The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-06-04

fine the broadcast possible unit for col
lective bargaining, but it leaves the
discretion to the Board.
The primary matter which the
NLRB takes into account when estab
fishing the unit of collective bargain
ing is the elf-organization of the
workers involved. Thus the action OF
the NLRB tends to make the labor or.
ganizations push their organization
drives with increasing rapidity.
Labor's Rights Guaranteed
Other decisions of the Supreme
Court have strengthened labors posi-
ton. In February the Court decided
that unions were not subject to prose-
cution under the Antitrust laws, so
long as the union does not combine
with non-labor groups. In November
1910 the Court decided that jurisdic-
tional disputes are not subject to re-
straint by the Federal Courts. In the
famous Hague case, the Court decided
that all laws and ordinances which
prohibit picketing by members of la
Dor unions violate the constitutional
guarantee Of free speech and are
therefore invalid.
Mediation
Since the first case was certified
to the National Defense Mediation
Board on March 9th, total of $685.
833 men have returned to work on
national defense jobs, following agree
kxr hn nd or.
have postponed threatened strikes at
the request of the Board. By May
20, "a cases had been referred to the
Board. Nine of these were referred
before strikes occurred. One of these,
a jurisdictional dispute, was rejected
by the Board as outside it's jurisdic-
ton. In seven other cases strikes
were postponed at the request of the
Board. Hearings before the Board
have resulted in agreements settling
six of these, and the other two are
now being heard. OF the 25 remain
ing cases agreements to return to
work have been reached in %. The
remaining three cases are now being
scheduled for hearings before the
Board. Thus the refusal of the Adj
ministration to adopt restrictive
measures on labor despite the cries of
reactionaries has borne fruit through
the patience of democratic conference
and mediation.
These Are the Signs
In this period of preparing to de-
Ia fncffftrfinnc
against aggression from without and
within, American progressive democ-
racy is making gains. By these gains,
we are establishing the basic morale
of free people. We are strengthen
ing the hands of all progressive lead
ers and members of the American la
Dor movement, and we are making or
ganized labor responsible for taking
care of any and all subversive and
racketeering elements within its
ranks.
The citadels of anti-unionism are
being taken one by one. The CLIO
wins its first NLRB election in the
vast monarchy of Bethlehem Steel.
The great Lackawanna Plant goes for
clio S,223 to 1851. A total of 1880
workers out of 12,445 eligible, voted in
the NLRB election. That's democ-
racy in action. The UAW-CIO, polling
an average of about 1919 of 77,1S8
valid ballots cast in the NLRB cleo
ton at Ford's River Rouge and Lin
coin plants, marks, in the words of
President Thomas, "the end of an era
in American industry; it means defeat
Of the type of uncompromising anti
lnionism represented by Henry Ford"
The AFL now claims more than s.
100000 dues-paying members. The
CIO matches that claim. There are
more men organized in Independent
trade unions now than there have
ever been in America, and that tide
IS rising.
These are the signs of the times.
These are the signs which give heart
% free people. This is no time for
iefeatism. 1t is time for the rising
Ip of the vital and constructive ele-
nents of our society, to take their
place in the nations struggle for ex--
stence and in its fight to keep the
paths to freedom open to all men of
good will everywhere in the world
New American.