Evening star., 1943-11-12
WLB Looks Ahead

Recent statements by public and
industry members of the War Labor
Board seem to provide ample basis
for two interesting and significant
conclusions.
One is that the board will not, of
Its own motion, abandon the Little
Steel formula in the face of labor
pressure. In letter to Vice Presi-
dent Wallace last week, after the
coal decision, Chairman Davis said
that organized labor had been called
upon to make disproportionately
heavy sacrifices in the interests OF
stabilization. From this the Infer
ence was drawn that Mr.. Davis, a.
least, was encouraging labor in it's
drive to break down the formula.
Since then, however, the WLB chair
man has said categorically that It
have not begun to surrender and do
not intend to surrender any part of
the wage stabilization program"
That Is clear and unequivocal. The
inference that Mr.. Davis was pre-
pairing to yield on the Little Steel
formula was improperly drawn.
The other, and probably more
important. development is that both
industry and public members, their
eyes open to the implication of the
coal case, have been doing some
serious thinking with regard to the
obligation of organized labor to the
public, and the responsibility of Gov
ernment to see to it that the obliga-
tion is met.
In the coal case, John L. Lewis,
dealing directly with Secretary Ickes,
and through him, with the President,
was able to override the public in
terest in maintaining a lawful and
orderly procedure for settling labor
disputes. Mr.. Ickes, primarily con-
cerned with the wartime need of
getting coal mined, negotiated
contract with Mr.. Lewis while the
miners were on strike. If this actu-
ally was the only way to get the coal
mined, Mr.. Ickes had no alternative.
But If that be the case, then it is
clear that the Government, no less
than private employer, is at the
mercy of any strong and willful
union.
1t was this aspect of the matter
that caused the WLB members to
speak out. All four industry men,
bers joined to strongly urge" that
Congress give immediate considera-
ton" to legislation "to require re-
sponsibility of unions and to provide
additional protection for workers,
employers and the public against
those who misuse the power pres
emily permitted"
The statement of the public men,
bers-Chairman Davis, Vice Chair
man Taylor and DR.. Frank P.
Graham-did not go quite so far.
But they were obviously distressed
by the nature of the settlement
which Mr.. Ickes made with Mr.. Lewis,
particularly the negotiation of
contract while the strike was in
progress, and they warned that any
further defiance of the no-strike
pledge must of necessity bring into
the forefront of consideration and
discussion the whole question of the
responsibility of unions for anti
social acts and the capacity of Gov
ernment as at present constituted
to prevent such acts"
This is circuitous language, but it
boils down to an admission that
these officials are beginning to be
seriously concerned at the extent to
which the legislative scales have been
weighted on the side of labor. When
this served only to prejudice the
rights of employers, there were but
few protests. But it is now becoming
evident that this one-sided legisla-
tion also prejudices the fundamental
rights of the people as whole, and
that is horse of a different color.