Evening star., 1942-06-11
Union Closed Shop
Defensive Device
Clergyman Says
! Catholic Professors
Analysis Is Given In
. Councils Publication

The closed shop is primarily "a
defensive device" protecting union
lists against discrimination by en-
ployers and non-union competition
Rev. Jerome L. Toner of ST. Mar
tins College, Olympia. Wash, de-
elared in a study of the role of the
closed shop in labor relations pub
lshed today by the American Coun-
Gil on Public Affairs.
The closed shop has three char
acteristics, the author pointed out.
First, jurisdiction, second discharge
of employees coming under the jur-
isdiction Of the agreement who re-
fuse to remain members of the
union, and third, hiring procedures
which permit the employer Ito hire
any one or union men exclusively"
The efforts Of unions to induce
employers to hire union men only,
and the open shoppers opposition
to that practice have thrust the
hiring feature of the closed shop
into such a conspicuous position in
the public eye that discharge and
jurisdiction are almost overlooked, >
be said.
Not 4 New Development.
: Contrary to widely entertained
belief. the closed shop is not a
recent development in the United
States. DR.. Toner asserted The
principle of the closed shop. basic
element in the English guild sys-
tenn. early became a union prac-
tice in this country, he said.
Prom the Revolution to the Civil
War, the principle and practice of
the closed shop developed and ex-
panded' he explained. From the
Civil War until shortly after the
era Of prosperity following the
Spanish American War, closed
shop conditions became the custom
In many of the well-organized in
dustries. Since the arrival of gov
ernmental support of collective bar
gaining, beginning with the inclu-
sion of closed-shop contracts under
the National Industrial Recovery
Act down to the legalization OF the
closed shop in the National Labor
Relations Act in 1885, and the Su-
preme Court confirmation OF that
act in 1887. the closed shop has
spread to such an extent that today
there are more than 100000 work
ers covered by such agreements.
In recent years. he continued, the
attitude of employers has been one
OF steady opposition to the closed
shop. High cost of labor, restric-
tion of output, destruction of disci-
pllne, strangulation of the supply
OF skilled labor, lack of RESPONSE
bllity-these are some of the criti-
clsn1s directed by spokesmen for
employers against the closed shop.
NAM Views Cited.
"On the premise that all union
izatlon eventually leads to closed
shop conditions. the National As
soclation Of Manufacturer has not
hesitated to condemn unionism in
It's entirety" the author stated
The associations record, however,
reveals that its opposition to the
closed shop has been nothing more
than a means to cover its anti
union policies and actions. The
recent turnabout by Ford may mark
the beginning of change in the
attitude of organized employers
Apart from its protective fea-
lures, he added, the closed shop
has many other virtues which would
warrant its use in collective bar
gaining. Because it simplifies and
eXpedltes organization. provides
permanency of membership, height
ems the sense of responsibility, Gre
ates cooperation among employees
and with management and con-
scripts chiselers,' unions demand
the closed shop even after en-