Evening star., 1943-04-07
Monpower
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MonpoWer
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and declared that if management
gave us a fair DEAL he would not
now be in Washington.
Calls for Square Deal.
1--WE are not getting square
deal he said. We are not getting
what the men under us are making
One of our men made $4,000 last
year. and that was $500 or S700 more
than the foremen make We fore
men don't like to see the men under
us make more than We do."
Mr.. Stafford testified his pay
check amounted to S65 week, but
that some of the unionized men
under him who have Just gone up
in the ranks are collecting a TOP
pay of S6750.
Mr.. Stafford admitted that morale
of shop foremen was low" until All
organization was formed to act as
spokesman for them on salary
and other questions.
"If you go alone and demand a
raise" he declared, nothing ever
happens
And in conclusion, he said:
IF the Smith bill is passed, We
foremen will be the forgotten men
of labor. Ard I'll be fired for hav-
ing anything to do with it.
Sees Unions Destroyed.
Lee Pressman. general counsel of
the Congress of Industrial Organiza :
tons. earlier told the committee that
legislation it has under considera-
ton to control labor would not
ACHIEVE its purported goal of pro-
viding for the maximum utilization
Of Americas S manpower. but would
destroy /. collective bargaining and
trade unions.
Mr.. Pressman was the first wit
ness heard in opposition to the
legislation, which has been advo-
Gated by representatives. of war
industries.
He charged that the bill very
clearly expresses the viewpoint that
collective bargaining is not demo-
cratic institution and one to be en-
couraged. but rather is an institu-
ton that must be destroyed"
Foremen's Unions Defended
ITO this view he added the
CIO and every democratic- minded
individual must take exception and
oppose most vehemently This bill
is not directed toward achieving the
maximum utilization of manpoWer,
put is simply and solely bill to de-
stroy collective bargaining and trade
unions.
Mr.. Pressman also aimed bar
rage at the Smith bill provision to
prohibit supervisory employees from
joining labor union.
"Practicallv all of the important
unions in the C1O do not accept
into membership into their local
unions, supervisory employees" he
declared. However. we believe that
1t should be the right of any emplove
-. to join with his fellow employees
into an organization if he chooses
to do so
To lay down fat rule by Con-
Eress that no supervisory employees
may belong to organizations of their
own choosing for the purpose of
engaging in collective bargaining
with their employer would simply
constitute a Fascist dictate which
might we'll be the forerunner to
similar legislation for other en-
ployes.
Would Leave Issue Up to NLRB.
To all who are not determined to
start on the path of emasculating
the National Labor Relations Act, it
would seem that this type Of issue is
one that must be left to the admin
istrative determination of the Ma
tional LABOR Relations Board
Mr.. Pressman also opposed other
provisions of the Smith bill and
other legislation to effect the induc-
ton of men who strike and to SUBJ
iect them to criminal penalties. Then
he asked:
Why, when labor is SO occupied
trying TO make its greatest contri-
button toward winning the war be-
cause it understands the issues in
volved probably more than any other
group in our society. do We have all
this marrying and attacks? Does
any one believe that through such
procedure they are making a con-
tribution toward The war;
Chairman May set aside the entire
day to hear the OBJECTIONS Of rep
resentatives of organized foremen
in industrial operations. principally
in the Detroit area. Most Of them
asked to be heard in opposition &c
some of the country's leading indus
trialists who have charged that man.
power waste would result II the
unionization of foremen is sue
cessful.
The committee yesterday opened
hearings on the Austin -Wadsworth
national service bill under which all
able bodied men and women would
be made available tor assignment to
occupations in which their services
are needed Representative Wads-
worth. Republican, of New York, CO.
author of the legislation. was the
only witness. He contended the
legislation is necessary to obtain the
fullest use of rlanpower and to
shorten the war.
Hearings on this bill will be
resumed tomorrow with represent
atives of the American Legion as
the principal witnesses. Next week
Undersecretary OF War Patterson
and officials OF the Maritime Com
mission will testify.