The union times. (New Haven, Conn.) 1941-1948, 1943-10-09
Full Support
To Win War
Is Objective
Council Warns Against
Mass Unemployment
After War

DID 1O4N."VVIU u CIl6 QOuDlG
objective of doing everything
possible to win the war and to
win the peace, more than 500
delegates are here for the SD
annual convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor.
AS the representatives of
six million American workers
gathered in the Statler Hotel,
the consensus of opinion was
that the American Federation
of Labor and its affiliated
unions are now at peak
strength.
Reports from delegates coming in
from every section of the country in
Dictated that war production is pro-
ceeding at a rapidly increasing pace
in the nations shipyards, munitions
factories and aircraft plants.
The chief issues disturbing the
labor leaders were the failure of
the Government to keep the cost of
living down to the levels at which
wages have been stabilized and the
alarming effects of various man.
power controls put into effect by
the Government.
A growing demand was openly ex-
pressed for prompt and decisive ac-
ton by the Government to bring prices
of the necessities of life back into
equitable relationship with the wage
income of workers. At the same time,
opposition to any form of compulsory
labor draft was gathering momentum.
These and many other vital ma
tiOnal issues of particular interest
to labor will be presented to the
convention, debated, and voted
upon. The policies decided upon by
the convention will guide the
American Federation of Labor dur
ing the coming year.
The fact that the COnnalIy-Smith
Act has been thoroughly discredited
during its brief period of existence
provided cheering news for the con-
ventiOn, which will unquestiOnably
demand that Congress repeal this
vicious anti-labOr law at once.
Strong disapprOval was expressed
of the effects of anti-IabOr laws
adopted in several States, which are
now being challenged in the courts.
For the first time since the war
began, as much interest was being
displayed by the delegates in postwar
plans as in pushing the victory drive.
Rejecting the assurance that eventual
victory for the United Nations is now
certain, the delegates voiced deepen
ing concern over the effects of peace
upon industrial activity.
From their conversations. it can
be said that the union representa-
tives believe the only way to avert
a major depression with serious un-
employment after the war is to pre-
pare now for large-scale peace
time production program which can
be put into operation as soon as the
fighting ends.
Most of the delegates arrived early
in Boston to attend the departmental
conventions which serve as a prelude
for the A.F.L.'s annual conclave. I'm
usually large attendance was reported
at the meetings of the A.F.L. Metal
Trades, Building Trades and Union
Label Trades annual meetings.
International machinery to elm
mate the causes of war and mold a
world will for peace was advocated
by the executive council of the Fed
Grafton in its annual report to the
1t expresses the hope that pro
cedureS of consultation and co-opera-
ton already developed by the United
Nations could "be made permanent
and broadened in practice to cover
needs Of interdependent responsibilities
Of democratic peoples. %
KeynOting the report with the
declaration that the ALL. had
stood sOlidly behind President
Roosevelt sand his responsible as
sistants for the winning of this
war;" the executive council said
Continued on Page Two)