Evening star., 1942-12-29
WLB Official Urqes
Arbitration Setup by
Management, Labor
ToyIor Proposes Ideu
In Atlas Powder Co.
Case in California

Management and labor should es-
tablish their own arbitration ma
chinery to settle grievances, both
to aid war production and to
strengthen collective bargaining at
time when governmental restric-
tions are necessarily imposed" on
collective bargaining, Dr.. George w.
Taylor, vice chairman of the War
Labor Board, declared today.
Writing the boards formal opin-
ion in case involving 100 workers
in the plant of the Atlas Powder Co.
in Giant, Calf. Dr. Taylor stated
that the board strongly urged" in
dustry and labor to retain full con-
troll over their own grievance ma
Chlnery, with arbitration as a final
step in their collective bargaining
agreements.
Pointing out that the board cam
not permit accumulat ton of griev-
ance disputes to impair morale and
efficiency in war plants, he asserted
that there was no need for labor and
management to surrender any of
their prerogatives in regard to such
disputes.
Better Job" Locally.
On the contrary it is in the ma
tional interest that the parties them
selves set up and operate their own
grievance machinery in order to as
sure that local problems are finally
settled by those on the scene who
can, by and large, do a better lob
than can be done from affair."" Mr..
Taylor declared.
I'm addition, the retention of
grievance procedures in the hands
OF the parties bears significant
relationship to the problem of con-
tmulng the institution of collective
bargaining in a day when govern
mental restrictions are necessarily
imposed on the limits within which
collective agreements may be con-
summated. Sufficient experience
has accumulated in this country to
SHOW that the interests of all par
ties are served by grievance pro-
cedure under collective agreements
which provides for final determi-
nation Of disputes by an impartial
person or an impartial tribunal"
The board rejected a request of
Local 266 of the Nine Mill and
Smelter Workers (CIOb to extend
existing arbitration procedure to
cover disputes over transfers or pro-
motions Of employees, because of the
hazards at the Atlas plant, which
manufactures explosives.
Hazards Are Factor.
Hazards resulting from the manu-
featuring of explosives at the plant
imposed definite limitations on the
scope of the grievance procedure"
Or. Taylor explained.
The protection of employees is of
major Importance in the making
OF Job assignments in this plant
where an act of carelesSness on the |
part OF one imperils the lives of all |
For this reason the board feels that
the final responsibility of manage
ment in making promotions and
transfers cannot be restricted"
Accepting the recommendations of
Its referee, the board ordered that
a new final step be provided for
handling promotion and transfer
disputes in the regular grievance
procedure, through the establish
ment Of four member panel-two
from management and two from the
union.
The board ordered voluntary
maintenance Of membership incor |
porated in the contract. The boards
decision was unanimous except on
the maintenance of membership is
sue, on which the vote was four tn
two. with employer members dis
senting.