Evening star., 1941-06-12
{. |. 0. President
Sharply Denounees
Anti-Strike Bills
Philip Murray Declares
Intent Is Destruction
Of Organized Labor
Ey the Associated Press.

SS tDe ASSOCldJeu FIeSSs
Philip Murray, president of the
c. I. o., today sharply denounced
pending congressional proposals to
curb stoppages in defense industries
and upheld the continued right of
workers to strike under present cir
cumstances.
'These bills" he asserted, ARE
vicious and have but a single in
tent-to destroy organized labor.
"They must be fought and de-
feated."
The C. I. o. chief also roundly
condemned use of the Army in
labor disputes, administration of
the Selective Service Act on vir-
tual work or fight" basis and any
action by the Defense Mediation
Board Ito impose compulsory arbi-
tration."
In formal statement addressed
to all c. I. o. units throughout the
country, Mr.. Murray called on every
union member to oppose these
things.
The C. I. o. and its affiliated
organizations" he declared, ARE
dedicated to single objective-to
obtain better life for the working
men and women of this Nation
through increased wages and i'm
proved working conditions. The
G. I. o. unions must and shall con-
tinue to work for the fulfillment
of this objective
"At the present time the rising
corporate profits and the increasing
cost of living of the working people
amply justify the demands of the
workers for increased wages and
improved working conditions.
I'm seeking this goal the workers
must continue to enjoy their funda-
mental right to strike. This right
cannot and must not be impaired
by Government officials. or kgisla-
tive action"
Mr.. Murray, who is a member of
the Defense Mediation Board, singled
out legislative proposals of Repre-
sentative Vinson, Democrat, of
Georgia and Senator Connally, DEM
ocrat, of Texas for attack
The former, he charged, would
freeze the existing wage standards
and employment conditions in
American industry and would impose
compulsory arbitration in industrial
relations"
Under the Connally amendment,
he said, the Government would be
empowered to take over industries
where defense production was i'm
paired by strikes or other reasons.
Denies Protection.
''This amendment" he asserted,
"does not purport to afford any pro-
lection to the rights of labor when
such plants are taken over by the
Government.
"In other words, the amendment
Is intended solely to inject the
Government into every industrial
dispute, with the threat that if work.
ers engage in a strike the plant will
be seized by the United States Gov
eminent, the strike broken and the
rights of the workers destroyed, fol-
lowing which the plants would be
returned to the management"
This measure is the most fragrant
attempt to wipe out all rights and
benefits which the workers of the
Nation and labor unions have OBJ
tanned down through the years
through bitter struggles"
Mr.. Murray likewise condemned
the action of the House in stipu-
lating that none of the funds in
the recently approved $10,O00,0O0,-
900 Army bill could be paid to men
who refuse Mediation Board set
tlement recommendation and re-
main on strike. He pointed out that
such men could not be re-employed
IN any plant working on Govern
ment contracts.
Use of the armed forces in in
dustrial disputes, the c. l. o. head
contended. "can only serve to Gre
ate status of enforced labor in
this Nation"
AS for work or fight" selective
service policy, Murray called it "a
f1agrant abuse of the conscription
law and an open breach of faith
with labor"
Mr.. Murray said the c. I. o. op-
posed "the subversive work of any
group in the United States, whether
corporate, Communistic, Nazi or
Fascist" whose selfish motives were
designed to undermine the interests
of the Nation "in its national de-
fense effort"