The union times. (New Haven, Conn.) 1941-1948, 1943-10-09
Cooperation OF
Allies Essential


that ''while we are devoted to trade
unionism as our way of life we
owe a prior allegiance to our cOun-
try, which assures us of an oppor-
tunity for a democratic way of
life.''
On the domestic aspect of postwar
problems the report declared that
labor would not tolerate mass I'M
employment, a revival of a public
works program at relief rates or other
devices which rob workers of their
economic and political freedom
Labor's postwar wage goal was
set forth as the negotiation of
wages for the fOrty-hOur week
equivalent to those earned now I'M
der the longer wartime work week,
which includes overtime pay.
Wage Garner had relied on over
time pay to make up the deficit be-
tween basic wage rates and increas-
ed living costs, the council said, and
ssenIy by increasing basic depres-
sion forces that facilitate unem-
pIoyment.
It stated that in durable goods in
dustrieS where the average earnings
(including overtime) were $49.38 a
week, the forty-hour week would re-
duce these earnings to $38.64 and in
non-durable goods the reduction would
be from $34 to $30.32.
Turning to the postwar interna-
tional field, the report suggested
that the United Nations assure to
all Allied population bill of
Rights" covering the right to form
unions and freedom of speech,
freedom of assemblage and guar
antees of civil freedom.
Declared indispensable to the in
ternatiOnal objectives set forth was
cooperation by all the democratic
groups within the United Nations,
and particularly conferences and
agreement between the free labor
movements of democratic cOun-
tries"
The council endorsed the detectives
of the Presidents Fair Employment
Practice Committee and asserted that
the fundamental ALL. policy had
always been against discrimination be-
cause of race, creed or color. 1t added
that "a small number" of Federation
affiliates still drew the color line in
their membership provisions and rec
commended that the Federation intensi-
fly its efforts to obtain complete COM
pliance with its policy.
The council asserted that it did
not believe ''that imposition of any
policy, no matter how salutary,
through compulsory Government
control of freely constituted assO-
Citations of workers accords with
the basic right of freedom of as
ISOLATION among the American peO-
pIe." Such imposition of policy, it
went on, interfered with the self
government of labor organiza-
tiOns.'
Applications of the United Mine
Workers for re-admission, to the
ALL. was covered by publishing the
request signed by John L. Lewis, mine
union president, his public statement
asking that the union be admitted as
it is presently constituted and the
recent decision of the A.F.L. council
to refer the matter to the convention
without recommendation
The report stated that more than
1000, 900 members of the ALL.
were i'm the armed forces and that
the federation had more than full
filled its pledge to purchase ST.
OOO, 200, 900 in war bonds this year.
George Meany, secretary-treas-
urer, reported a paid membership
of 5,939,O2l, gain of 456, 40 i'm
the last year, the largest member
ship being that of the International
Brotherhood of Transfers, Co.,
900, with the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters next with 600, 900
members.
After a meeting of the council, Will
liam Green, Federation president, an
nounced that the sole topic of discus
sion had been the withdrawal of the
international Association of Machin-
lists. A subcommittee of the council
was directed to resume conference at
once with officers of the Machinists
Union The Machinists Union officers
are in Boston and Mr.. Green voiced
hope that dispute would be settled in
time to have the Machinist delegates
sit in the convention.