The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-04-06

give support to the officers of the
American Federation of Labor in
carrying out these instructions.
Unfortunately, some local unions
and individual members Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor have become
confused because of misrepresentation
and false propaganda which has been
circulated by representatives of the
C. l. o. They have been told that the
American Federation of Labor is try
ing to destroy the National Labor Re-
lations Act. This is false and without
any basis whatsoever.
"The American Federation of Labor
is the friend Of the National Labor
Relations Act. We sponsored it in the
beginning; we helped draft it; we
contributed largely toward it's enact
ment into law. 1t was really an Amer
lean Federation of Labor measure, a
primary part of our legislative pro-
gram. Therefore, it is we, the friends
Of the Labor Act, who are trying to
amend it, to perfect it, to preserve it,
and make it a better law.
"We have found. from experience
that such action is necessary in order
to preserve and protect the national
and. international unions affiliated
with the American Federation of La
hor and the local unions chartered by
said international unions.
Board FavOrs c. |. O., Opposes
A. +. of l..
"Can the American Federation of
Labor remain passive and inactive
when the Labor Board, through de-
cisions clearly in favor of the C. l. O.
and against the American Federation
of Labor, is working out the destruc-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor? Would local unions and men,
bers of the American Federation of
Labor have US remain inactive while
they themselves were being destroyed
through the maladministration of the
Labor Act?
Naturally the C. l. o. is violently
opposed to any change; it's opposition
is based upon the fact that it has been
favored, while the Board has struck
blow after blow at the American Fed.
Grafton of Labor. We do not ask the
Board to favor the American Fedora.
ton Of Labor in any decisions render.
ed; all we have asked is that it be
fair and just in it's administration OF
the Act and that it apply the Act in
a judicious way
Bargaining Rights of Craft Unions
| Must Be Protected
"The American Federation of Labor
in seeking to amend the Act so that
craft unions may select themselves as
collective bargaining agents.
"Under the existing law the Boarc
exercises discretion as to whether
craft unions may elect to be their OWL
collective bargaining agents. In many
instances the Labor Relations Boaro
has merged the craft unions with pro.
duction workers and thus wiped out
the craft unions as collective bargain,
ing agencies.
"Do the craft unions of the natior
desire that such administration of thu
law shall continue? Would you have
the law remain as it is and the ad
ministration of the Act by the exist
ing Board continue and thus permit
the wiping out of craft unions; OF
would you have the law amended Sc
that the power to destroy craft unions
by decisions on the part Of the Boar(
would be taken from it?
"A number of decisions of the Boart
show that craft unions were struck {
vital blow in that they were deniet
the right to collectively bargain fol
themselves. The Machinists unions
Electrical Workers and other meta
trades and miscellaneous organiza
tions have suffered very great!
through the biased decisions of tn,
Board in favor of industrial unonsn
and the C.. |. 0.
Boards Invalidation of A. +. of l..
Contracts Attacked
"In addition, the Houston Conven
ton directed that amendments be pre-
pared so as to prevent the Board from
destroying and abrogating contract
entered into between bona fde Ameri
can Federation Of Labor unions ant
employers.
"No one ever dreamed that the Matt
onal Labor Relations Board was vest
ed with authority to invalidate con
tracts negotiated by independent, dem
ocratic, American Federation of Labo
unions. The Board however, did 81
when it invalidated contracts made b,
a local Electrical Workers Union will
the Consolidated Edison Company, b,
another Electrical Workers Union will
the National Electric Products Com
pany at Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Ii
the Copper Hill, Tennessee, minin,
company case, it invalidated an elcc
tion won by the American Federation
Of Labor on the same basis.
"The Supreme Court saved tn
American Federation of Labor in tn
Consolidated Edison Company case;
Al. A