The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-04-13
Millions Spent By
CIOtoDestroYAFL
Proposed Amendments To
Labor Act Explained In
Federation Pamphlet

Washington, D. C.-The American
Federation of Labor made public a
pamphlet explaining and analyzing its
proposed amendments to the National
Labor Relations Act.
The pamphlet will be widely dis
tributed to the membership through
every affiliated organization.
Public hearings on the amendments,
which were introduced in Congress by
Senator Walsh Of Massachusetts and
Representative Barden of North Car
olina, will begin before the Senate
Committee on Education and Labor
April II.
\ preamble to the pamphlet warns
members of the American Federation
Of Labor to beware of false prop
aganda about the amendments circu-
lated by the Congress of Industrial
Organizations. 1t says:
at is strange indeed, that rival or
CARNATIONS that have spent millions
in an attempt to destroy US, that have
raided our unions, that have unlaw-
fully appropriated our funds, that have
viIlified our officers and slandered our
membership, should suddenly appeal
to our membership to oppose our
amendments because Of a noble and
solicitous impulse to save the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor from destroy
ing itself. Such hypocrisy should fall
Of its own weight.
10 -
izations have been aided by the Natl
onal Labor Relations Board in their
attempts to destroy US.
''Is it any wonder then that the
Board is acclaimed as being beyond
reproach; that the Act is upheld as
perfect ?"
The objectives Of the amendments
are defined as follows:
l. To promote fair, equal and un-
prejudiced administration of the Act.
?. To prevent the Board from arbi-
trarily outlawing 4. F. of l.. union
contracts.
3. To prevent the Board from de-
stroying the integrity Of the craft unit.
i. To prevent the Board from exer-
cising its vast discretion in respect to
the time in which it acts in such a
way as 70 prejudice the interests of
the A. F. Of L. and to favor those Of
rival organizations.
5. To strengthen the Act, correct its
shortcomings and make it conform to
present realities.
The first amendment discussed in
the pamphlet is the one which would
abolish the present three-man Board
and create new five-man Board.
Such a housecleaning is necessary,
the pamphlet says, because "the pres
ent Board has alienated the confidence
Of the American Federation of Labor
and its millions of members"
THE American Federation of Labor
no longer respects the administration
of the Act by this Board" the pamph-
let declares.
1t is emphasized that by new def
nitions incorporated in the amend
ments company unions would be pro-
hibited to much greater extent than
under the present Act. The amend
ments would outlaw company unionism
crude and subtle-and prevent the
Board from classifying legitimate la
Dor organizations as company unions.
Each of the other amendments are
analyzed in detail and the reasons
why they are needed are fully explain
ed.
In conclusion the pamphlet empha-
sizes that the A. +. of L. has examined
and rejected all proposals and sug-
gestions for amendments from inter
ests hostile to labor The A. +. Of l..
is definitely opposed to such amend
ments," the pamphlet hatly declares.