The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-04-13
.Stassen Labor Relations
Plan Wins Support
New Bill Worked Out BY
Governor and Legislative
Leaders Apparently Steeles
COntroversery As Session
Nears Close

Minnesota legislature moved rapid
ly this week to enact into law the
major proposals on the program re-
commended by Governor Harold
E. Stassen.
The house Of representatives, by
a vote Of IS to 81, passed a labor
relations bill worked out by Gov
ernor Stassen in cooperation with
house and senate leaders as a COM
promise substitute for the Vance
Myre bill, and the senate was ready
to follow with it's approval, ending
amicably one of the most hotly de-
bated questions before the legisla-
ture. The senate passed the civil
service for state employees bill by
a vote Of 81 to 5, and the measure
went to a conference committee
representing the senate and house
to work out differences between the
two branches. The house previous
ly had passed the bill.
The house has passed the bill re-
organizing state departments as
advocated by Governor Stassen, and
the bill may be counted on to go
through that body with few if any
major changes.
The controversy over the labor
relations bill vanished quickly
when Governor Stassen initiated a
series Of conferences with leaders
Of the various groups and, after
getting their views, set out in CO.
operation with them to whip into
shape a bill that would reconcile
their differences as far as possible
and promote the peaceful settle
ment of labor disputes. Represent
atives Of farm organizations and
legislators from rural sections Of
the state, who were most active in
support of the Vance-Myre bill,
agreed quickly that the compromise
measure preserved the protective
features they most desired in a
labor relations measure, and labor
groups found it much more salts
factory. Passage by the house fol-
lowed quickly.
Major emphasis in the new labor
relations bill is upon Cancellation
and steps to prevent strikes and
lockouts, principle Governor Stas-
sen long has insisted upon. Under
this bill, it would be unlawful to
stage a strike or lockout until a
ten-day waiting period has elapsed.
In industries affected with a public
interest, such as public utilities,
diaries, food establishments and
transportation services, a waiting
period of thirty days would be re-
quired. During this waiting per-
iod, efforts would be made to con-
ciliate the differences, and sponsors
of the bill believe that in many
cases it would prove successful.
The bill provides for appointment
of a labor conciliator by the COVER
nor to supervise proposed division
Of Cancellation and appointment of
special counciliators for particular
strikes If needed.
The bill declares it unlawful to
interfere in any way with the oper-
alton of a vehicle when neither the
owner or operator is a party to a
strike, utilize the sit-down strike,
employ force or threats Of violence
to coerce men into joining a union
or adopt unrestrained mass picket
ing. Only one picket could be used
where no strike Is in progress, and
majority of the pickets at the
place Of the strike would have to
be employees Of this establishment.
The bill likewise would prohibit
employers from instituting lock-
out In violation Of collective bar
gaining agreement, discriminating
against and spy upon employees be-
cause of membership in union, cir
culate a black list Of union mem.
bers to keep them from getting
work or take other specified steps
to prevent exercise Of their rights,
Major difference between the
senate and house bills on civil ser
vice Is in the manner civil service
would be applied to present en-
ployees. The house bill provided
that all persons employed more
than four and one-half years would
acquire civil service status auto
matically without examination, and
that the others, together with new
applicants, would have to take COM
petitive examinations. The senate
bill would require all present en-
ployees to take qualifying exam
nation II they desire to have the
protection Of civil service and make
new applicants take a competitive