Evening star., 1939-12-18
C.|. 0. Shifts Stand,
Demands Changes
In Labor Act
Seeks to Prevent
Carving Up Of industrial
Union Groups
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
The Congress of Industrial Organ
izations demanded today change
in the National Labor Relations Act
to prevent the carving up" of in
dustrial union groups.
Abandoning its previous stand
against changing the Wagner Act,
c. I. o. committee headed by John
L. Lewis called for new legislation
on the ground that the Labor Board
'in an attempt to appease the re-
dictionary interests, including the
leaders of the American Federation
OF Labor, has issued decisions which
have threatened the existence of the
industrial unions of the c. l. o.
The c. I. o. asked for three
4aendments to the law:
!. To prevent attempts of the
board ito carve out craft units
within industrial union organiza-
ton"
g. To provide criminal penalties
for employers convicted of violating
the law.
g. To forbid Government contracts
with employers who have violated
the labor relations law.
AC. I. o. leader said his organ
ization earlier had believed some
administrative changes in the law
were needed, but had opposed all
amendments to prevent "emascula-
ton" of the law Criticisms of the
law then had come from the A. F.
Of L. and from various industrial
groups.
congress probably will take no ac-
tion on amendments until the House
committee completes its hearings,
which will adjourn for the holidays
tomorrow, to be resumed after
Congress convenes on January 3.
Mr.. Lewis Legislative Committee
of, the c. I. o. discussing broader
questions of national policy, declared
that unfortunately the time and
energy of our Government repre-
sentatives during the past few
months have been devoted almost
exclusively to international affairs
at the expense of the interests and
needs of the American people at
home
Unemployment, the committee
said, is with us today with the
same intensity as few years ago"
Estimatin the employable persons
without jobs in private industry at
p500,000, it recommended that Pres
ident Roosevelt Immediately COM
mandeer" leaders of Government,
industry. labor and agriculture to
formulate concrete plans to solve
Americas problem No. l."
Until a solution is found, it added,
Congress must provide a public
works program to furnish 100000
Jobs.
Other recommendations of the
unions Legislative Committee were:
.'Drastic revision of taxation as
most essential to the stabilization
of our economy" This revision
should follow two basic principles:
Reduction of the present tax bur-
den on consumer groups and wage.
earners" and tapping large con-
centrations of income and savings"
Wants U. S. Kept Out of War.
Keeping the United States out of
war, with Congress being called on
mot to permit any policy to be
adopted which may in any way lead
toward the involvement of the
United States IN foreign war"
Protection of civil liberties and
workers rights through passage of
tie La Toilette oppressive labor
practices bill.
Extension of the benefits of the
Fair Labor Standards Act "to the
millions of workers who are deprived
of its protection after the act has
had chance to operate"
Expansion. simplification and lib
eIalization of Social Security "to
pptect the American people through
the inevitable hazards of modern
Industrial life and increase the ma
tional consumer income" with $50
at so years of age the goal
A national health program to pro-
vide medical service for all groups
of the population.
Construction of "an immediate
minimum of 100000 houses per
year, 100000 of which should be
built by the Government, the re-
malnder to come from Government
stimulated v,riyofo oo,etr,,,%;e-