Imperial Valley press., 1939-03-02
SacraTnento's
Labor Bills
nv JQuN w. DUNLAP

SACRAMENTO Mar. 2. (UP)--
Jurisdictional labor STRIFE III Cail-
fornia. particularly the current ull-
rest in the WestWood lumber III
dustrv and at Shasta Dam, empna-
size the importance OF tWoScore 10"
Dor bills awaiting action when the
legislature reconVenes March b.
The history of labor legislation
in the two houses is about as hectic
as labor controversies themselves,
particularly during the 1897 ses-
sion when the conservative upper
house and the more liberal assembly
were unable to agree.
Assemblyman Samuel Yorty, Los
Angeles Democrat and admmH-
tration spokesman in many matters,
introduced several bills, notably the
"little" labor relations act, which
is similar to federal legislation
guaranteeing workers a right TO
organize and bargain collectively.
Yorty's bill protects this right by
prohibiting employers from engag-
ing in unfair labor practices, M
Guiding discharge of employees for
failure to join a company doml-
mated union or joining bona flde
union; blacklisting of employees IN
unions, and maintaining an eS-
pionage system. A three man board
is set up to enforce the act, but
not mediate or arbitrate.
Mediation Board
Another Yorty bill would set up
California mediation board to
settle labor disputes. Similar pro-
visions are in a senate bill OF
George Biggar, Mendocino county,
establishing a labor relations COM
mission and detailed provisions Tor
mediation, arbitration and concili-
alton of labor disputes.
. Companion bills setting up medi-
alton or labor relations agencies
carry sponsorship of Senator John
Shelley, San Francisco; and Assem-
blyman Fred Reaves. San Pedro;
Hubert Scudder, Sebastopol; Lee
BaShore, Glendora; Ernest Voigt,
Jack Tenney, Hollywood Edward
ODay, San Francisco.
Wages and hours legislation is
plentiful, mostly patterned after
the federal statute.
Right to Picket
Bills protecting the right of Ia
Dor to picket are numerous, with
Shellcy's measure prohibiting crimi-
nal punishment for picketing unless
accompanied by violence or unlaW-
full behavior. Local officers are
prohibited from interfering with
picketing in several bills, including
those by Assemblymen Ben Rosen-
thai. Cecil King, Augustus F.. HaW-
kins, all of Los Angeles, and Ten
ney.
Another bill by Assemblyman
Tenney and Ralph c. DillS, of
Compton, would prohibit tranSpor-
tation of strike breakers or their
employment to interfere with peace
full picketing.
Related bills on disputes include
require secret written ballots il
labor union elections; forbid any
labor union to appoint, elect ol
retain an alien as officer or repre-
sentative in labor dispute; limit the
Jul isoNlCbiOll vi bpll ~ III 10
Dor injunctions; and limit tear ga,
bombs to paid officers.
Relief For Strikers
Refusal OF the past adminIstra-
ton to give relief TO strikers il
reflected in bill by ASsemblymar
= Fred Reaves, San Pedro, authoriz
$ ing state relief aid to labor unior
, members in need after having beer
called out on strike.
= Miscellaneous labor bills include
= 40 hour week for state, county, cit,
and district employees; prevailing
wages to be paid on all Publi
= Works contracts; prohibiting EN-
d ployers from taking or sharing il
d tips or gratuities given employees
1 minimum wage of 500 week TO
e women in trade or industry; am
q broadening of the workmen's com
pensation law