elections on craft basis. The rail-
way labor act contains provision 80
wprded as to allow elections on this
basis but in the case of the national
labor relations act discretion to desig-
nate the election unit is vested en-
tirely in the board
Little likelihood exists that the
Metal Trades Convention Will fail to
follow its presidents leadership in the
campaign against the Labor Board
since several unions from this depart
ment for some time have been smart
ing under the boards treatment Of
them. One Of this group. the Inter
national Brotherhood OF Electrical
Workers, under President Dan w.
Tracy, brought this feeling clearly
into the open in connection with the
National Electrical Products Co. case
recently when the beard declared
closed shop contract between the COM
pany and the A. r. of L. union was
invalid and ordered an election to see
If c. l. O. union in the plant did not
have majority.
In balloting last Friday, the A. F.
OF l. union polled majority Of los
votes in some 1900 cast, with about
ls5 votes being challenged by one or
both sides.
Conferred With Board.
Long before the National Electric
case, however, both the Electrical
Workers and the International Asso-
citation of Machinists, also allied with
the Metal Trades department, felt
that they had Jared badly in other
cases before the board.
And about year ago, with no at
tendant publicity, committee COM
posed of Frey, Tracey and Arthur
Wharton, president of the machinists,
conferred with the board on this very
issue OF alleged discrimination. At
tnat time, the A. r. of L. representa-
tives Informed the board that they
1eit the danger Of discrimination, but
beyond the boards pledge that the
law would be administered impartially
no further assurances could be given.
Not content with the protection
available through the boards inten-
tons alone, Frey was instrumental in
having amendments introduced IN
Congress which would have provided
Tor employe elections on a craft basis,
but nothing came of this effort.
Fears Harm to Principle.
Frey. refraining from criticism of
Chairman j. Warren Madden and
other board members while directing
his attack at the field officers, con-
TENDS that ruling such as the board
made in connection with the Electric
Products case is harmful to the whole
scheme Of collective bargaining as
we'll as TO the A. F. of L. alone En-
ployers, he contends, have and will
usenthe invahdation of the contract
as an excuse for not signing collec-
tive bargaining agreements with any
Independent union
Possibility exists that the report
OF the Executive Council of the fed
Grafton, to be made public on the
morning Of October 4, when the con-
ventson opens, also may contain sim
liar Criticism of the board and similar
remedial suggestions The council
waszin session in Atlantic City when
the National Electric ruling was made
and placed itself unanimously on rec
ord in condemnation of the decision
Composed of II heads or leaders in
individual unions, the councils atti-
tude. will be important in shaping
convention action.
With the virtual certainty that this
move for censure of the board will
come before the Resolutions Commit
tee OF the federation convention and
probably reach the debating stage on
the noor, unless the A. F. of l.. leaders
are mollifled by some development in
the meantime. it now appears the
whole issue will be one of the most
important and most controversial OF
the whole convention.
Closely intertwined as it is with the
facticnal fight, it PROBABLY will be more
newsworthy than any action likely in
the direction of outright expulsion oi
the Gllspended G q unions