Evening star., 1940-05-18
Large Labor Supply
Ready for Defense
Jobs, Say Leaders
A. F. L. Executive Council
Pledges Support in
National Program

Pledging its "active and Cooper
ative support" with industry and
the Government in the emergency
national defense program, the Ex-
ecutive Council of the American
Federation of Labor, in a statement
issued yesterday, declared that there
is no shortage of skilled mechanics
i'll the United States, and predicted
that every requirement for skilled
and semi-skilled workers in an ex-
panding industry for national de-
fense can be met without serious
difficulty"
The Executive Council is holding
its spring meeting here this week.
In adjournment today, it will meet
again on Monday.
Meanwhile, c. I. o. President John
L. Lewis demanded in New York
that labor's right to speak and act
be fully protected in any national
progra INTO forge the implements
of defensive warfare, the Associated
Press reported.
Lewis Wants Gains Protected.
Il maintain now, and I shall
maintain in the future, that the
protection of this Government must
rest upon the shoulders and in the
hands of free-born American citi-
zens enjoying their rights under
the Constitution and under the
statutory enactments of Congress"
he said.
He spoke to a convention of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers Of
America, admonishing them to de-
mand that in any program of ma
tional defense current social legisla-
ton be kept intact.
Labor, Mr.. Lewis said, 'is fully in
accord with the necessity for ma
tional defense"
Emergency Faces ALL"
The A. F. of L. Council statement
said in part: THE national emer-
gency which exists is one which af-
fects every American. It Is an
emergency equally facing all Ameri-
cans. 1t is, therefore, most proper
and necessary that all the major
factors in production should have
adequate responsibility placed upon
them. This responsibility cannot be
adequately discharged unless there
is cooperation between manage
ment and labor and the Govern
ment.
Data in the possession of the
/ American Federation of Labor and
its affiliated international unions as
sures that there is no shortage of
skilled mechanics and that every re-
| quirement for skilled and semi
skilled workers in an expanding in
dustry for national defense can be
met without serious difficulty. The
problem is not a shortage of skilled
| mechanics, but the fact that so
many of these have been forced by
the depression to seek employment
in lower wage occupations"
Labor legislation in the United
States is, for the purpose of pro-
tecting women and youth employed
in industry, and protecting the
health, life and limb of all others
employed. The emotional effort to
Immediately suspend rules and reg
ulations now protecting labor will
not appeal to thoughtful Americans.
The experience in Gfeat Britain of
the suspension of such regulations
shortly after the war began in
Europe IN 1914 is sufficient evidence
that instead of stimulating produc-
ton the opposite effect takes place"
A. F. L. Membership Gains.
According to a report presented to
the council yesterday, the paid up
membership of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor has increased
about 100000 since last August,
bringing the total membership to
approximately 100000.
The council yesterday appointed
President William Green and Sec
| retary-Treasurer Meany to repre-
sent the A. F. of L. at the Demo-
cratic and Republican national
conventions. The council will draft
the labor planks next week for sug-
gested inclusion in the platforms Of
the two major political parties.
In New York, Mr.. Lewis assailed
what he said was suggestion from
some quarters that worker produc-
ing weapons of defense was doing
something less than patriotic" In
joining union.
"One of those Constitutional and