The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-05-29
Fdvors No-Strike Clause In
Union Agreements.
However
WOULD NEGOTIATE
Urges Contracts Provide For
Voluntary Arbitration
OF Disputes

~ 41AokSAASS
Chicago, Ill.-A strong protest
against Legislation denying the right
to strike and an equally strong en-
dorsement of no-strike clauses in
union agreements with provision for
voluntary arbitration featured the ad-
dress of President William Green of
the American Federation of Labor in
an address at luncheon gathering of
the Executives Club of Chicago at
the Hotel Sherman.
Appealing for closer and more ex-
tensive union management coopera
ton to promote the national defense
program, Mr.. Green said "the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor is uncompro-
msingly opposed to Nazism, Fascism
and Communism. We accept no part
or phase of these "isms" or of their
political and economic PHILOSOPHERS.
We cling tenaciously to America and
the American way of life. We
staunchly support our democratic
form of government and our free
democratic institutions. We seek to
establish understanding for class con-
llict, cooperation and collective bar
gaining between employers and en-
ployes for industrial strife and So
luton Of our in&sstrial and economic
problems throuBrit the application of
an American foriula, and the develop
ment of industrial democracy within
the field of human relations in indus
try"
Turning to strikes, Mr.. Green said:
"The only certain way | know of
avoiding strikes is through the nego-
tiation of collective bargaining con-
tracts covering an individual company
or an entire industry. These contracts
should establish definite rates of pay
hours Of labor, working conditions and
such other matters as vacations, griev-
ance procedure and apprenticeship
training.
at is of particular Importance now
that such contracts also should con-
tain clauses that there shall be no
strikes during the life Of the agree
ment and that any disputes which may
arise shall be voluntarily referred to
mediation or arbitration.
"The American Federation of Labor
is 100 per cent in favor of such con-
tractuaI provisions and, in fact, our
unions have put them into effect on a
broad scale covering a wide variety
of national defense industries.
"Never before has our country more
vitality needed 5ieh guarantees that
our industrial plants and factories
shall continue to produce at full blast
We are engaged in a race with time
to step up our production so that we
can help Great Britain and other de-
mocracies and be prepared to defend
ourselves against totalitarian aggres-
sors.
"Ths race can be won and will be
won if industry is ready and willing
to cooperate with labor by engaging
Fundamentally in collective bargain
ing and entering into contractual rela-
tions with labor organizations"
Pointing out that the American Fed
Grafton of Labors mo strike" policy in
the national defense industries had
been 80 per cent effective. Mr.. Green
summarized the reactionary provisions
of the Vinson Bill.
ain the face of this record he said
eve are confronted in Congress with
measure known as the Vinson Bill
which seeks to punish members of the
| American Federation of Labor for sins
they never committed and which
would deprive them Of their basic
Constitutional rights.
"We would expect to see such com
pulsory ant-strike legislation pro-
posed in a nation dominated by Hitler
but not in America.
"We have reduced strikes to min
imum on our own accord. We have
developed the highest degree of CO.
operation and efficiency between man
agement and labor whenever and
wherever we were accorded the oppor-
tunity to do so. We have sponsored
and advanced industrial peace by ap-
plying the principles of mediation
Cancellation and voluntary arbitration
in the settlement of industrial dis
putes.
"All these accomplishments anC
whatever future progress along these
lines we may hope and plan for are
menaced by the Vinson Bill. 1t is my
sincere and earnest conviction that
this bill, if enacted, will provoke wide
spread strikes, social unrest, indus
trial chaos and consequent disruption
of the defense program. The Ameri