Evening star., 1941-02-03
Ford
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man joins a union or not is his
own business"
Saying that cordial relations
had existed with the A F. l. for
years. Mr.. Bennett added there
are now more than $500 skilled
workers on our pay rolls who are
dues-paying members of the
A. F. L.'D
The A. F. L. claim countered the
c. I. o. assertion that it represented
a majority in the Lincoln plant. and
was unexpected in view of the active
campaign the c. l. O. has made at
various times to enroll Ford workers.
Until the announcement, no con-
certed A. F. L. drive among Ford
workers had been especially promi-
nent
Claims No Ford Interference.
One feature of the A F. L. an
nouncement that attracted attention
was its statement that "the right of
production workers (in the two
plants to voluntarily become mem
bers of their own choosing - was
freely exercised, without interfer-
ence by the management of the Ford
Motor Co"
The c. T. O.. which has contended
that Ford sought to balk unioniza-
ton activities, retorted that the A.
F. L. was trying to SELL its services
''as a nuisance value in an effort to
hinder the c. I. o. campaign"
Michael F. Widman, jr., director Of
the c. I. o. United Auto Workers,
made that charge.
claim followed by only a few days
the Ford company's loss of a de-
fense order because of a refusal to
accept labor clauses set forth in the
contract.
Thursday the War Department
disclosed it had given a Sl0,298, ,128
truck contract to the Fargo Motor
Corp. of Detroit because Ford, whose
bid was quarter of a million lower,
had excepted to the labor provisions.
Preliminary Organizing Steps Taken.
A. F. L. President William Green,
who announced the A. F. L. organi-
rational claims, said a majority of
production workers at the Lincoln
and Rouge River plants had taken
the necessary preliminary steps to
become organized into American
Federation of Labor unions"
The next step. he added, would
be to establish these unions as col
lective bargaining agencies
Inasmuch as the Ford manage
ment excepted to the labor clauses
in the defense truck contract, it was
not Immediately apparent whether
the A. F. L. unionization gains, if
substantiated, would have an effect
on the companys chances for future
orders. The Army indicated that the
labor clause in question would con-
tinue to be incorporated in defense
contracts.
Text of Green Statement.
The text of Mr.. Green's statement
follows:
The production workers en-
ployed at the Lincoln plant and the
River Rouge plant of the Ford Motor
Co. have become organized into I'M
ions chartered by the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. A majority of the
employees of these two plants have
taken the necessary preliminary
steps to become organized into
American Federation of Labor un-
ions.
Unions have been formed, the de-
tails of organization consummated
and charters of affiliation have been
issued by the American Federation
of Labor.
THE next step to be taken will
be to establish collective bargaining
and the recognition of these Amer
ican Federation of Labor unions as
collective bargaining agencies, in
conformity with the provisions of
the National Labor Relations Act,
for the employees at the Lincoln plant
and the Ford Motor Co.
Thousands of members of Amer
lean Federation of Labor unions
have been regularly employed by the
Ford Motor Co. inside its plants
ever since it was established. None
of these employees was ever dis
eliminated against by the manage
ment of the Ford Motor Co. because
of membership in American FEEDER
alton of Labor unions. For in
stance, building construction orig
mated and carried forward by the
Ford Motor Co. was always per-
formed by building trades mechanics
affiliated with the American FEEDER
alton of Labor.
"The right of the production
workers to voluntarily become men,
bers of union of their own choosing,
as provided for in the National
Labor Relations Act, was freely
exercised. without interference by the