Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-09-10

Immediately Phillip Muir
ray of the c. l. 0. William
Green of the A. F. Of l.. and
David D. Robertson, president of
one of the Railroad Brotherhoods,
said of the law, "The War Labor
Disputes Act is a wicked vicious
bill. 1t is the worst anti-labor bill
passed by Congress in the last
hundred years. 1t is born Of re-
venge and malice. 1t is the very
essence Of fascism. 1t destroys the
philosophy of voluntarism on which
free trade unionism is founded. 1t
does more-it destroys the founda-
tion on which the principles of col
lective bargaining rest"
The President, in vetoeing the
bill, emphasized that labor was
correct in its contentious when he
stated, Far from discouraging
strikes, these provisions would
stimulate labor unrest and give
government sanction to strike agi-
tation. He foresaw that the 30-day
no-strike period might well become
boiling period instead of a cool
ing period"
ACT OF LABOR HATERS
The War Labor Disputes Act be-
came law. Labor recognized it for
what it was, not an instrument TO
help win the war and defeat Hit
Ter, but rotten hodge-podge of
the wrath of Americas labor
hSters. Immediately it was util-
lied to indict a large number Of
miners in Pittsburgh. In spite Of
the provocation, however, labor's
leaders reiterated their no-strike
pledge and urged all workers to
continue the fight for all-out pro-
duction in order to defeat the Axis.
The terms Of the Smith-C Connally
Act must be understood by every
member Of organized labor, for its
penalties are severe and its terms
extremely subtle. 1t should be
noted, first, that the president may
take possession Of any plant when
ever his investigation shows that
an interruption of production, be-
cause Of a strike or "labor dis
turbance" might impede or delay
war production, or that seizure is
necessary to insure operation in
the interest of the war effort. The
employers slipped in a sleeper,
however, and the act requires that
the President must return the
plant to the owners not later than
sixty days after productive eff
cheney has been restored" (Section
81 Labor knows that most en-
ployers think that they break
strike threat if the plant is under
government control for as much as
sixty days!
PROMOTER OF CONFUSION
Sections four and five of the act
provide that upon seizure of the
plant, the terms and conditions Of
employment which were in effect
at the time of the seizure remain
in effect unless changed by the
War Labor Board upon application
Of the government agency running
the plant, or upon application of a
majority Of the employees of the
plant. II is easy to foresee the
utter confusion which must arise
under the Act where disputes
exist as to the appropriate unit, or
where a majority has not been
certified for the whole, or even
part Of, the war plant.
UNION ACTIVITY FORBIDDEN
Section 6 Of the act contains the
most serious threats to trade
unions. After the plant is seized
under order Of the President, and
while il remains in Government
possession, union activity is prac-
tically forbidden. This section Of
the act provides criminal penalties
Of Imprisonment up TO one year
and a fine up to S500000 or both,
and is not limited to those who
engage in strikes in government
operated plants. 1t also covers
those who "induce, conspire with
or encourage any person to inter
fere by lockout, strike, showdown
or otherwise interrupt the opera
tion of the plant" Does this mean
that an ordinary shop committee
meeting where grievances are dis
cussed constitute an encourage
ment of an interruption of pro-