The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-28
Behind The Scenes In
Washington

Washington
WASHINGTON. - On the same
day that Great Britain outlawed
strikes and lockouts in all labor
disputes, Secretary Of Labor Fran
ces Perkins named seven veteran
conciliators to keep in touch with
labor matters in key U. S. indus
tries.
The course these conciliators
will follow has not yet been
mapped, in detail. Probability is,
however, that each man will as.
sumo responsibility for harmonious
relations in his industry and will
try to anticipate sore spots before
they develop.
It is apparent that, while the
United States may have to follow
the British lead later on, the
Roosevelt administration has no in
tention of doing SO under present
conditions.
STRIKES
FALLING OFF
John R. Steelman, head of the
Cancellation service, is optimistic
about the prospects.
Since the defense program
was annuonced," he says, there
has been a noticeable tendency on
the part of the unions to try tc
settle their troubles without resort
to strikes. Pm convinced there'I
be increasing efforts by both sides
to avoid any stoppages of product
lion.
IF this voluntary machinery will
work, we won't have to 60 to the
British extreme-which. incidental
1y, regiments the employer as well
as the employee" =
This policy of trying to prevent
strikes before they start is moi
new. It has been the keynote Of
Steelman's policy since he took of.
flee two years ago. Its fruits may
be judged by the fact that if pres
ent trends continue, 1910 will be
the most peaceful year Crom a
labor relations standpoint) in II
years.
LABOR BETTER
OFF THAN IN 1917
Steelman recently pointed out to
the Presidents business advisory
council the sharp contrast between
the labor picture of today and that
of 1917.
In 1917 organized labor-the
A. F. L., the railway brotherhoods,
and the independent unions
spoke for about 3 million workers.
Today between 10 and II million
workers r represented by labor
organizations. (There aren't that
many dues-payers, but the bar
gamers speak for that number In
an.)
Wages were lew when the U. S,
went to war in 1917. Today they
are relatively high.
Hours of work were long in 1917.
Throughout the war, labor fought
for the 8-hour day and the 48-hou1
week. Today it has a better stand
ard guaranteed by law.
Union recognition was hard tc
get in 1917, and the demand fol
recognition was the chief cause Of
strikes. Today recognition is, in
effect, guaranteed by law.
A union contract in industry
was a rarity in 1917. Today there
are between 10000 and 5000 OF
them.
Living prices were going sky
high in 1917, and labor was con-
stantly trying frantically to make
wages 60 up accordingly. Today
living costs r not going up-in
some cities, in fact, they've fallen
in the last year-and it is believed
the government has controls to
keep them from going up in case
of war or a war boom.
The moral, as Steelman drew it,
was that there shouldn't be nearly
as much labor trouble now-and
that the government is infinitely
better equipped to handle any that
does develop.
And the appointment of these
conciliators for the seven-key in
dustries, with more to follow, is a
first step toward insuring that a
good situation stays good. l