The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-04-27
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hutchet Out
The Truth
. DON'T GAG EMPLOYER
O GOSSIP OR INTERFERENCE
@ NLRB DOING GOOD
. BUT GAN IMPROVE

Are wage earners such tender,
spineless creatures that they must be
"protected" by law from expressions
of opinion by their employers?
Chairman Madden of the National
Labor Relations Board seems to think
so.
He doesn't like the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor proposal to elimin-
ate the word interference" from the
provision of the Labor Act which says
that it is an unfair labor practice for
an employer to interfere with, re-
strain or coerce employees"
A. F. of l.. says the word is so gen.
eral it permits the NLRB to cover too
much territory, to the detriment of A.
F. of l.. unions.
"The board has run rampant in it's
Interpretation of the word," says the
A. F. of L., which charges the boards
Interpretation has resulted in decisions
which have invalidated A. F. of l..
contracts, upset selections won by A.
F. of l.. unions and prohibited employ
ers from recognizing A. +. of l..
unions.
A. F. of l.. doesn't want the en-
ployer gagged. 1t doesn't believe the
heavens will fall if the employer is
permitted to express an opinion on
unions.
"Under the boards interpreta-
ton, normal, ordinary relations
between employers and legitimate
labor unions have been outlawed,"
the Federation declares.
So the A. F. of l.. wishes to amend
the act to permit expression of opin-
ion, "provided that such expressions
of opinion are not accompanied by
acts of discrimination or threats there
Of"
This, the A. f. of l.. explains, is not
to protect the employers right of free
speech, as they are well able to pro-
tect their own interests.
1t is, the Federation adds, simply to
remove a pretext for depriving A. f.
of l.. unions of the benefits of its con-
tracts and of its right of representa-
tion.
The A. f. of l.. cites one case in
which it says mere gossip among the
workers was held proof by the NLRB
that the employer was interfering"
with CIO organization movement.
The workers, it seems, talked about
reports that foreman were spreading
reports the management favored an
>f
interference" the board held, though
there was no evidence produced that
the employer had authorized any
statements of any kind to be made.
x X X
Ny, but wouldn't some of the long
gone pioneers of the American labor
movement if they could come back
and hear what constitutes employer
interference these days!
In their time they met interference
that was interference-be beating up of
union members and organizers by
plug-uglies of the toughest breed, syp-
ing and trouble making in every or
ganization meeting, fortnight decar-
ations in sulphureous language by the
employers that they wouldn't stand
for unions under any conditions.
Now the head of the National La
Dor Relations Board thinks any eX-
preston of employer opinion on unions
must be dealt with by the full power
Of the Federal government.
Well, it's a sure bet that men and
women who really want to be organ
lied will organize regardless Of hints
from the boss that he isn't wildly en-
thusiastic about unionism.
X X
Nobody wants the bad old days
back The National Labor Relations
Act is a good law and has done much
for labor. It is not perfect, however.
1t can be improved. That will be made
plain as the proposed A. +. of l..
amendments are further discussed
before Congressional committees.
DUE BOOKS WORTH MONEY!
STUDIES BOND BIDS
Columbus, O. (OLNS).-The State
Public Institutional Building Authority
and state financial officers last week
began consideration of five proposals
submitted by bidders for purchase Of
$7,500,CO0 in bonds which the Au-