Montana labor news., 1939-04-06
LOOKING AHEAD
Bv LEN De CAUX

vention.
Hundreds of union representatives
and employers gather together in the
same hall, elect Q chairman and
secretary, adopt rules of procedure
and listen to the presentation of the
point of view and proposals of both
sides.
subcommittee + then named to
carry on the more detailed negotia-
tons. But these subcommittee must
report back finally to the whole
assembly, and the democratic forms
of convention procedure are followed
throughout.
Coal negotiations have become a
model of orderly and effective col
lective bargaining. The knottiest
problems are regularly worked out
with the minimum of friction and
waste motion. +;
A huge industry and hundreds of
thousands of workers are represent
ed in these negotiations. They are
collective bargaining on the largest
scale ever attempted. 1
This type of procedure on such a
scale is made possible by complete =
union recognition and almost 100 per I
cent organization throughout the
industry. {
Two Conferences
The Appalachian Bituminous Joint
Conference of the United Mine
Workers and the coal operators be-
gan its sessions in the same New
York hotel where another series of
labor conferences were being held at
almost the same time.
In a small suite on another floor, {
seven representatives of the CLIO and
the AFL conferred, to see whether
the country's labor unions could not
also get together to work out their
differences and problems in an or
derby and democratic fashion. {
Observers of both conferences
noted that interests as divergent as
those of coal operators and mine
workers could be represented to-
gether in a common conference; and
they wondered why the country's
labor movements could not do like
wise.
That in essence is what the CLIO
proposes in its peace plan. The basis
of common conferences in the coal
industry is complete mutual recogni-
ton. If AFL and CLIO are willing
to recognize the rights of their re-
spective unions in both bodies, and
to accord them proper representa-
ton, there is no reason why CLIO,
AFL and the railroad Brotherhoods
cannot all sit down together in a
common convention to work out
their common problems.
Goal of Workers
The goal of an American Con-
gress of Labor, or a similar body
with another name, represents the
fervent desire of most American
workers who want to see labor really {
united by bringing all unions under
one roof.
The first step in this direction is
the mutual recognition and common
conference, with all unions repre-
sented, which the CLIO proposes.
The forms of unity which are now
under discussion between CLIO and
AFL are means to an end, rather
than an end in themselves. The main
end is united action for labor's COM {
mon purposes.
Labor's open-shop enemies may !
try to play off one union against
another. But basically they aim to
cripple all effective labor organiza-
ton. And right now they are con- ]
.centrating or a number of legisla-
tive schemes to bring this about.
The anti-labor initiatives on the
West Coast were opposed by both
CLIO and AFL unions. A similar
united front is necessary to block the s
other anti-union moves which are
being made in the present Congress. I
The strength of labor's enemies in
Congress is shown by the disgraceful
manner in which the Barley amend
ment to the National Defense Bill l
was scuttled.
This amendment simply proposes !
that government business in connec- (
ton with the defense program
should not 60 to chiseling concerns :
which refuse to accord to their en-
ployees the collective bargaining {
required by law. {
The CLIO, for its part, is deter .
mined to keep up the fight until this l
reasonable principle is applied to all
government contract work.
But this is not the concern of the :
CLIO alone. 1t is the concern of all =:
labor organizations, regardless Of i,
affiliation. On this issue both CLIO !.
and AFL unions can and must act =
unitedly for the common benefit of !
all labor. :
Defense Of Wagner Act :
Defense of the Wagner labor re- /
lations act is another issue on which :
united action is both possible and :
r
Regardless of partisan claims of I
favoritism, the act has brought the {
greatest benefits to all of labor. s
D. ~ Lo~4n;oL4ol -