Evening star., 1941-01-06


tation and depends instead on direct
contact between management and
employe organizations.
Over the week end there was held
In washington a conference OF all
the international presidents ana
their representatives affiliated with
the metal trades department of the
A, F. of L. None of these repre-
sentatives spoke in criticism OF
either Mr.. Hillman or the National
Defense Commission attempts to
formulate a labor policy. but en-
phasized instead that they were
offering their own program on the
theory that America is not inter-
psted in a Governmental dictated Ia
Dor program or in any plans Tor
Government control of labor organl-
zations, of wage rates or OF working
conditions. The skilled workers
spokesmen represent 85 per cent OF
the laborers who will be building
the airplanes and constructing the
cargo ships under the Governments
defense program.
"It was the conviction of the IN
ternational representatives" says a
formal statement, that the most
effective method of speedily unlfying
labor conditions so that the greatest
OUTPUT of production could be Sc
cured. would be the immediate ap-
nlication, on a wider scale than
heretofore, of collective bargaining
between the employers and the en-
Move of the metal working indus
tries.
Seek Immediate Conferences.
"Our country naturally divides
itself into certain recognized zones,
and the conference declared its in
tention to endeavor Immediately to
secure conferences with employers
in such districts, or zones, beginning
with the shipbuilding industry, so
that without loss of time those
who must produce for national de-
fense-managem and labor
meet at the conference table for the
purpose of negotiating working
rules agreements. the intent ana
effect of which will be to unity and
stabilize industrial relations, and
the terms of employment for such
districts. Such agreements must
contain provision for voluntary ar
bitration, and that there shall be
no stoppage of work. The entering
into of such agreements are the
guarantee that there will be nelther
strikes nor lockouts '''.
"Thoroughgoing co operation
must be established between man
apement and labor through direct
contact between their chosen repre-
sentatives. Where their efforts fail
to bring adjustment of questions
which may arise the services OF the
Division of Cancellation, Department
of Labor, must be speedily secured.
Should this Cancellation not estab-
lish prompt results then arbitration
must be applied.
The rules to govern voluntary
arbitration and the selection of the
arbitration personnel must be the
Joint responsibility Of management
and employe representatives. These
are the methods of democracy ap-
piled to a national emergency"
Will Work Out Arguments.
The significance of the foregoing
was not lost on official Washington.
1t means that the A. F. of L. is not
trying to use its power for union
ization or increasing memberships
bv exploiting a national crisis, but
that the A. r. of L. will sit down
with employers who already have
established union relations and will
work out regional agreements and
understanding affecting whole
areas where vital parts of the de-
fense program are being undertaken
by industry.
Unlike its rival-the c. I. O.-and
unlike the policy of Mr.. Hillman,
which Is devoted to the revival OF a
controversy which it was thought
was disposed of last summer, the
A. F. of L. is not asking that as a
condition of the award of defense
contracts there must be COM
pliance" with labor laWs-a vague
statement which merely means en-
forced surrender to the schemes and
plans whereby the National Labor
Relations Board assists indirectly
in the increase of labor union mem
berships or else strikes are inter-
jected.
The A. r. of L. spokesmen do not
demand that all employers be union
lied before they tackle the problem
of stabilizing labor conditions. They
merely agree to sit down with the
management of those companies
which already have recognized
unions and attempt to work out in
patriotic collaboration policies that
mean the prevention of disputes and
even the prevention of runaway
wage scales that might induce in
f1ationary conditions such as always
hurt the workers in the end.
Takes Bold Step.
Just what the administration may
think of the plan is not known as
Neb. U1llUI GuIldJcIy bllC dullilllloUi q
ton scrapped the carefully worked
out plans of the War Department
for handling the labor situation
which the A. F. of L. and the manu-.
facturers' associations had approved
two years ago, and instead Mr.
Roosevelt has given sole power ovel
the labor problem to Mr.. Hillman
who represents minority of thu
trade union movement in Americs
and who until lately has been ac'
tive in fighting the A. F. of L. Fear.
ing that the President is going t.
let matters drift by allowing Mr.
Hillman to exercise dictatorial pow
ers the A. F. of l.. groups are boldl,
proposing to get together with
management so as to keep govern
mental influence out of the picture
The policy of the metal trades de-
partment probably will be in tim
extended to all other A. F. of L
L. l;no ~,