Evening star., 1938-02-18
URGE AMENDMENT
FOR WAGNER ACT
Divided Responsibility Asked
for Employers and Labor
Groups.

Amendment of the Wagner Labor
Relations Act to impose correspond
ing responsibilities" on labor and en-
ployers was recommended to Presi-
dent Roosevelt yesterday by the In
dustrial Relations Committee Of the
Business Advisory Council.
The committee suggested that legis-
lative definitions be substituted for
some of the discretionary powers now
exercised by the Labor Relations
Board in determining rights and OBJ
legations.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, of
Michigan, commented that the coun-
ellis proposed amendments were sub
stantially the same as those which he
has introduced.
Labor itself has great deal to
gain in making the board more
judicial in its nature" he added.
Thomas Opposes Move.
Chairman Thomas of the Senate
Labor Committee said he was op-
posed to any attempt to amend the
act at this time because the expert
mental stage has not progressed far
enough to determine what amend
ments are needed"
Chairman Copeland of a committee
studying maritime labor legislation
said he approved heartily" of the
councils proposal to permit employers
to seek the services of the Labor Re-
lations Board.
The charges, presented to President
Roosevelt with request for "sympa-
.thetic consideration, would provide
that:
"ta) Neither the act. nor its ad-
ministration will favor any particular
form of bona fide labor organization.
"tb) Employees shall be free in self
organization and collective bargaining
from interference, restraint, or CO.
ercion from any source
"(c) Any party to labor dispute
shall be able to invoke the services of
the Labor Relations) Board.
"td) The functions of fact-finding.
prosecution and judicial decision shall
pc separated and not combined in a
single agency
"(e) The rights and obligations of
employers and employees and their
respective representatives shall be
more clearly defined by law and made
less subject to definition at the discre-
ton of the board"
How Law Stands Now.
As the law now stands:
'A) The board may designate the
appropriate collective bargaining
unit for employees Both the Amer-
can Federation of Labor and the c. l.
o. have criticized the board for some
of its decisions under this provision.
OBJ A prohibition against coercion.
intimidation. restraint and interfer-
ence applies to employers, but not to
employees or unions.
Co Only employees or unions may
invoke the boards services.
I'D Like the Federal Trade Com
mission, the board both prosecutes and
decides its cases, subject to review by
the Circuit Court of Appeals
Proposals rendered President.
tE) The board has expanded, by in
depreciation. the fundamental list of
Aunfair labor practices" specifically
prohibited by law For instance, the
board has declared it an unfair labor
practice for an employer to move from
union to non-union territory if it is
shown ne moved to avoid dealing with
union. The law does not say that
specifically.
Charles r. Hook. chairman. and
John D. Biggers, vice chairman, of
the councils Industrial Relations Com
mittee, took the councils proposals to
the White House.
Donald Richberg, former N. R. A.
administrator, accompanied them.