The union times., 1944-05-27
Workers Answer
 Sur On Record
WEB Official Says Production Record Of Organized Labor Is Thrilling -No-Strike Pledge Has Been
 Kept "99.44 Per Cent Pure'

The union label could be put on 85 per cent of all weapons now in the hands of "CI JOes", WPB Vice-Chair- man Joseph D. Keenan said in an address to the Seventh Semi-Annual Convention of the Union Labor Trades De partment of the state of New York this week.
 "Eighty-fve per cent of the engines of destruction that have been produced in this country for the glObal fighting fronts have come from the plants having union con- tracts," he told the meeting.
 Tt is production record that IS thrilling to all Americans ex- cept those who harbor the feel ing that organized labor has not kept its no-strike pledge = pledge that, after two years of a very drastic economic upheaval IS now 9944 per cent pure," keenan added.
 Labor's excellent ord, keenan said, is being challenged by schedules calling for the pro duction rate for most critical material to rise 25 per cent by the end of this year. Meeting this goal, he asserted, will tax the resourcefulness of both labor and management.
 The cooperation of labor and management has been of inestim- able value in the war effort" Kee- nan said. '"Their resOurcefuIness has paid handsome dividends in war production figures. The imple- ments of cooperation and coIIabO- ration forged in the fires of war should be the instruments in our hands for the building of a better world upon the defeat of Germany and Japan.''
 The nation must at this time shape the plans for the welfare of all Americans after the crushing blow has been delivered on the battlefelds, he said. We must not in the years to come repeat the failure of our 'can't-happen-to-us' years. We must see that free nation requires fore sight and understanding of world forces, of world economy, of the fact that no man and no nation can afford in the twentieth century to ignore the welfare of other men and other nations.
 ''TO await the end of hOstilities before planning for a return to a peace economy is certain to bring chaos and disunity. The glory of victory must not be shrouded in a fog of uncertainty. We will fail, indeed, if we win a victory, only to let our people, through absence of action, sink into weakness and despair.''
 Finding solution to the problem of maintenance of maximum levels of production and employment is one of the first and major steps, Keenan advised.
 Tt is the feeling of many within labor and industry" he said, "that only by raising the stand ards of living can maximum levels of production and employment be main tained."
 Keenan recalled to his audience that America's war leaders have said that the attack will be Gre lentless and increasing" To keep it so, he said, calls for grueIling labor in America's war plants. The higher production schedules must be met. ''We certainly will not meet Lhem if workers keep shopping around for lighter, easier wOrk,'' g he argued. ''It behOOves labor lead CTS to help stop this turnover.
 ''The battle tasks ahead call for further sacrifice, not only from hose who wear uniforms of our Army and Navy, but from each one of us on the production front. The job you have done SO far has been And America is confi- lent that the days ahead will be glOrified further by new and more tremendous production triumphs