Evening star., 1944-05-03
Clio Opposes NLRB
Order 10 Speed Vote
AT Montgomery Ward
Ruling on Presidents.
Powers Due Monday;
Congress Pushes Probes

A new controversy was on tap
in the Montgomery Ward case
today, with CIO upion leaders
at the Government-controlled
plant in Chicago expressing dis
approval of the seven-day limit
fixed by the National Labor Re-
lations Board for holding an
election to determine if a ma
jority of employees in the mail
order establishment desire to be
represented by the union.
The representation issue precipi-
tated the trouble which led to Gov
ernment seizure of Montgomery
Ward last week, the company con-
tending the CIO no longer had
majority. The Labor Relations
Board yesterday ordered the election
to decide this point.
The union wants the election de-.
layed three weeks.
Court Ruling Due Monday.
Meanwhile, the legal fight over
the right of the President to order
seizure of the property ended in
Federal Court in Chicago with
Judge William H. Holly announcing
that he would give his decision next
Monday. In addition, plans went
forward here for separate Senate
and House investigations of the
matter, as demands echoed in Con-
gress for legislative restrictions
against such confiscations.
The Associated Press reported
that spokesmen>for the United Mail
Order. Warehouse and Retail En-
ployes said the Labor Relations
Board order directing the election
within seven days was contrary" to
the boards practice of allowing at
least 21 days to prepare for the
ballot.
21-Day Delay Sought.
Leonard Levy, international vice
president of the union, said he will
ask that the collective bargaining
election be postponed at least 81
days
This is the dirtiest deal the NLRB
ever dished out to labor" declared
Miss Myrna Siegendorf, publicity di-
rector for Local 20 of the union. "Of
course, We'll protest. There's a reign
OF terror at the plant right now. Al
though the Government has taken
over, the union contract has not
been extended, discharged strikers
have not been reinstated, grievances
have not been settled.
ITO hold an election on such short
notice and in such an atmosphere is
ridiculous, an utter violation of all
NLRB precedents."
Francis Heisler, union attorney.
asserted there had been an oral
understanding, after hearing here
by an NLRB trial examiner, that the
election would not be ordered before
May 81 or later than June 7.
Contrary to All Rules"
"a decision from the board in
such short time is unbelievable. +"
Mr.. Heisler said. 1T is contrary to
all rules and is not conducive to
fair determination of the issue"
George j. Bott, NLRB regional
director, who will be in charge of
the ballot, announced he will meet
with union and company officials
to arrange details. approximately
5000 employees may be eligible to
vote and will ballot in two units.
One will include employees in the
mail-order house, the retail store
and warehouse, the other will in
clude certain employees on the ad-
ministrative payroll, but excluding
office workers. The union wanted
all employees to vote as a unit. The
company sought four groupings.
The company, at expiration of its
contract with the union last De-
cember 8, had refused to renew the
pact, contending the CIO affiliate
did not represent a majority.
. Biddle, Avery to Be Called.
On the congressional front, a SEN
ate judiciary subcommittee headed
by Senator McCarran, Democrat. of
Nevada arranged an initial meet
ing today and announced ATTORNEY
General Biddle and Ward Chair
man Sewell Avery would be among
witnesses called for public hearings
starting next week.
In the House leaders cleared the
way for vote tomorrow or Friday
on resolution that would set up a
special seVen-member committee to
conduct a concurrent inquiry.
Administration spokesmen con-
ceded it would get overwhelming
approval.
Pointing up angry speeches on the
(See MONTGOMERY WARD, A-16.)