The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-04-13
Industridlists Are Split On
Union-Busting Amendment
Fear Measure Might Endun
ger Republican Control
In Nutionul Elections

San Francisco tfID.-lne he campaign
of anti-labor big businessmen for Il
on-de>tructive right To employ
ment" amendment in California is not
only being fought by the entire labor
movement but threatenes to split the
ranks of the induStrialistS themselves.
In certain reactionary circles it Is
feared that the amendment might en-
danger Republican control of the state
in the national elections. They feel it
is not worthwhile 10 take this risk for
a state union muZZle when by Il Re
publican victory in the elections they
could destroy organized labor on a
nationwide scale.
The amendment. which would de-
stroy the right of collective bargain
ing and make Il large part of union
contracts Illegal was born at Il secret
meeting in Los Angeles called by the
Merchants & Manufacturers ASSOcia-
ton and other anti-labOr interests link
ed with the COP. 1t reached San Fran
cisco when an organization calling
itself CalifOrnianS Inc, opened an office
and announced it would pay lie each
for signatures on Il petition To put lhe
right to employment amendment on
the ballot.
Warning that this disguised union
busting measure would destroy the
wartime unity of labor and manage
ment. the California Federation of La
Dor and the San Francisco Go began
Immediately To contact industrialiStS
to discover the extent of employer sup
port.
First hint of the rift was a comment
by the sponsor of the amendment, Re
publican State ASSemblyman John \.
Knight I'VE started the petition drive
down south where it is going biz. They
know how to handle labor down there.
San Francisco employers are afraid.
They try to work with labor
This was confirmed when President
\. w. EameS of the California Pack
ing Corp, leader of the northern Cali
fornia section of the National ASSOcia-
tion of Manufacturers, revealed that
he considered promotion of such Il
measure at this time ~ very serious
bunder."
II am not unSympathetic to it or Ia
the intent of it," he said. but tn,
whole trend is toward government con
troll of labor unions aS seen by the
passage of the Smith-connally bill
With the control of the unions coming
that way, it is foolish TO start II biz
embodiment between labor and man
agement in this election year when tn,
most important thing is the one issue
of carrying California for the Repub
lican party.
The NAM is not behind this inilia
tive as Il body. The Merchants x Manu-
facturerS Association went into j
without consulting anyone. We are no
opposed to the initiative - but their
timing is terrible. There is only on,
issue this y"Hr-thc election
The Los Angeles Industrial InioI
Council revealed that not all cn
ployers in that city We're for The
amendment and that "enlighlonet
management has publicly spoken on
against it, Employer groups an,
newspapers in the state are awakening
would HAY" on war production, lli'
state AEL reported in its weekly news
letter, appealing to all irresponsible
employers and citizens" To disown tn,
campaign.
Declaring that many individual cm
plOycrS are cooperating with unions il
the interest of wartime unity, Socrc
tary Paul SChuur Of the san Fran
cisco tID said: "Thc launching of lhiS
vicious anti-union drive would MAX,
some of this cooperation appear To b,
lip service only =. We intend To have
an accounting. Those who support ih,
continued cooperation of labor Hn,
management will be asked To speak III
in opposition to the amendment 'lhoS,
who are for wr"cking. unity will b,
exposed
10 dupc people into signing the pcti
tions, NINA minionS promise th,
amendment will insure jobs 10 return
Ing veterans by outIawng closed shops
The At'L accuses the NINA of prrury
because of its misrepresentation Of TN,
purpose of its amendment.