Evening star., 1941-01-10
c.L. 0. Pledges Fight
On Moves 10 Curb
Right 10 Strike
Murruy's Announcement
Tells Objectives Of
Legislative Committee

ing the right to strike, will push the
program of the Congress of Indus
trial Organizations on Capitol Hill
during the present session of Con-
gress, Philip Murray, president of
the c. I. O.. declared in announcing
the legislative objectives of his
organization at a press conference
late yesterday.
Meeting newsmen at conclusion of
a long session of the G. I. O.
Executive Board, Mr.. Murray said,
in response to a question, that he
did not feel disposed to make
distinction between labor laws for
defense industries and rules govern
ing workers in other fields.
Commenting that some foolish
statesmen believe that they can
impose legislative restrictions on
what he termed the rights of work.
ing people to improve their living
conditions, the G. I. o. chief said:
II say to those so-called states
men that they are making very
grave mistake"
Cites Strikes i'm Britain.
Mr.. Murray cited 108 strikes as
having occurred in Great Britain
during last October and $4,000
man days having been lost there
through employer -employe differ
ences in the first 10 months of 1910,
and asserted:
Parliament hasn't sought the
use of restrictive measures, because
Great Britain happens to proclaim
itself a democracy"
Asked specifically whether the
c. I. o. opposed suggested 3O-day
strike wait" legislation, Mr.. Murray
lsaid the organization was against
"any legislation that tends to deny
the right to strike"
When pressed as to the possible
view of such measure as deslr-
able compromise in the event a
Elarge-scale crack down" on labor
was instituted by the Federal Gov
zer1ment to speed defense produc-
Etion, he said, There isn't anything
fgood in quack medicine"
Admitting that several of the vice
presidents on the Committee on
Legislation, which is composed of
the C. I. o. president, six vice preSi-
dents and secretary, did not take
much interest in legislative matters
last year, Mr.. Murray declared
f1''The rule here now is that the
vice presidents must work"
Resolutions Announced.
He added that John T. Jones had
been named official legislative rep
resentative, but probably would be
Joined frequently on Capitol Hill by
the various vice presidents.
In releasing its congressional pro-
gram, keynote of which is preServa-
I ton and extension of labor gains OF
@recent years, the Executive Board
announced passage of the following
resolutions:
. /. That the C. T. o. Condemns as
rinjurious to our American democ-
kracy" E"attacks" upon maritime
sunions, specifically, proposal that
sseamen of the merchant marine be
Sptaced under Naval Reserve control.
80. That the c. 1. 0. indorses ef-
forts of the United Construction
Workers Organizing Committee to
extend its membership among work.
ers employed 'by contractors in the
mass-production plants" and con-
denns local agreements with Amer
lean Federation of Labor craft
unions which might operate to pre-
vent cooperation of c. I. o. afiliateS
in such efforts.
80 g. That, in view of an asserted
stndication in history that under
ssconditionS of wartime economy, the
slfying standards and real wages of
ssemployes engaged in the Govern
CAL are reduced to degree greater
than that in industry the G. 1. o.
advocates policy of wage increases
at this time and urges afhliates to
support campaigns of the United
Federal Workers and State, County
and Municipal Workers of America
In that direction.
A. That the G. I. o. calls upon the
President, Congress and Federal
agencies in the maritime field" to
seek Immediate passage of an ade-
quate unemployment insurance bill
for seamen."
CdSC lam &hUSChts
The determination to fight the
A. F. of L. to a finish in the or
ganization of construction workers
was not the only indication of alb
sence of impending peace talks be-
tween the two labor groups coming
out of c. l. o. headquarters yes
terday, since Mr.. Murray, replying
to a press conference query, said
no mention of peace overtureS had
been made in the Executive Board
sessions, although some fellows in
the A. F.. of L." had been men,
toned.
Neither had any communications
from the rival organization been
received by the board, he said,
adding, There haven't been many
messages coming from the A. F. Of
L. in recent years"
The legislative plan was prefaced
by statement declaring, in part:
During this period of stress, GER
tain vicious elements are attempt
ing to play upon the fears and emo
tions of the people in order to
impose their policies of reaction and
repression of the interests of the
people. The legislative program of
the C. I. o. is offered as contribu-
ton toward the preservation of what
the people seek to defend"
In pledging defense of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act, the pro-
gram announcement states:
The numerous proposals which
have emanated from the diverse
enemies of labor restricting the
right to organize or the right to
strike in any industries must be
fought and defeated. The imposition