The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-01-28
A.F.L. Asks Defeat
Of Labor Changes
Executive Council At Flor.
ida Meeting Sends Reso-
luton To Congressman

AOl4O14 4O SO1A5l OSSAAASAA
Misunderstanding that some OF the
Congressional bills affecting organized
labor would introduce Hitlerian con-
troll of labor" William Green, presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor, made public today resolution
adopted by his executive council urg-
ing Congressional leaders to oppose
these measures.
The resolution, addressed to Vice
President Wallace, Speaker Rayburr
and the ma ajority and minority leaders
of both Houses of Congress, urged
them "to exert constructive Leadership
to prevent the enactment of dangerous
and foolhardy anti-labor measures no"
being proposed in Congress-
Mr.. Green, at Il press conference
explained that the council referred
specifically to bills which would make
strikes and the closed shop illegal
provide Federal supervision and CON
troll of labor unions and repeal the
40-hour work week.
These bills would destroy the basic
freedoms of American workers, impair
labor standards and handcuff the eff
forts of loyal trade unions to expedite
the war production program" the res0
luton stated.
IF a group Of soldiers were to &c
A.W.O.L. the War Department woulc
never think of placing the entire army
in the guardhOuse. Yet this would be
precisely the effect of anti-Strike legiS
lation now being advanced. 1t WoulC
penalize more than 30 per cent of tn,
nations soldiers of production who
have remained steadfastly on the jol
for the acts of a small minority.
Oppose Strikes For Any Cause
Even in normal times the Ameri
can Federation of Labor is opposed
to strikes except as a last resort t'
remedy injustice. In the present wal
crisis we are opposed to strikes fol
any cause. But we will fight to the
| limit of our strength to preserve tn,
right to strike, which is just as funda
al
right of free speech and free press.
I'VE are proud of the record tn;
G,OOO,0OO members of the Federation
have made i'm avoiding strikes Sine
Pearl Harbor.
'"The amazing progress of war pro
duction, as reported by the Presiden
| to Congress, speaks volumes for th
success of labor's voluntary coopera
tion with the war effort and shoul'
make it apparent that compulsor.
methods are unnecessary as well n
| un-Amcrican.
I'VE oppose impairment Of the forty
hour week standard for overtime CON
penSatiOn because it would not add
and would result only in Il pay Gu
for our loyal production soldiers. l
their income is reduced in this manner
they will be forced to seek upwar,
reyisions Of their basic pay scales +
make up for the loss. This would VI
set the entire wage StabiliZation pre-
gram.
Warn OF Legal Straight Jacket
I'VE also urge you to consider tn
dangerous effects of legislation aime
at Strangling our trade union organ
iZatiOns. These unions have cooper
ated fully with the government durin
the war crisis and have solved man
manpoWcr and operational problem
| i,.I, 10
effort. If they are now placed in
legal straight jacket, the war produ,
ton program is bound To suffer.
1--WE appeal to YOU to let our trad
unions continue to give conStructiv
service to the nation, unhampercd b
restrictive legislation.
"Wc confidently expect you will Civ
these recommendation your Garrett
and sympathetic consideration and W
assure you of laborS unrcScrNcd SUI
port of every government program nee
cSSary for victory
Mr.. Green said the A.F.L. had sen
Il cable message to Bernard lbane;
secretary general of the Chilean Labo
| at 'iilI', IllNlt
him to visit the United States as
guest of the federation. 1t was also T.,
ported from Washington that the Cor
grcSS of Industrial Organizations ha
forwarded an identical invitation [
Scnor lbanez.
1T has ever been our desire to dt
velop and establish the most friendl
and cooperative relationship posSibl
with the organized labor movement i
Chile and in all other Latin-America
nations Mr.. Green said.
I'VE may consider it advisable late
to invite Il representative of the labu
movement of the Argentine to max
IA similar visit. Possibly the A.Fl
may subsequently send good-wi
labor delegation to Latin America"