The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-04-04
Fdcing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL


the American Federation of Labor in
the building industry, the CIO is now
employing more despicable methods
than hijackers or scabs.
Denny Lewis, carbon copy of his
big brother John, appeared before the
Building Trades Employers Associa-
ton of New York City with his hat in
his hand and begged the employers
for a pat on the head.
The C1O, he said, will supply work
ers for construction jobs in New York
City at SO day, instead of the $l1
to $14 a day rates prevailing for A.
F. of l.. skilled union members.
The CIO workers, Denny Lewis fur
ther promised, he will put in eight
hours day, instead of the six or
seven hour day enforced by the A. F.
of l.. Building Trades unions.
Here at last the CIO is publicly ex-
posed as a scab organization willing
to sell the workers down the river!
Here at last comes the shameless
public confession that the CIO is will
ing to destroy wage and hour stand
ards, built up by organized labor
through long years of struggle and
suffering, merely for the chance Of hi
jacking the American Federation of
Labor!
What has happened to all those
lofty ideals spouted by CIO prop
agandists about organizing the unor-
ganized in the face of such dastardly
treachery to the workers?
Greeks Bearing Gifts
Naturally the employers didn't fall
for this phony CIO offer. They are
hard headed enough to beware Of the
Greeks bearing gifts. According to
the New York Times account of the
CIO conference with the Association,
the employers listened to Lewis with
interest,"" but they asked no questions
and entered into no discussion with
him.
Furthermore, the New York Times
says, spokesman for the employers
explained that the weakness of Mr..
Lewis proposals was that there were
only about twelve CIO building trades
locals in the city, representing a
small number of workers, and that
until such time as the CIO was able to
enlist more impressive membership
of building tradesmen, any proposals
emanating from the CIO would re-
main largely academic"
We call that a wise prediction. Pic
ture little Denny going around New
York trying to induce carpenters,
plumbers, bricklayers and electricians
to go to work for less pay and longer
hours. We can just about imagine the
reception he will get. May we advise
Denny that scab is rather unpopular
among union men who have been
brought a4>-sAnder American Fedora
ton Of Labor traditions?
But don't blame poor little Denny.
He's just carrying out orders from the
big boss, his brother. Denny may be
the one to take the punishment, but
John l.. Lewis is the guilty party. He
has become so blinded with insensate
rage at his failure to make a dent in
the solid ranks of the A. f. of l.. men,
bership that he is willing to go to any
lengths now in revenge He has shown
now that he is ready and willing to
betray the workers just to satisfy his
own personal ambition.
A Constructive Step
In refreshing contrast to the activi-
ties Of the CIO saboteurs, was the
action taken at the New York City
Building and Construction Trades
Council of the American Federation
of Labor.
At conference called by President
Thomas Murray, ways and means
were discussed for organizing the
small home construction field. Pro
posals were formulated for the
adoption of a uniform wage to apply
to such jobs only, but on large con-
struction projects.
Such a secondary scale, even Of $s
day, would not represent wage cut
but it would bring about consider.
able pay increase for workers on small
home construction, most of whom are
now unorganized and receive SIS or sc
day. Therefore, it might be consid
cred a forward step in raising stand
ards and ending the employment OF
non-union and inefficient workmen by
contractors in this field.
Further conferences will be helc
and the membership of the building
trades unions will be consulted before
any definite program is adopted along
these lines.
Meanwhile, the building trade:
unions throughout the nation are pre-
pairing to intensity efforts to secure
adoption of legislation which will con
tinue and expand the Federal slun
clearance program. The Wagner Bill
now pending in Congress, is fully ap
proved by organized labor, and mus
be adopted if the U. S. Housing Au
thority is to continue operations. Th'
u. S. H. A. has a working agreemen
with the A. F. of l.. and employs onl,
A. f. of l.. building trades workers OF
its construction projects.