The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-05-08
Ford Workers Are
Flocking To A.F.L.
Thousands Of NewMembers
Are Signed As NLRB Elec-
ton Time Neurs

Detroit, Mich.-A revulsion of feel
ing against the c. |. 0. and recog-
milton that the American Federation
of Labor can bring them substantial
benefits has resulted in the signing of
many thousands of Ford Motor Com
pany employees as members of the
Federal Labor Unions at the River
Rouge and Lincoln plants in the last
fortnight, John j. Murphy, director
of the A. F. Of LIS Ford organizing
campaign, said.
This flocking of Ford workers to
the American Federation Of Labor
standard indicate a Smashing vic
tory" for the A. F. of L. when the
National Labor Relations Boards col
lective bargaining election is held at
the River Rouge and Lincoln plants
in the near future, Mr.. Murphy de-
clared.
He pointed out that 9S per cent of
the thousands of workers employed
by the Ford Motor Company in the
two plants are "solid, patriotic wage
earnerS" and that the recent minority
strike staged by the United Automo-
bile Workers-C. |. O., convinced them
that the C. |. O. union is "a radical
type of organization which they
strongly disapprove."
"On the other hand, the American
Federation of Labor stands for the
sound, and effective principles enun-
ciated so many years ago by Samuel
Gompers, and these principles have a
great appeal for the Overwhelming
majority of Ford employees" Mr.. Muir
ply said.
The American Federation Of Labor
organizing campaign in the Forc
plants Of the Detroit area is now II
high gear. Mr.. Murphy has large
corps Of experienced organizers as
sistng him. The A. +. Of l.. has two
radio programs daily in which the ad-
vantages Of membership in the A. f
Of l.. are expounded, and the Detroit
newspapers are giving the Fedora.
tons campaign to assure an over
whelmng victory in the NLRB cleo
tion extensive daily coverage.
obviously worried by the vigorous
A. f. of l.. drive and by the knowl-
edge that the recent Ford strike is
acting as a boomerang against them
the G. l. 0. leaders here have tried tt
use Strong arm pressure methods
to force Ford workers into the u. A
VIC. |. O. These methods have beer
| Intellectual, however.
OF immense benefit to the A. +. o1
l.. campaign has been the establish
ment and smooth functioning of grieV
ance machinery under which the A
+. of l.. is obtaining prompt adjust
ment of the grievances of A. f. of l.
members employed by the Ford Motto
Company. This grievance machiner!
was established without the necessit!
of strike.
In contrast, the grievance sctup o
the G.. |. O., which the L. A. VIC.
O. hailed as the great gain Of its mi
nority strike, is not functioning at all
Gas the time Of the National La
Dor Relations Board election draw
closer" Mr.. Murphy said, call indi
cations point to a great victory fo
the A. +. of l.. The workers employed
at Ford's have made up their mind
how they will vote in the poll and i
is clear that large majority viii
vote for the A. +. of l.. rather thai
the G. |. O.
''There is immense resentmen
among the Ford workers against tn
u. A. VIC. |. O. because of the minor
ity strike which that organization
staged "A few weeks ago. Only a yer.
small fraction Of the Ford perSonno
was in sympathy with that minorit
strike, but as result Of it they al
lost wages which they did not wan
to lose and which they could ll-ailor
to lose"