Evening star., 1942-08-06

urdays, Sundays David Lawrence.
and holidays would be relinquished.
Last March it was announced
from the White House that the CIO
and AFL chieftains had agreed to
eliminate double time for Satur-
days, Sundays and holidays If they
fell within the six-day week and
that double time would be paid only
for any seventh day worked.
The country was informed, and
20 was Congress, that anti-strike
legislation would not be necessary
and that labor was policing itself.
Now 1t turns out that there are
dozens Of so-called unauthorized
strikes and that the various con-
stituent unions comprising the AFL
and C1O do not really consider
themselves bound by what the ma
tional executive councils agree to In
their behalf.
Thus the United Auto Workers
Union. by q unanimous vote at their
convention in Chicago Tuesday, de-
klared that unless the AFL carried
out the agreement, CIO wouldn't be
bound by it even in those instances
where contracts with employers al
ready had been signed. This doubt
less means that In the Detroit area,
where the vital work Of war produc-
ton goes on, the auto workers union
is preparing to disregard signed con-
tracts just because rival union
doesn't toe the mark.
Threaten to Recant.
The auto workers union is pre-
sided over by r. J. Thomas, who
makes frequent criticisms Of Wash
ington officials for lack of imagina-
ton in managing the war and who
boasted in a public speech that he
had driven William S. Knudsen out
Of the OPM.
Unless the policy" says the reso-
luton. "of relinquishing premium
pay for Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays is adopted universally
throughout industry within 30 days
from the adjournment of this con-
vention, the UAW-CIO shall deem
itself released from it's commitment
and will consider local unions to be
legally and morally justified in re-
fusing to recognize as valid any
contractual provisions by which
such premium pay is relinquished."
This is an ultimatum that can be
satisfied only by the passage Of an
act Of Congress forbidding double
payments for overtime. Apparently
neither the CIO nor the AFL ma
tional bodies can police constitu-
ent industrial unions. The main
cause of the present dilemma Is
that an AFL union of machinists,
during its campaign at a Curtiss-
Wright plant, defeated the C1O in
. collective bargaining election
primarily, it is alleged by the CIO,
through promises to the workers
that the AFL would not relinquish
double-time payments.
The CIO, feeling aggrieved over
such promise, which 1t considered
to be In violation of the pledge
given at the White House, naturally
believes that it likewise should not
b bound.
No Legal Penalty. ..
But that's precisely what this cor
respondent and many other friends
Of the workingman have been con-
tending all along, namely, that since
the labor politicians follow the path
Of expediency, no group of II 900 900
citizens can be expected to be dis
ciplined or to follow uniform prac-
tice when each little clique can
violate the rules Of fair play at will
and there is no legal penalty for 50
doing.
The employers are bound to ac-
oept governmental dictation. The
War Labor Board, which was set up
70 settle all disputes, ran into a snag
recently with employers who in
sasted that the closed shop, main-
tenance Of membership and such
questions were not to be considered
By the board.
The board made short shrift OF
such protestations and issued blast
after blast denouncing the employ
ers for bad faith for trying to gc
back on an agreement which, II
must be conceded, was obtained
without an explicit understanding
as to what was to be included. Now
with the War Labor Board suppos.
edly in command Of war labor poll.
cies, will there be any action to pre-
vent the generation OF labor dis.
putes and violation OF contractua
obligations by labor union chiefs?
The resrettable truth is that Con
gress was lulled into inaction ane
the President was persuaded to dror
anti-strike legislation because of the
ann 0RlI RA rA0