The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-05-25
Representatives OF All Or
gonized Workers Attend
Hearing In Washington
DECISION SOON
Added Scope For Employers
Would Create More Dis
order misunderstanding

Washington CFP).-In the greatest
display of Il united. labor position since
1897. representatives of all organized
workers joined May 10 in resisting Il
proposal by the NLRB that it amend
its rules to permit filing of election
petitions by employers as requested by
the National Association of Manufac-
turers.
Joining hands with the national
AFL and CIO in the determined battle
against overturning the historic posi-
ton of the NLRB on employer petl-
tions were the unaiiilated National
Federation of Telephone Workers the
Confederated Unions of America as
well as the United Mine Workers, Dis
trict 30
The proposed rule would allow en-
ployers To call for an election If only !
union was involved i'm the case and the
employer believed there was n reason
able doubt the union still represented
"A majority of his workers. The rule
would apply when dispute has
reached another federal agency. Al
though the NLRB said it was intended
to apply to WLB cases. as written it
would apply to any L. :. agency-the
WMC or the FEPC.
Leadoff man at the hearing was
Go President Philip Murray who said
''the imposition of this rule would
create more disorder, confusion, mis-
understanding and lead to more
strikes than anything since the ere
alton of this board. II invites terror,
invites disorder, invites fights. 1t IS
damaging TO the interest of the nation
and to the nations war effort.
This rule would give the employer
the right to harass the union. Leaders
of American Labor have enough harass-
ment already. Please don't take adj
vantage of us. Please don't throw rs
into national organizing crusade in
the midst of terrible war
Quickly following Murray were
President H. J. Thomas of the United
Auto Workers (CIO) and President
Emil Rieve OF the Textile Workers
tCIO). Thomas suggested that If the
rule was adopted the NI.lsB shoum'
changt Its name To the National Mans
agement Relations Board. -
Rieye said that under the rule
every union must be prepared to con
duct an organizing campaign at the
end of every contract" but that If the
union chose not to seek improved con-
tract conditions and froze its stand
ards, the employer wouldn't bother 10
seek an election. So, he argued, it puts
Il premium on n poor union. Some
people he said, want to see an elec-
tion of union representatives every
year, and this Is what the rule would
do.
For the AL. Herbert $. Thatcher,
associate general counsel was the first
witness He agreed with the previous
witnesses and said the At'L was
primarily concerned with the effect
on the war effort" Thatcher said the
rule was bound 10 precipltate juris-
dictional differences. We are 1000 op-
posed To it-all AFL unions"
Another AFL attorney Robert VIII
son, said the employers would use
the rule 10 avoid collective bargain
ing" while Attorney Joseph Nj. Jacobs,
representing the Upholsters intema-
tional Union (AfL) said Use of the
rule would mean the establishment of
n maintenance of no membership
clauses"
President i. A. Beirne of the Ma
tional Federation of Telephone Work
ers agreed that tile rule would zen
courage adversely and would give an
other technique 10 management TO
cause delays
Appearing for the rule was MANS
general counsel, Il. s. Smethurst, who
said NAM felt the "NLRB should be
available To both parties" He admitted
many companies were under court or
dcrs TO bargain and that without this
rule they couldn't stall negotiations If
they believed the union was weak.
CIO General Counsel Lee presslnan
wound mp IN rebuttal, making the point
that nowhere did the NAM offer 90
show "how the rule would Improve the
war effort, while we said If you put
in the rule il would disturb produc-
ton" pressman warned the NLl,B
that IL lacked the funds To handle the
thousands OF investigations and elec-
tions that would follow adoption of
the rule.
4 decision viii be made by the
NLRB soon.