Evening star., 1941-11-23
WeIders Victorious
In A. F. |. Row Over
Single Card Policy
Agreement Marks First
U. S. Success in Solving
Internal Union Dispute

An unprecedented agreement by
the A. F. L. Metal Trades Depart
ment. permitting welders in any
of its member unions to work in
other branches Of the trade with
out carrying additional union cards
was announced yesterday by Sidney
Hillman. associate director of the
Office of Production Management.
The agreement was the out
growth of special conferences be-
tween o. P. M. officials and repre-
sentatives of nine international
metal trade unions, and marked the
successful termination of the first
venture of the Government in TAX
ing an active role in negotiations
involving purely internal affairs OF
a labor organization.
In announcing the international
unions decision to adopt single
union card policy regarding welders,
Mr.. Hillman explained that another
issue in question, the demand OF
the welders for a separate A. F. l..
charter, was clearly beyond the
proper jurisdiction" of the o. P. M,
This issue remains to be worked
out by the A. F. L. itself, he said.
Concession by Unions Hailed.
The union card problem was de-
scribed as the major grievance OF the
Welders, who went out on strike re-
Gently against West Coast shipyards.
They later returned to work pending
the outcome of o. P. M. conferences
which began last Monday
At a press conference late yester-
day. Mr.. Hillman described the con-
cession of the metal trades unions
in the union card issue as most
gratifying" and expressed the hope
that all interested parties would
live up to the agreement so that de-
fense production may proceed With
out interruption"
The welderS had complained that
because of frequent changes in en-
ployment they were in some IN
stances compelled to hold cards in
several different unions, and thus
to pay initiation fees and dues to
several different organizations In
order to work at their occupations
Joint Statement Issued.
A ioint statement of the nine
metal trades unions in which weld
ers hold membership. made public
at Mr.. Hillman's press conference.
promised "fexibility in the perform
ance of welder work in every ship
yard" and added:
The international unions hold
that it is not necessary for a work
man performing welding to carry
more than one union card and,
furthermore, that there should be
no excessive fees"
The A. F. L. statement also agreed
that all welders involved in the
coast walkout, even though they
had been responsible for stopping
work on national defense" would be
permitted to return to their former
Jobs without any discrimination.
Concerning the demand made by
the welders for a separate a. F. L.
national charter, the A. F. L. state
ment declared that the interna-
tional unions involved could rot
readily agree to this move as 1t
would mean the diSmemberment
of the organizations they had main
tained for so years or more.
$4,000 Directly Affected.
Mr.. Hillman said he had con-
ferred with the Navy. the Maritime
Commission and other Government
agencies concerned with the prob
lens involved in the dispute, and
had been advised that these agen-
cies expect full observance of ex-
listing contracts openly and volun-
tarily arrived at between LABOR
organizations and employers.
More than 100000 workers hold
membership in the nine unions in
volved in the conferences. officials
estimated, and at least 25000 weld
ers are directly affected by the
conclusions reached.
Unions participating in the con-
ferenceS were the International
Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Inter-
national Brotherhood of Boilerniak-
ers, International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, international
Union of Operating Engineers, In
ternational Association of Bridge,
Structural and Ornamental Iron
Workers, International Association
of MachinistS, International Mold
ers and Foundry Workers Union,
United Association of Plumbers and
Steamitters of the United States
and Canada, and the Sheet Metal
Workers International Association.
Group Dissatisfied.
Mr.. Hlllman's announcement
failed TO satisfy the Executive Board
of the United Welders, Cutters and
Helpers of America, an independent
union. Meeting in Los Angeles, the
board issued a statement which
said:
This is by no means a settle
ment of the welders problem. 1t
merely amounts to an order by Hill
man and the A. F. L. saying take
it or leave it. which to the welders
means taxation without representa-
tion. . = Officials of the union are
H. III l,