Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-11

lIlS up III GOAL,
steel and the David Lawrence.
automotive industries respectively.
The steel situation involves pri-
marty the renewal of a contract
between the c. / o. and the United
Statec Steel Corp. involving some
100000 men. This will overlap
upon efforts of the C. I. o. to
secure recognition among the
Bethlehem Steel Co, plants and
perhaps Republic Steel.
The coal situation, dominated by
the c. I. O., involves 100000 work.
ers, and negotiations between soft
coap operators and the union lead
ers have begun already.
The automotive situation involves
both General Motors and Ford. In
the former are 10000 workers and
about $4,000 in the latter.
No Evidence of Timing.
There is no evidence of any IN
tention on the part of the c. I. o.
to tic up all these industries at
one time, but it is significant that
the steel contract was terminated
with due notice this month when
1t could have run on. Likewise,
there was no special reason for
bringing the Ford situation to head
just about the time the General
Motors negotiations were to begin.
The G. I. o. this time wants not
merely recognition for its members
In the steel industry, but the rights
as sole bargaining agent for all
employees of the United States Steel
Corp 1t is not vet clear what the
demands are to be on the Jones &
Laughlin and Crucible steel plants.
There has been talk of a demand
for the Check-off in steel as in coal.
But it is also asserted that the c. I.
o. will be content with some system
OF permitting shop stewards to COL
lect dues on plant property. Also,
the main issue will be wage in
creaseS in the case of United States
Steel and sole bargaining rights in
the case of Republic Steel and Beth
lehem.
The threat of a strike in the
Ford plants has already been record
ed with the State Mediation Board
in Michigan. There a conflict be-
tween c. I. o. and A. F. of L,
has been going on, both sides claim
ing a majority and sole bargaining
rights.
The power of union leaders to
tie up Americas major industries
is unquestioned. President Roosevelt
Is trying to set up a mediation board
which will perform the same effec-
tive service that the old War Labor
Board did in 1917 and 1918, but
there is no evidence yet that Mr..
Roosevelt can avert a crisis in the
American labor movement without
intervening much more actively in
the situation than the adminiStra-
ton has in the last several months.
Union Leaders Powers Grow.
While there has been a tendency
here to minimize the amount of
labor strife in defense industries, it
is frankly recognized that every day
the capacity of the union leaders
to bring about Interruptions and
work stoppages is increased as the
amount Of defense work is piled
up.
The situation IS not going to be
resolved by legislation to prohibit
strikes. The drive for recognition
as bargaining agents and for in
creaseS IN Wagers comedies with the
increase In employment and also
the huge spending programs of the
Government. 1t was inevitable that
labor would demand a larger and
larger share of what was being
spent. But, on the other hand, the
question of how demands should be
handled and whether Interruptions
should be permitted when orderly
handling of workers demands is
possible are points on which public
opinion will have its say.
There can be no doubt that union
labor, which has been making big
gains IN the last few years, has a
critical stage in its career ahead. If
the public should demand a greater
and greater control by Government
over labor unions and their leaders
on account Of the urgency of defense
projects, it is unlikely that such
supervision or control would be
abandoned when the emergency is
over. Labor, therefore, has as much
at stake as employers in co-operat-
ing with the Government at this
time, so that the points of dispute
may be ironed out without serious
stoppages.
Test Seen Coming.
1t is significant that the Tempo
rary National Economic Committee
has just finished extensive hearings
on the subject Of concentration of
economic control in the hands of a
few persons in the industrial world.
Very little was said about labor
unions, the burden of the argument
being that large corporations, even
though well managed and though
rendering excellent service to the
consumer, should nevertheless be