Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-10-08

the 1eXJlle WOTkeES OlllOll VI
weekend on the campus of Bl
ing experiences, discussing
trade union problems, and
hearing TWUA officers, national
staff members, and government
representatives outline the policies
of the governments wartime agen-
cies as they bear upon labor unions.
The training program was brand
new to the labor movement IN
many important respects. 1t cover
ed the entire field of labor union
activities, from the organizational
drive to the National War Labor
Board and from the function of the
local union to the economic outlook
of the South. Throughout the
course. the students-chiefly state
and district directors and organ
izers-themselves posed the prob
lens that face the TUAW under
wartime and themselves, through
an extended and detailed process of
question -and-answer and discussion,
found their own answers to their
problems.
Exchange Ideas
Instead of lecturing to the group,
the national staff members who led
each session, acted as discussion
leaders, posing problems but let
ting the workers evolve their own
answers through an exchange of
experiences and ideas.
Sessions were held daily from
Monday through Friday. Days were
devoted to specific trade union
problems. Each evening a repre-
sentative of a federal agency con-
Quoted an open forum.
Among the subjects on which the
discussion leaders elected from the
group answers to specific day-to-
day problems that confront
TWUS's organizing staff were or
ganizational perspectives and meth
ods, negotiating contracts, making
union administration work, the role
of the National War Labor Board,
and arbitration.
In the course of discussions on
these main topics, the southern
staff of TWUA delved in detail
into such phases of the labor union
as the effect Of the war on organi-
cation methods, varied approaches
to organizing in different commu-
mites; the relation of labor to the
church, the press, the mill, and
local political situations; coopera-
tion with other unions; the tools
Of organization publicity media and
techniques; what to aim at and
how to get it in negotiating con-
tract; problems involved in rate
setting, incentive pay, time study,
and work loads; the function Of the
local union and the joint board; the
relation Of the local union to the
national office and of the local
union and national office to the
employer.
Never Attempted Before
$50 far as we know, nothing like
this training course for our staff
members has ever been attempted
by any labor union in the United
States" Emil Rieve, general presi-
dent of the union, declared. "Other
unions have had briefer staff con-
ferences at which national officers
and staff members have lectured.
But in the scope Of material and in
the manner Of presentation, we be-
lieve our southern staff training
course TO be something entirely diff
ferent fro manything that ever has
been attempted before. II was, Of
course, an experiment. II was sue
cessful and we expect to make it
continuing and an increasingly
important part Of our intra-union
activities"
Among the benefits derived from
the conference, Rieve declared, was
tha opportunity for personal con-
tact and exchange of ideas between
the southern staff Of TWUA and
members Of the unions executive
council, which met at Black Noun
tain College for two days during
tho early part Of the training
course and attended conference ses-
sions.
Forum Leaders
Rieve opened the conference with
a summary of the broad purposes
Of the sessions Among the forum
leaders were George Baldanzi, ex-
ecutive vice-president Of the un-
ion; William Pollock, general sec
retary-treasurer; DIR. Rupert Vance,
professor Of social research at the
University Of North Carolina; En-
ory @. Hawk, senior consultant in
the postwar division of the u. S.
Bureau Of Labor Statistics; John
Dunlap, assistant to the chief of
the wage analysis division of the
National War Labor Board; David
J. Saposs, chief economic advisor
to the labor production division of
the War Production Board; Isadore
katz, general counsel for TWUA; |
Solomon Barkin, research director
for TWUA; Robert Oliver, coordi-
nator Of Southern cotton textiles
for TWUA; Herbert w. Payne,
viee-president and director Of the