Evening star., 1942-08-20
Plant Seizures

All americans COSIllZdnI OF L1e
need for full and continuous war
production will approve the Presi-
dents order to the Army to take over
and operate the S. A. Woods Machine
Company plant of South Boston,
which is engaged In the manufacture
Of munitions.
The management OF this plant had
refused to accept War Labor Board
ruling which required the company to
grant a maintenance of union men,
bership clause to its employees and to
arbitrate it's labor disputes. Taking
the position that it would not grant
the union security clause under any
circumstances, the management, in
effect, invited the Government to
take over the plant, expressing its
willingness to cooperate to the ex-
tent Of its abilities with whatever new
management the War Department
might select. In these circumstances
the President took the only course
open to him. However Objectionable
the union security provision might be
under normal conditions, the fact re-
mains that 1t has become an estab-
lished part of the industrial relations
pattern for the duration Of the war.
1t has been accepted, although often
reluctantly, by the overwhelming
majority of employers, and to con-
done an attitude of defiance on the
part Of one dissenter would lead to
the breakdown of the entire formula.
The very correctness of the stand
which the President has taken in this
instance, however, serves to empha-
size the unfairness and inadequacy
OF the plant seizure remedy when the
employees, and not the employer, are
in the wrong. Under the facts OF
this case it is an offending employer
who Is penalized. But when the
Bayonne, New Jersey, plant of the
General Gable Corporation was taken
over last week because a group of
workers had struck against War
Labor Board ruling, precisely the
same penalty was imposed on an
employer who was guilty of no offense
whatsoever. The Government at
tempts to explain this anomalous
state Of affairs by disclaiming an
intent to penalize the employer in
the Bayonne case. But this explana-
tion OF the purpose behind the action
does not alter the plain fact that it
is the employer, and not the Offend
ing employees, who is being penalized
The inadequacy of this procedure
Is indicated by the fact that it has
not served to keep workers at their
Jobs. 1t should be clearly under
stood that the War Labor Board
justifies its maintenance of member
ship clause on the theory that unions,
having voluntarily relinquished their
right to strike for the duration of the
war, are entitled to the protection
which this clause provides. That has
been accepted as fair and necessary
adjustment, but certainly all pre-
tense Of fairness goes out the window
when the board continues to grant
the union security clause, while
unions are permitted to strike with
impunity.
The records of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics reflect a steady increase
through June in the number of
strikes affecting war production. At
the present moment labor stoppage
in eleven Kentucky metal working
plants is interfering with produc-
ton. According to an AFL official
the production decline is equivalent
to losing one medium bomber an
hour. But there is no indication OF
an intent on the part Of the Govern
ment to penalize the offenders. Fur
thermore, the Aluminium Workers OF
America, CIO, are threatening tc
strike seven aluminium plants vita
to the war effort in protest against
another War Labor Board ruling Il
the employees 90 through with thi.
threat, does the Government propose
to meet that situation by taking the
plants away from the employers? I,
So another long step will have beer
taken along course which is a.
unfair as it is ineffective.