Evening star., 1938-07-10
The Labor Board.

Inc NaNnnal LABOR HelatlOnS Board,
having passed It's shird birthday, can look
back with pride upon its record oe accom-
plishments, but the coming year is al
most certain to bring a renewal of de-
mands for revision of the act under
which the board has operated.
During its first three years, the board
handled a total of 1882 cases involving
3,67l 857 workers. AS of last June l, the
agency had closed 11,180 of the cases.
ing been closed by agreement of both
parties. A total of Its complaints was
dismissed by the board and 2,749 were
withdrawn by the workers involved. In
only five per cent of the cases we're
formal hearings held, and not all of
those were unfavorable to the employers
1t should be noted. however, that the
boards report neglects to state that from
March to September of last year the
number Of strikes and of persons in
volved in them rose to the highest level
in two decades. Many employers have
contended this increase in strikes is fair
ly attributable to the fact that the Labor
Relations Act is heavily weighted in
labors favor. and to the manner in
which it has been interpreted by the
board
This view is shared by Senator Burke,
Democrat, of Nebraska. who has asserted
that many Of the cases closed by agree
ment of both parties were In reality
shotgun" affairs, in which employers
were backed to the wall and forced to
accept the settlement.
The Nebraska legislator has promised
to make some shocking disclosures in
support of his position, but until the evi-
dence is forthcoming the board will con-
tinue to point to the fact that it's ac-
tions have been upheld in each of
twelve cases to reach the Supreme Court.
AS to the question of the fairness of
the boards procedure, Chief Justice
Hughes, deciding the Jones l. Laughlin
steel case. said: I'VE construe the pro-
cedural provisions (of the Wagner Act)
as affording adequate opportunity to Sc
cure judicial protection against arbi-
trary action in accordance with the we'll
settled rules applicable to administra-
tive agencies set up by Congress to aid
in the enforcement of valid legislation"
With the legality Of the boards pro-
ceedings under the present act appar-
emily safely buttressed by the Supreme
Courts rulings, most of its critics now
are seeking to secure more considera-
ton for the employers through revision
of the act itself.
This campaign for revision has the
support, among Others of the United
States Chamber of Commerce and the
National Association of Manufacturers,
and has been championed in Congress
principally by Senator Vandenberg, Re-
publican, Of Michigan. who has proposed
several amendments to the Wagner Act.
In substance his proposals would permit
employers to seek elections to determine
bargaining agencies, ban coercion of
workers by labor groups as well as by
employers. prescribe the abridgement in
labor disputes of any right guaranteed
by the Constitution or laws of the
United States, prevent any labor organi-
zation from making any compulsory as
sessment for political purposes, deny any
alien the right to represent union and
restrict the manner in which strikes
might be called. Strikes in violation of
contracts also would be forbidden.
These proposed amendments have been
vigorously opposed by all sections of
organized labor, by Senator Wagner, CO.
author Of the act, and members of the
Labor Board, all of whom contend that
the amendments sheathe weapons for de-
struction of the labor movement Con-
sidering the strength of these opponents
and the determination of those seeking
revision Of the act. 1t is safe to say that
this issue will be the most critical con-
fronting the board during its fourth
year.