Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-03
ALL 1913 Program
Reiterates Opposition
To Any Labor Draft
Green Predicts Workers
Will Fill Output Quotes
If Hands Are Not Tied

~ Ib0u0S HtS INVN ! DSO
Reiterating its opposition to the
enactment of national service legis-
lation and repeal or modification of
the 40-hour work week, the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor made public
its l943 legislative program last
night. In it President William
Green declared it would be fool
hardy" for Congress, in view of the
production records of American
workers since the Pearl Harbor
attack Ito upset the applicant now
by enacting compulsory anti-strike
legislation"
In an accompanying statement.
Mr.. Green predicted that Americas
production soldiers will more than
fulfill their 1943 production quotas,
which are double those of 1912 pro
vided their hands are not tied and
their enthusiastic spirit crushed by
compulsory and punitive legislation"
Warns Of Dangers.
II anticipate that legislation of
this kind will be introduced during
this session of Congress" he added.
Il need not warn the members of
Congress that such proposals are
dangerous and harmful and I'M
necessary. Their good judgment
will repudiate the unwiSdom of
forcing men and women to do that
which they are willing to do of
their own free will"
The Federation's program, de-
scribed by Mr.. Green "as the ex-
preston Of the desires of 5000, 900
American workers and their fam
lilies" called for an immediate ex-
pansion of the social security
system to protect the Nation against
postwar upheavals. continuation
OF rationing and effective price con-
trolls to block undue advances in
the cost OF living, the avoidance of
excessive taxes which might cripple
industry or sap the strength of low
income groups, and the continuance
Of War bond sales on a voluntary
basis. The Federation suggested
that higher social security taxes
could be substituted for the I'M
satisfactory victory tax"
Confidence in WLB.
The AFL expressed its confidence
IN the War Labor Boards handling
OF the wage stabilize ton program,
pointing out that it is the one Gov
eminent war agency in which labor
is fairly represented, urged an i'm
mediate investigation by Congress
OF the possibilities of framing a post
war reconstruction plan and asked
for the enactment without delay of
legislation abolishing the poll tax
IN the few States where it still exists.
The Federation also asked Con-
grass for permanent legislation pro-
vidlng overtime compensation for all
the Governments civil servants to
replace 1.-THE Stopgap measure" which
expires on April 30. The Federation
called special attention Ito the plight
Of hundreds of thousands of postal
employees, many of whom have not
had an increase in pay in II years
The AFL urged an immediate
survey to determine the exact man
power requirements of the country,
pointing out that we still do not
know with any degree of accuracy
what our manpower needs will be,
or whether our manpower resources
will fall short
Registration of Women.
1--WE further recommend regis
tration Of women to learn the avail
ability of womanpower for service
in war industries" the federation
said. Finally. We insist that be-
fore any compulsory work service
is ordered. definite provision be
made to protect the economic and
social security status of the workers
affected"
The movement to repeal the 40
hour week law was described by the
federation as threat to our entire
war economy and a danger to the
war program"
To curtail overtime pay now will
throw our war economy out of bal
ance and disrupt the wage stabiliza-
ton program" 1t warned. IF work
ers lose the additional income they
now receive from overtime pay, they
will be forced to seek upward revi-
sion OF basic wage scales to meet
nigh living costs and to pay their
heavier taxes-repeal or modiica-
ton Of the 40-hour week would be
equivalent to pay cut for Amer
ica'S loyal soldiers of production !"
In opposing enactment of COM
rulsory anti-Strlke legislation. the
federation pointed out time lost be-
cause of strikes and lockouts has
been reduced, since the labor man
segment no-strike agreement, to a
small fraction of l per cent.
No Strike Condoned.
Mot a single strike was authorized
or condoned by the national labor
organizations. it declared. The
occasional local strikes that did oc-
cur were promptly halted by the
intervention of responsible labor
leaders, and the rule of the War
Labor Board that it would not con-
slider complaints until the men re-
turned to work"
Every American worker knows
now that he would injure his own
interests as we'll as the war pro-
duction effort by striking even under
extreme provocation.'
The legislative program of the
AFL, Mr.. Green declared, lis pre-
dicated on the demonstrated and
universal willingness of America s
wage earners to make of their own
accord the sacrifices the citizens of
. Nation must bear in wartime. ="
Rights Relinguished.
American workers are now
pledged not to strike, even against
injustice. They are working long
hours, six and seven days week
BY accepting wage Sterilization, they
have given up the right to exert
economic pressure for higher awards
for their labor. Through the man
power mobilization programs they
have relinquished the right under
certain circumstances to answer the
call OF new opportunities or even 70
decide for themselves when and
where they shall work"
Legislative representatives of the