The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-12-16
Az. OF |. VICTORY
in COURT DECISION,
SAYS PRES. GREEN
Ends Boards Policy OF Basing Its Ad-
ministration On Prejudice Against
A F. of L. and Favoring C. l. o.

ministrati0n On Prejudice Against
A. F. of L. and Favoring C. l. O."
(By A. F. of L. Weekly News Service)
Washington, D. C.-The decision of
the Supreme Court of the United
States that the action of the National
Labor Relations Board in ordering the
Consolidated Edison Company of New
York City and it's affiliated companies
to cease recognition of agreements en-
tered into between the companies and
the international Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers was not authorized by
the provisions of the National Labor
Relations Act, was hailed by William
Green, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, as a thoroughgoing
victory for the A. F. of l..
He said it was declaration that
Flaw and justice will not sanction"
the continuance of the Labor Boards
policy in opposition to the American
Federation of Labor and its favoritism
for the C. l. O. and that the Supreme
Courts action would be instrumental
in restoring the Labor Act as an I'm
strumentality for collective bargain
ing and industrial peace"
The text of Mr.. Green's statement
follows:
"The Supreme Courts decision in
the Consolidated Edison Company case
is in every way a reasonable, just
and highly commendable ruling.
Notification of A. f. of L. Agreements
Ended
"The American Federation of Labor
is particularly interested in that part
of the decision which denies to the
National Labor Relations Board the
right to abrogate the company's con-
tract with the International Brother
hood of Electrical Workers, an A. F..
of L. affiliate.
''In so ruling, the Supreme Court
has knocked the props out from under
the boards arbitrary, prejudicial and
grossly unfair position toward the
A. F. of L. with regard to union
contracts.
The decision is so sweeping that
in conformance with it, the board will
have to reverse itself in all such cases
in which it has illegally abrogated
contracts entered into between em-
ployers and A. F.. of l.. unions.
'sThe majority opinion, read by Chief
Justice Hughes, declares that the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act gives the
board no express authority to invali-
date contracts with independent labor
organizations Such authority, if it
exists, the court held, can only be ap-
piled in the case of a company-con
trolled or company-dominated union.
This is the position maintained by
the American Federation of Labor all
along.
Court Lauds A. F. of l.. Contract
Furthermore, the court severely
criticizes the board in two other major
respects which were complained of by
the American Federation of Labor
/ nj :. I11...;1,, LII 4 ~ ~ u l1no,,I cboI,Ir
have given the l. B. E. w. due notice
and an opportunity to be heard before
attempting to abrogate it's contract
/ 1t also held that this contract was of :
higher character, designed to promote
industrial peace and the welfare of ths
workers affected and that by abrogat
ing it the board defeated the very
purposes of the National Labor Re
lations Act.
This decision is not only grea
victory for the American Federation
of Labor: it is also great boon t,
the nation
1T serves notice on the Nationa
Labor Relations Board that law an,
justice will not sanction its policy o
prejudice against the A. f. of L. an
favoritism to the C. l. O.
1T clears the National Labor Re
lations Act of doubts and uncertain
ties created by the boards ruling
which have interfered with the nego
tiation of new union contracts, and
should restore the Act in this impor
tant respect as a powerful instrumen
tality for collective bargaining and in
dustrial peace