Evening star., 1943-04-04
Rare Formula Applied
BY WarLabor Board in
A||is-Cha|mers Rows
Marshall Field Plan
For Union Security
Granted CIO Unions

Sronte0 SlO unions
The War Labor Board yester-
day granted a seldom used form
of maintenance of membership
to three C1O unions of the Allis-
Chalmers Manufacturing Co.,
employing $4,000 workers in war
production.
The board, in a 10-to-2 decision
that split the usually-united four
public members, with Wayne l..
Morris and Frank P. Graham dis
senting, ordered application of the
so-called Marshall Field fromula
to provide union security only to
those members who specify in writ
ing that they wish to be covered by
the union maintenance clause.
DR.. George w. Taylor, public
member, in the majority opinion,
pointed out that the production of
the Allis-Chalmers Co., in the past,
had been impaired seriously by
chaotic labor relationships" but
that labor rela tions in the plants
recently have so improved "as to
call for the present action on union
security as further aid to both
parties"
Disputes Certified in 1912.
The disputes in all four plants
were certified to the War Labor
Board in June, 1912, as one consoli-
dated case. Following extensive
hearings, board panel recon-
mended denial of union membership
and criticized the local union at
West Allis, Wis, for irresponsible
leadership"
Local 248 of the United Automo-
bile Workers (CIO) represented the
employees in the West Allis plant,
where approximately 1900 of the
$4,000 workers involved in the case
are employed The three other
plants involved are located at Bos-
ton, Pittsburgh and LaPorte, Ind.
Following essentially the award in
the Marshall Field & Co. textile
workers case a year ago, the order
emphasizes voluntary action. Each
worker will be covered only If he
authorizes union dues collections
and agrees as 4 condition of en-
ployment to maintain his union
membership in good standing for
the life of the contract. For such
a worker, the company agrees to
deduct 81 month from his pay
and turn these dues over to the
union
Includes Escape Clause.
This form Of union security differs
from the standard board award
which includes an escape clause al
lowing workers Is days in which to
decide whether to resign from a
union or continue membership un-
der the security provisions.
The four employer and four labor
members Joined Chairman William
n. Davis and Mr.. Taylor in granting
the unusual clause at Allis- Chalmers
plants.
While the majority award is a less
stringent FORM of union security"
than usually granted by the WLB,
Mr.. Morse and Mr.. Graham said the
West .Allis local. unions record Of
non Co o-operation with the manages
ment did not entitie it. even to that
much, while contending that the
three other locals deserved better.
Employer Members Hit.
The dissenting opinion. written by
Mr.. Morse also criticized the en-
ployer members of the board for as
serted inconsistency on the issue.
The boards directive in the long
pending case ordered the contract
to remain in force until April IS, 1914
Containing IS provisions in all it
denied the unions request for a
union shop and approved an agree
ment regarding overtime and pre-
minum pay at the West Allis plant,
including cents an hour diff
erential for the second and third
shifts.
The company manufactures farm
equipment. heavy electrical and in
dustrial machinery and armament
for the Army and Navy.
DR.. Taylor's ma ajority opinion said
the approved maintenance of men,
bership clause will materially as
sist the parties in their efforts to
improve the labor relations situa-
tion at Allis-Chalmers and thus
contribute to the successful prosecu-
ton Of the war"
DR.. Taylor asserted that COL
lective bargaining relations at the
West Allis plant have surely had
a checkered past" but had i'm
proved greatly in recent months.
He observed the board has set up
a procedure requiring the employe
to assume his own obligation in an
affirmative manner, while in most
types of union security so far
granted a procedure was specified
to enable an employe to indicate q
desire not to remain union
member.
Warns on "Interference."
"The board majority has con-
cluded,' he said, that this form Of
union security is adapted to the
present case because of it's emphasis