Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-30
Labor Board
Employees Call
Bosses Unfair
Union Workers Friend
Asks Open Shop
BY PAUL MALLON


w The National Labor Reia-
tons Board. great champion Of
the union worker (moStly Go
according 10 the AFL), the
Roosevelt labor agency which
crushed Henry Ford, big steel,
and made employers throughout
the nation sign on any line IT
dotted, is turning out 10 be Just
a fink capitalistic scab outfit
full of goons trying 10 get us
own employees to sign yellow
dog contract.
Don't believe me, you can get
il all from a special extra edi-
ton of the Labor Relator.
weekly magazine representing
the poor tiown-tredden. under
paid. ill-housed, ill-fed employees
OF the board.
1t seems from this publica-
ton that the union of board
employees has been dealing with
the board for three long and ar
duous. though very secret. seS-
sionS, trying 10 get contract 10
protect the rights Of these said
workers.
A LII hat this fair-minded
"A union bargaining committee
has been able TO get out of the
capitalistic ogre that the board
has turned out 10 be, is pro-
pOsal that The agreement be
along lines which the board has
never eountenanced before.
The board proposes an open
shop, no checkoff. and says
nothing about better wages.
hours or working conditions in
its contract. This is not the
worst. 1t actually officially
recommended that all it would
do about labor's grievances
would be TO consider them. -
Reserving the right TO hire
and fire on merit, the suggested
agreement proposed by the board
supervisors would merely allow
labor TO complain. first TO as
sistant chief clerks. then to
clerks, and directors, and finally
to the board itself, from which
there would be no appeal.
NATURALLY no fair-minded
~ labor group would accept
such proposal. Labor sets
forth its case against its traitor
Gus former champion in its own
publication. ---------------------- -' '''
Labor offered a substitute
proposal setting forth genuine
protective measures for salary
increases without favoritism,
promotion by seniority, ban
against layoffs without four
weeks notice, and a union shop
whereby the board fills vacan-
cies from union rolls.
Wrath OF the union has natu-
rally risen. because the shoe they
offer is the same which the
board has fitted to many an in
dustrial foot. In fact, il is so
mad it has hired a Washington
lawyer. Robert F.. Sher. TO try
10 keep the board from gypping
it.
Sher started off as labor coun-
sci in the June IA session by
charging certain supervisory
personnel" of NLRB with anti
union activity. He named three
names particularly" General
Counsel Watts. Executive Secre-
tary Stern and Director of Per-
sonnet Slower. Mr.. Watts. ac-
cording TO the Relator. related
he had for some time been of the
opinion that the union proposal
was not workable from the
management standpoint"
BOARD member Doctor Lesser
- son was quoted as criticiZing
the union considerably" char
acterizing its technique as I'm
ept" and some Of its activities
as improper"
Board chairman Mills made
the point, the magazine said, that
he opposed bringing in an out
side arbitrator who doesn't
know the peculiar conditions OF
our industry"
The third meeting, on June "a.
adjourned without agreement
and il appears that the union
may have TO call a strike. de-
Tense program or no defense
program in order TO get its just
dues.
This chance OF party line in
the labor board. when the shoe
was applied to its own foot, may
be just as shocking as some of
the switches on the party line
recently in dear old Moscow.
but is not likely TO have the
same results.
The Labor Relator notes that
its executive committee decided
10 use publicity in connection
with its bargaining negotiations
only if necessary" The board
may decide 10 give in as graci-
ously an Henry Ford. at whose
head il too held this same pub
licity gun.
Distributed nv King Features synd, In
Reproduction in whole or In part
strictly prohibited.