Imperial Valley press., 1940-09-29
Bruce (: Cation
In wasIlinqton

cent settlement of that west coast
longshoremen's strike was and still
is a far bigger story than any but
few insiders have realized.
In effect, it means that one of
the National Labor Relations
Boards most hotly disputed deci-
sions is being reopened; ultimately,
it could result in a serious setback
for the west coast labor leader,
Harry Bridges.
Just incidentally. it also means
that whoever is named by the pres
ident to succeed j. Warren Madden
as third man on the labor board
will be stepping into one of the
hottest seats in the government.
Here are the elements that make
the situation so important
STRIKE ITSELF
SHORT-LIVED
The strike itself lasted from Aug.
30 to Sept 13 and involved 8OO-odd
members of the International Long
shoremens association at the ports
of Tacoma. Port Angeles and Ana
cortes, Wash. This union is the
A. F. of L. outfit headed by Joseph
Ryan; strong on the east coast. it
has been badly overshadoWed in
the west by the international Long
shoremens and Warehousemen's
Union, Harry Bridges c. I. o.
union.
Big stone In Ryan's craW for two
years has been labor board rul-
ing handed down in June, 1888,
which made the entire west coast
waterfront one bargaining unit.
Bridges union is in majority on
the coast as whole, and hence
was certified as the bargaining agent
for all west coast longshoremen.
1t was this ruling Ryan's men
were really hitting at in their re-
cent strike. The Ryan union was
the majority union in the strike
hit cities, and demanded that in
those cities it be allowed to bar
gain for it's own men.
HILLMAN
TOOK A HAND
Relatively a minor affair, the
strike drew national attention be-
cause it tied up a number Of i'm
portant defense shipments-steel
for Tacoma shipyard lumber for
an Alaskan airbase, various con-
signments for the Bremerton navy
yard, chemicals for powder factory
and SO on.
For that reason, the government
made strenuous efforts to get a
settlement. In the end it succeeded.
after Defense Commissioner Sidney
Hillman had personally appealed to
Ryan. But the key point of the
settlement was the understanding
that Ryan's union might file repre-
sentation petitions with Elwin Egan.
labor board regional director for
the northwest.
Technically, that was purely
routine step. Actually, 1t means
that the board can. hardly escape
passing on the whole vexing ques-
ton Of west coast longshoremen's
representation all over again. The
consequences of that could easily
be profound.
For instance. if. in the end, the
board should reverse its earlier rul-
ing and declare each port a separate
bargaining unit, Bridges power
would be greatly curtailed.
HEADACHE FOR
NLRB APPOINTEE
Right now the labor board is a
two man affair due to the presi-
dents delay in appointing success
sor to Madden. 1t is taken for grant
ed that the two present members
Edwin S. Smith and DR.. william N
Leiserson-Would be very unlikely
to agree on this west coast ruling,
since they have been on opposite
sides of the fence, consistently, ever
since Dr. Leiserson came 0l the
board.
In substance, then. that means
that whoever gets Madden's seat
will be called on to settle the whole
ofeStion He'It creata apa,o;ac M