Evening star., 1943-04-05
AI!is-ChuImers Case

Ihe decision OF the War Labor
Board to grant a form of union
security to organized workers at the
West Allis, Wisconsin, plant of the
Allis- Chalmers Company will have
the inevitable effect of undermining
public confidence in the boards ad-
ministration of this compromise solu-
ton of the union versus open shop
issue.
There has always been a strong
element in the country opposed to
the union security formula. But
most of those who have interested
themselves in the question, taking at
face value the boards declaration
that the security clause would be
granted only to responsible unions,
have felt that it was a reasonable
wartime compromise of a difficult
issue. What is this latter group to
think now?
The CIO local at the West Allis
plant has long and ugly record of
responsibility In 1941, when this
country was preparing desperately
for war, the union leaders, after an
admittedly fraudulent strike vote,
shut down the Allis- Chalmers plant
for seventy-siX days They remained
indifferent to the pleas of their own
national union leaders and the ap-
peals of the Navy, which was in dire
need of the products manufactured
at the plant. When some employees
tried to return to work they were
badly beaten by "goon' squads
Bichard T. Frankensteen, national
C1O leader, said that the local was
largely dominated by Communists"
Walter P. Reutller, another national
CIO official, charged that the West
Allis local was dominated by political
racketeerS Of communist, stripe" The
leadership Of the local has not
changed from that Gay to this The
president Of the local is Harold
Christoffcl. On one occasion in 1910
he said: IF Roosevelt can get his
war ultimatum he will declare the
Nation in state Of war and suspend
ordinary laws. In such q case, there
will be no elections. He will be
President by decree" And on an
other occasion: Behind our backs
the peace and future prosperity of
our land have been bartered for
world empire and the imperial am
bitionS of the lords of Wall Street."
Mr. Christoffel did not change his
tune until after Germany had at
tackled Russia
This case, which went to the War
Labor Board in June of last year,
was investigated with great care and
thoroughness by one of the boards
panels. Every aspect Of the case was
studied with the result that a ma
jority of the panel recommended
against granting any form Of union
security to the local. Under all the
circumstances, the panel majority
said, to grant union maintenance in
this case would irreparably wreck
the basic principle which underlies
labor-management relations - the
principle Of free collective bargain
ing"
But majority of the full board,
after voting first one way and then
another, finally decided to grant
form of union maintenance pat
termed on the so-called Marshall
Field formula. The findings Of fact
and conclusions Of the panel we're
brushed aside Or ignored. In their
place the board substituted the "be-
lief'-nOt based on q showing of
fact-that the clause will materially
assist the parties" in their efforts to
improve labor relations.
This ruling brought an eXtraordi-
narilv sharp dissent from two public
members. Dean Wayne L. Morse and
Dr. Frank P. Graham but 10 dissent
can soften the disturbing fact that
the majority Of the board has seen
fit to extend the protection Of its
security clause to a union with
record Of irresponSbility which has
few if any parallels. It is hardly an
exaggeration to say that the board is
proving to be the worst enemy of its
own formula.