The union times. (New Haven, Conn.) 1941-1948, 1944-02-05
Executive Council
Of ALL. Opposes
Drafting of Labor
Substitution Of Compulson For System Of Free Labor
Is At Conflict With Our War Aims Conflict Between
Proposed Law And Production Record Cited

Urgent kilograms have been sent
to all members of Congress by
ALL. President William Green
containing the text of a strongly
worded resolution, unanimously
adopted by the Executive Council,
which condemned the proposal for
a National Service Act as ''unneces-
sary and unwise."
The council charged that such
a law, which would introduce COM
pulsory labor in America for the
first time, was suggested by Presi-
dent Roosevelt ON the mistaken
premise" that it would prevent
strikes.
mo man-made law will prevent
strikes so long as the unjust con-
ditions which provoke strikes are al
lowed to remain in force" the coun-
Gil declared. "The way to end strikes
is to give workers fair play"
The text of the resolution follows i:
'sThe American Federation of
Labor has consistently supported
every sound measure designed to
win the war in the shortest possible
time. Unlike other groups, whose
opposition to Nazism and Fascism
is of recent and belated origin, the
American Federation of Labor from
the very beginning vigorously and
uncompromisingly denounced to-
taIitarian dictatorship and recog-
nized its basic hostility to democ-
racy. Labor's war against Nazi and
Japanese aggression was declared
long before Pearl Harbor and II
has been carried on unremittingly
ever since.
Because speedy victory is its No.
/. objective, the American Federation
of Labor has voluntarily submitted to
various wartime controls and con-
siderable government RECOMMENDATION
of vital matters normally left to the
sphere of economic determination and
collective bargaining-such as terms
of employment, working conditions
and wages.
ssThe one thing the American
Federation of Labor has not sur
rendered and never will surrender
is the basic freedom of American
workers. Fundamentally, this is a
war between freedom and slavery,
a war of free workers against slave
workers. We believe that in free
dom there is strength. The amaz-
ing speed with which free Ameri.
can workers have won the battle
of war production against the en-
envy within two years upholds the
truth of that principle.
ct is now proposed to substitute
compulsory labor for Our traditional
system of free labor through the en-
actment of a National Service law.
seThe Executive Council has Civ
en- calm and careful consideration
to this proposal. We are convinced
that it is based on a mistaken prem
ise-the premise that National
Service Act. which would introduce
compulsory labor i'm America for
the first time i'm history, would pre-
vent strikes.
"The experience of other countries
notably Great Britain that
a National Service Law does not pre-
vent strikes. There have been more
strikes proportionately in Great Brit
ain in the past two years than in the
United States. The laws of nature
are superior to the laws of man. It
is a law of nature that human beings
will rebel against injustice. No man
made law will prevent strikes so long
as the unjust conditions which pro-
woke strikes are allowed to remain
in force. The way to end strikes is
to give workers fair play.
ssThe record shows that the great
majority of American workers has
remained steadfastly on the job
since Pearl Harbor. Are we to pun
ish them and jeopardize the splen-
did production achievements they
have made just because small mi
nority has proved less dependable?
"Only two months ago, the leading
representatives of American indus
try, agriculture and labor joined in
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