Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-11

Tic view Deal began ltS program OF
coercion affecting the employer,
have the labor unions been willing
to believe the warnings that the
same governmental coercion could
be applied against them and thus
the beginnings of State-controlled
labor monopoly developed. But one
Of the latest announcements of the
War Labor Board compels the labor
union officers to suspend their con-
stttutional provisions whenever the
governmental agency charged with
handling employer employe rela-
lions in wartime says the word.
Up to now, incidentally, the right
to strike has never been suspended
formally by executive order. Labor
unions have agreed informally not
to exercise or assert their right to
strike. Now, under the precedent
established by the War Labor Board,
the right to strike can be suspended
from labor union constitutions and
anything else relating thereto with
respect to membership can be con-
trolled by the Government.
Board Resolution.
The official language Of the War
Labor Boards resolution which as
serts this new power says in part:
Therefore, the National War La
Dor Board resolves that in all cases
In which 1t has granted or in the
future may grant the maintenance
Of membership provision, it has been
and is the boards intention that any
employe may withdraw from his
union without losing his job, at any
time prior to the effective date of
the maintenance of membership
clause as provided for in the boards
directive order in the individual
case, irrespective of the rules, regu-
lations, laws or constitutional pro-
visions of the union involved which
would otherwise make such with
drawal ineffective"
This is remarkable language
irrespective of the rules, regula-
lions. laws or constitutional pro-
visions of the union"-and If 1t can
be invoked to cure defects In union
practices as they relate to so i'm
portant matter as membership
withdrawal, 1t can be applied to
correct abuses that have grown up
in connection with initiation fees
and determinations concerning race
or color and other restrictive prac-
tees governing admissions to unions.
Reduces Self Government.
When the State steps in to decide
who shall or shall not be a member
of the labor union or the conditions
under which a member may with
draw from a labor union. the free
dom Of the labor organization to
govern itself is vitality diminished.
The War Labor Board, of course,
Is in difficult spot. 1t finds itself
in hot water because it made the
original mistake of believing that
1t could not assure labor peace unless
1t granted, as a sop to the unions,
Q clause making the employer agree
to dismiss any union members who
failed to pay dues or failed to re-
main In good standing.
1t is open to question whether the
patriotic union leaders Of America
would have insisted on q main
tenance OF membership clause as
the price OF their assent to q no.
strike agreement in wartime. Natur-
ally the labor leaders endeavor, In
every case they can obtain such q
concession, to win . maintenance
Of membership clause, because 1t
assures a steady now OF dues into
the union treasury. This, as q rule
means the maintenance OF the exist
ing officers in their positions, too
The controversy which gave rise
to the new resolution Of the board
began when it was pointed out to
members Of the Wal Labor Board
that If they compelled employers
to dismiss union members who
failed to pay dues, it would operate
as straitiacket against the workers,
because, If they failed to pay dues
they would be blacklisted against
Jobs in the same industry or they
would not be permitted honorable
withdrawal.
Withdrawals Not Provided.
To meet this criticism, the Board
ruled that members could have IS
days within which to decide whether
they wanted to remain as members
But many union constitutions pro-
vide that members cannot withdraw
or else they fail to provide ma
ehinery for withdrawal. The War
Labor Board thought that the
simple expedient of disseminating
to pay dues would be sufficient.
When it was discovered that many
workers, under certain constitutions,
couldn't withdraw by that method,
the Board decided the simple thing
to do was to change the constitu-
tions Of the unions Thus does
coercion lead from one dilemma to
the other.
It is widely reported that although
the unions have made no public
protest-since they are the bene-
ficiaries of the maintenance Of men,
bership clause-their leaders are
uneasy over the perplexing situation
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