Evening star., 1942-01-18
Unions Are Warned
To Avoid Excesses
By Secretary Perkins

JurisdictionoI Disputes,
Boycotts Cited as Against
Public Interest
Pointing out that trade unionism
has become an American institution
Secretary of Labor Perkins, in her
annual report made public yester-
day, declared that its new status
places upon organized labor the re-
spcnsibility to "avoid excessive ac-
ton, and to regard the rights OF
others, whether in agreement or not,
considerably and punctiliously."
If they lose the confidence OF the
public by failing to carry out their
responsibilities, trade unions will
face Government regulation, she
warned
Practices specifically cited by
Secretary Perkins as contrary to
"the public interest" included ex-
cessive methods of picketing and
demonstration, stoppage of work due
to iurisdictional disputes, and boy
cotting of goods produced by other
labor unions.
Cites Legal Protection.
"The well informed know that
these practices have arisen and es-
tabnshed themselves during period
when trade unionism was almost an
underground movement, certainly
frowned upon by many employers,
and fighting for existence" she said.
whether such practices were ever
necessary is not now under consid-
Grafton, but the public believes that
trade unions which have legal pro-
lection under the National Labor
Relations Board should be quick
to abandon methods and practices
which lack restraint and due regard
for public opinion. The establish
ment of the committees, boards and
tribunals before which real griev-
ances can be effectively and realis-
tically presented has to very large
extent modified any need for these
very excessive practices, and the la
Dor movement should be quick to
assist all of it's members in abandon
ing such practices"
Standards Are Demanded.
Like banks, insurance companies,
stock exchanges and other Ameri-
can institutions. trade unions will
be kept constantly under social
surveillance" Secretary Perkins as
serted. The public demands OF la
Dor organizations certain standards,
among the most important Of which
are the exercise of the utmost or
der and exemplary procedure in
handling other peoples money" she
said
With the trade union basic right
protected by statute, surely no
moneys need be expended except
as authorized by the membership
and for purposes which can be
stated in a public accounting with
out embarrassment"
THE public expects" the Secre-
tary continued that all labor Or
ganiza tions, like other free associa-
tions, will be conducted according
to reasonably democratic rules and
constitutions, operated In a sensible,
parliamentary way by and for the
membership generally.
Choosing Of Officers.
"The public expects the officers
Of trade unions to be chosen by the
membership in the fairest and most
open way. For the most part, the
public believes that those unions
have been wise who have by their
own bylaws required American citi-
zership for all officers.
when a trade union signs a COL
lective agreement with an employer,
the public expects that the letter
and spirit of such a contract will be
observed by both parties, even
though it turns out to be q poor
bargain for one or the other, and
this expectation includes the 10y
atty and good faith Of private men,
bers and their sense Of unity In
accepting the decisions Of elected
officers, or majority Of members.
The practice Of closed member
ship and high dues, combined with
the closed shop. have been effective
In securing very high wages for
particular groups. but the public
asks today that some Of these prac-
tices be restudied by the trade
union movement"
Three Saving Steps.
Following the Inauguration of the
defense program In mid-1940, the
Labor Department took three steps
that saved the industries of the
country and the whole war effort
of time" Secretary Perkins
declared. These were, first, the ex-
pansion of apprentice training, to
overcome the shortage of skilled
workers in certain industries; sec
ond, a campaign to reduce the toll
of accidents and occupational dis
eases in industry, and third, the
development of standards designed
to secure a more effective use OF
women in defense plants.
The proportion Of time lost
through strikes to time worked in
all industry in the United States
amounted to OIL per cent IN July,
1910. and dropped to .08 per cent in
December of that year, Secretary
Perkins reported. The greatest
time loss during the fiscal year was
In April, 1941. when the proportion
reached lib per cent.
During the first six months of
1941. lost time in important defense
industries ranged from 0.3 to or
per cent.
The Labor Department now is