The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-05-08
MANUFACTURERS
ASSN WOULD KILL
OPEN SHOP LAWS
A. F. of L. and CIO Heads Declare
Association Trying to Pull Fast One.

Washington, d. C. (ILNS). - The
National Association of Manufacture
ers is trying to slip over a fast one
by having Congress freeze the injus-
tices of the open shop by law" Will
liam Green, president of the Ameri-.
can Federation of Labor, and Philip
Murray, president of the Congress of
Industrial Organizations, charged in
joint statement.
Through paid advertisements in the
daily press, the labor heads said, the
N. A. M. Sought to put pressure upon
Congress to freeze the open shop
where it exists so that selfish, un-
democratic employers can continue to
deny adequate union protection to
their employees"
Fortunately" it was added, "the
N. A. M. speaks for only minority
of American employers and does not
express the views of American busi-
ness as a whole"
4 n. A. M. Held Running Out"
Green and Murray pointed out that
the National War Labor Board, on
March 18, agreed that the union Sc
curity" issue was proper matter for
consideration by the board.
"The four industry representatives
on the board, including the president
of the Chamber of Commerce, signed
this resolution" the statement con-
tinued.
"Now the N. A NJ" the labor lead
ers charged, "is running out on indus
try's and labor's joint understanding
with the President of the United
States. 1t is repudiating the unani-
nous commitment made in behalf of
American industry by the four indus
try representatives on the War Labor
Board The N. A. NJ. is trying to slip
over fast one by having Congress
freeze the injustices of the open shop
by law"
N A. M. Charge Ridiculous"
The statement goes on to say:
"Would such legislation have the
ghost of chance in normal times?
Obviously not Then why is the N.
| A. M. pressing for it in the midst of
the war emergency Because the
N. A. NJ is brazenly trying to take
advantage of the war to secure special
protection that it could not get in
peace time for few selfish, recalci-
trant employers who hate unions more
than they hate Hitler.
"Of course the N. A M. charges that
organized labor is attempting to take
advantage of the war to extend the
union shop. That charge is completely
ridiculous The facts belle it. In nor
NAL times, if a union cannot obtain a
closed shop by collective bargaining,
it can strike to obtain its demands.
"But labor disarmed itself at the
outbreak of the war. 1t has pledged
itself not to strike for the closed shop
or for any other cause. It's only re-
course in the face of employer refusal
is to have the War Labor Board de-
eide the case on the facts. Is that
taking advantage of the war?
"The N. A. M. said in its advertise
ment that America Wants Victory
Not the Closed Shop. A more honest
statement of the N. A. MS position
would be we Want the Open Shop
Even at the Expense of Victory
"Organized labor unites in condemn
ing this narrow, partisan and un-
American policy.
"Organized labor calls upon the
great majority of decent, honorable
patriotic employers of America to re-
pudiate the false leadership of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers.
Following issuance of the labor
leaders statement, the War Labor
Board unanimously confirmed the cor,
rectness of the assertion that it hac
! agreed to consider the union Sc.
: curity" issue.