Evening star., 1938-09-04
Amendment Of the Wagner Act
To Provoke a Bitter Struggle
Sparks of Conflicting A. F. L. and c.. l. o. Opinions
to Fly at Next Session-Hopes for
Employers Dim.

none OF the DOard members has taken
| any stand publicly on the amendments
sought by the A. F. Of L., but Chairman
J. Warren Madden denied last week that
the board has Disseminated against the
organization.
| Some Of our most acute problems" he
! said, continue to spring from the division
in the main current of the labor move
ment. The acrimony and bitterness which
accompany this civil conflict make the
task of the umpire dificult indeed when
the interests OF the two factions come
into collision. Each of the factions is
extremely jealous of its interests and quick
| to suspect favoritism for the other. The
board and its staff realizes that any favor
itism whatever would be inexcusable and
that their task is to administer the law
as the board interprets it, regardless Of
whom it helps or hurts"
| Testifying before Senate committee last
| winter Mr. Madden said the A. F. of L. has
been victorious in IA of 20 board decisions
involving conflicts with the c. I. o. 1t
was announced recently that in labor
| board elections giving workers a choice
between the two organizations. the C. I. o.
has won l60 and the federation 4s.
But If the board members have dealt
| gently with the A. F. Of L. proposals. they
have pulled no punches in shooting at the
so-called Vandenberg amendments. which,
| in a general way, represent the views OF
be made in the law.
Claims GENERALIZATION" Is Goal.
Senator Vandenberg. Republican, OF
| Michigan, author OF the amendments, has
said they were drafted to "mutualize" the
| labor law, denying that he has any desire
to see it repealed or emasculated.
| The Michigan Senator's amendments
would add seven unfair labor practices to
those already enumerated in the act
Should his proposals become law, it would
be unfair:
| l. For any person to interfere with EN-
ployes in their right to organize and bargain
collectively. or to attempt to induce or
compel any employe to become a member
Of any labor organization by means Of
threats, intimidation or coercion
2 For any person, in connection with
labor dispute. to interfere with the free
exercise by other persons of the rights and
privileges secured to them by the Constitu-
ton or the laws of the United States, or
to damage or destroy the property OF any
person. or to violate or interfere with the
exercise of any persons rights in real or
personal property.
labor MIA IN male
any compulsory assessment, or require any
contribution for political purposes.
4. For persons other than citizens of the
United States to act as officers or repre-
sentatives Of labor organizations.
Would Ban OUTLAW Strikes.
S. For any person to engage in strike
unless the strike has been voted for by
a majority of the employees in the appro-
pirate unit for collective bargaining
! s. For any person to engage in strike
for the purpose of inducing or forcing any
person to violate any contract or any law
of State or of the United States.
7. For any person to refuse to sign a
written contract embodying the terms of
any agreement between an employer or
employees, reached as a result of collective
bargaining, or to violate the provisions of
| any such written agreement
Upon finding that any person had en-
gagged in any of the forbidden practices,
the board would be empowered to suspend
any right or privilege conferred upon such
person by the act and, in the case Of
labor organization, suspend or prohibit the
collection or receipt of dues, assessments
| or contributions. His bill also would
specifically authorize the board to conduct
elections among employees upon the request
of employers directly interested The act
at present does not forbid the calling of
an election at the request of an employer,
but the board has adopted a policy OF
taking vote only at the request Of
employees.
Discussing his first two unfair labor
| practices. Senator Vandenberg said he
agreed with provisions of the present act
seeking to ban intimidation, coercion and
violence by employers but added that 1T
passes my understanding why intimida-
ton, coercion or violence should be sane
toned to anybody under the American
flag He also has contended that while
the right to strike under normal circum-
stances is inalenab BILE the right to work
is equally an malienable right and the
right to law and order is fundamental in
our society.
Sanctions Voluntary Contributions.
His third proposal would ban political
gifts by labor organizations but, he said,
would permit such voluntary gifts by in
dividual members. He justified his fourth
point with the assertion that the "unnatur-
allied alien is not entitled to influence de-
cisions vitality affecting our flow of life"
The last three proposals are designed to
increase labor responsibility, something
that has been urged insistently by employ
ers throughout the country.
In stating his opposition to the Vanden-
berg proposals recently, Chairman Madden
began with the frequently overlooked fact
that Congress, enacting the labor act, in
tended it to be pro-labor instrument. It
was felt that the employer had protection
enough in existing statute law and in his
own inherent economic strength in dealing
with employees. Consequently, Mr.. Madden
said it is only natural that the Labor Board
would have a pro-labor outlook, although
he denied the members have not carefully
and judiciously weighed evidence presented