Evening star., 1943-12-21

STAR, Washington, DC.
DEcEMBER Al, i943.
November, 1912, an arbitrator
handed down an award denying the
union a wage increase although one
was due under the Little Steel"
formula. He said that the arbi-
traitor exceeded his authority in
holding that the War Labor Board
would not approve any adjustment
to the union, and that the board
then refused to review the award,
thereby denying the union any re-
lief.
Mr.. Morse explained that the
board was not reviewing arbitration
awards in November, last year. but
had since revised its rules to permit
their review on wage questions only
After frequent brisk interchanges
Mr.. Manbeck said he would ask the
men to return to work If they could
get assurances" of an expeditions
settlement"
This board will not bargain with
you regarding terms on which this
strike will be called Off" George w.
Taylor, a public member of the
board said.
A short recess then was suggested
by Labor Member Louis Lopez to
confer with Mr. Manbeck. The re-
cess was granted for 90 minutes and
Mr.. Manbeck then returned to the
meeting room and made this state
ment.
IF satisfactory to the board, I'll
go back to the membership and
recommend they adjourn the meet
ing and follow their usual pursuits"
Mr.. Morse and Mr.. Taylor then
praised Mr.. Manbeck's patriotic
attitude.
Morse Challenges Union.
Mr.. Manbeck had said that the
wage demands were what the men
were entitled to under the little
steel" formula.
In urging the printers to abandon
the continuous session''-which the
WLB characterized as a strike-Mr.
Manbeck said he would call the
meeting back in 48 hours if no
tangible results were obtained" The
motion to adjourn the meeting,
however, provided no deadline.
WLB Statement.
In calling the 4 o'clock session the
board said:
The Secretary of Labor and the
Cancellation Service have today Ger
tilted to the National War Labor
Board that strike exists because
of a dispute between Columbia
Typographical Union No. 1Ol and
the Publishers Association compris-
ing the daily newspapers of the Ma
tion's Capital. The board is in
formed that a stoppage of work ex-
lists by reason of an action of the
union on Sunday, December 10, 1943,
resulting in failure OF members of
the union employed by the news
papers to report to their respective
jobs beginning Sunday night.
ANY work stoppage by any union
during the emergency is unwarrant-
ed, and this is especially true where
there exists adequate governmental
facilities for the settlement of dis
putes such as that certified to the
board in this instance. Such a STOP
page as that which is existing is not
only unwarranted and unjustifed
but in violation of the national no.
strike policy.
Ordered Back to Work.
TT is also We are informed in vio-
lation of a contract between the
union and the publishers which
provides for arbitration of disputes
which have not been resolved
through negotiations. The National
War Labor Board by unanimous vote
directs that the responsible officers
of Columbia typographical Union
Immediately take such steps as may
be necessary to terminate the exist
ing work stoppage and return the
members of the union to their re-
spective jobs Immediately. The
board also by unanimous vote directs
that you attend a hearing before
the National War Labor Board at
4 pm. today, December 20, l943, in
Room 5341, Department of Labor
Building, Washington, D. c., at
which time the board will conduct
an inquiry into the cause and effect
of the work stoppage An immedi-
ate reply attention Clyde NJ Mills,
director of strikes division, is re-
quested."
The board order for the meet
ing tomorrow went to President
Baker and other officers of the
ITU. 1t read: The National War
Labor Board has given consideration
TO the several strikes of members of
the ITU which have occurred by
authorization of the Executive
Council of that union, or which
have been called and actively
prosecuted with no apparent dis
avoWal by the Executive Council
of the union. Any strike dur
ing wartime is contrary to the
public interest and in violation of
labor "no-strlke' pledge. BY unani-
nous vote, the National War Labor
Board directs that you appear be-
fore the board on Wednesday, De-
cember %, l943, at 2 pm. in room
5341, Department of Labor Building,
Washington, D. c. and show cause
why members of the ITU are au-
thorized or permitted or encouraged
to strike or participate in any type
of work stoppage in violation of the
national no-strike policy and of
labor's no-strike pledge. Your at
tendance at this meeting is expected
and if you encounter difficulties in
transportation reservations, please
advise and an effort will be made
to secure the necessary priorities.
An immediate reply is requested"
pn~ifi~