Evening star., 1942-03-17
President Saws
No Law Needed
On 4O-Hr. Week
c. |. O. and A. F. L.
Pledge Bon on
All Strikes
Earlier Story on Page A-5)

NAaAhNh NbVhg Vhh ~ csJ
President Roosevelt indicated
today he thought there should be
no immediate legislation on the
40-hour week issue because, he
said, things are going pretty well
now.
At the same time, he disclosed
he had requested organized labor
to waive its double pay for Sun
day work.
The Presidents remarks came on
the heels of q long conference at
the White House with labor chiefs
This had brought promises from the
A. F. L. and c. I. o. that no strikes
or resort to forceful means will be
permitted to interrupt continuous
war production.
There had been discussion at the
earlier Inference of the 40-hour
week rAOllem. the President said,
and he remarked that there has
been IAN amazing state of public
misinformation" about this problem
He authorized a direct quotation.
Might Be Needed Later.
When reporters inquired whether
he thought legislation was not
needed on this problem and on
strikes, he responded that Some
might be required in time. But
don't let's rush things wher- they
are going pretty well, he suggested.
He said he would rather see instead
few more parades and few more
bands playing because he thought
it was time to wave the flag. And
get a lot of enthusiasm into our
work
Congress can't pass law, Mr.
Roose cit said, to make a man pro-
duce more.
In the mater of double pay for
Sunday work the President said he
favored double rate where employees
work seventh consecutive day, but
that ordinarily personnel could be
staggered in such way as TO keep
plants operating without keeping
workers on jobs seven consecutive
days.
Asked for labor's reaction to the
request, which was submitted during
today's meeting of the Labor War
Board, Mr.. Roosevelt remarked that
silence sometimes gives consent. He
added that he thought they would
accept it.
Following the labor conference,
spokesmen for the board said there
was agreement that no strikes or
forceful interruption of production
henceforth would be sanctioned by
organized labor, termed by one off,
cial a voluntary surrender of the
right to strike
No Real Strike Problem.
In his press conference, the Presi-
dent said that the strike question
actually had not been discussed dur
ing todays meeting because there is
no real strike problem in the country
today. Furthermore, he pointed out
that labor already had given assur-
ances that they would not obStruct
production and that adequate Gov
ernment labor machinery stands
ready to handle industry problems.
In opening his discussion of labor
standards, the President indicated
that he favors the present rule for
time and half for work beyond 40
hours weekly.
The pledge that there would be no
break in war production was made
to the Chief Executive by the Labor
War Board, composed of six repre-
sentatives of the two labor faction.
At about the same time, Senators
George, Democrat, of Georgia, and
Vandenberg, Republican, of Mich
igan, warned the Senate that the
United States might lose the war as
they Joined in demand for repeal
of the 40-hour week law and
limit on both profits and wage in
CreaseS.
Agree to Ban Strikes.
In leaving the White House meet
ing, President William Green of
the A. F. L. said TT was agreed that
wage rates and standards will be
fixed without strikes or interference
with production. This will be done,
first, by collective bargaining; Sec
ond, by mediation or conciliation;
and third, if necessary, by the Ma
tional War Labor Board.
These methods will be applied
free of threats of strike or resort to
force. The purpose of Congress to
eliminate strikes is thus estab-
lished."
This is voluntary action on
the part of labor to yield its right
to strike" President Philip Murray
of the G. I. o. said. TT is a more
satisfactory answer to the problem
of production and of national unity
than a resort to legislative enact
nlents by Congress"
Mr.. Green indicated there had
been no change in the Presidents
(See LABOR, Page 2-X0