The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-02-04
FACING
THE FACTS
With PHILIP PEARL

The American Federation of Labor
is committed to an undertaking effort
to achieve organic labor unity in the
United States. This was made clear
Iby President Green at a press confer
ence in Miami during the mid-winter
session of the Executive Council.
Mr.. Green characterized the final
ratification of the AFL-CIO agreement
to arbitrate jurisdictional disputes in
volving affiliates of the two Organiza-
tiOns as merely first, preliminary
step toward the ultimate goal of merg-
ing the AFL and CIO into a single,
united labor movement.
AS evidence of good faith, the next
step toward peace should be SUP
Elementary agreement ending raiding
by rival unions in the two folds This
was recommended by the Executive
Council as fundamental organizations
al policy. 1t would result in a virtual
truce, or armistice, and unquestiOnably
would promote better feeling. Further
more, when SO many millions of Amer
ican workers still are unOrganiZed it
does not seem sensible for a union
affiliated with either side to attempt
to encroach upon plant or factory or
shipyard where another bona tide
union is already established and has
cOntractual relations with the manage
ment.
The Supreme Objective
Mr. Green emphasized, however, that
this, too, is just another preliminary
step and that the AFL will never relax
it's efforts until the supreme objective
or organic unity is won.
He declined to hazard a prediction
as to when a merger could be accom-
lplished. He pointed out that many
knotty problems and obstacles still re-
main in the path of labor peace But
these difficulties, instead of discour-
aging labor leaders, should inspire
them with an unconquerable deter
mination to keep trying to find work
able solution.
This determination was clearly in
evidence at the AFL council meeting
and it was the motivating principle
behind the councils action. The lead
ers of the AFL were extremely pro-
voked by tine CLOS current raid on
the Kaiser shipyards in the northwest
and by several other unjutifiable at
tacks on established AFL unions, but
they did not let this upsetting situation
deter them from driving forward to-
ward the main objective.
There is no longer any good reason
for divided labor movement in
basic cleavages OF policy or purpose
between the AFL and the CIO. The
fact that the twa organizations have
been able to unite on practically every
major issue arising from the war
emergency proves that.
But there are many reasons why a
divided labor movement can be dan
gerous to the welfare of all union
workers and to the best interests of
the nation. The enemies of labor are
split, but they will never succeed in
denting IA united front.
| More Action, Less Talk
We confess that we'd like to see a
| little more enthusiasm for labor unity
from the CIO leadership. We'd like to
see more action and less lip service
in cementing friendlier relations. We
believe this will be Forthcoming as Il
natural result of the steps toward
peace already taken by the develop
ments that will result when negotia
| ItiOnS are resumed.
Lest anyone get the idea that the
AFL's desire for labor unity springs
! from ii feeling of weakness, we hasten
to cite the latest membership report
made public by Secretary-Treasurer
George Meany at Miami.
This report shows that the dues
Ipaid membership of the AFL at the
close of 1912 was the highest in the
history of the Federation - 5,954 ,434
That represents a gain of more than
a million members in 1912 and gain
of more than three million members
since the ClO went its separate way.
We wonder whether the CIO, which
started with a nucleus of million
former AFL members, has gained
three million dues-paying members
since that time We don't know be
cause the CIO has never made public
IL report on its dues-paid membership,
but we are inclined to doubt whether
it can match the AFL gains.
The fact remains that the AFL is
now the largest labor organization in
the world. Despite that, it is not too
proud to renew it's invitation to those
who left it to return and find Il hearty
WELCOME awaiting them.
NEGRO WORKERS INVITED
| M STTN UINInN