The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-12-07
OUR FREE LABOR MOVEMENT

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THE BASIC difference between workers living
in democracy and workers under an author
5arlan government is our freedom to join unions
Of our own choosing and collectively to contro
these unions to promote our interests and welfare
j In order that unions shall thus serve their
membership they must be organized in conform
! ty with the following principles:
/ The union must have the right to stipulate
qualifications required for membership to decide
terms and conditions for maintaining member
ship, and to agree on methods of maintaining
discipline.
Membership in unions must be kept voluntary
so that application for that privilege will grow
out of decisions by individuals that they want to
identify themselves with the union way of life.
The philosophy of this way of life is collective
action by those concerned to promote their work
interests and to protect themselves against in
Justice or, some have expressed it, zone for all
and all for one" 1t is practical way of being
our brothers keeper
Though union has a theoretical and legal
right to require whatever qualification it may
wish, it is limited by what is practical and by an
overall moral responsibility to the union, the in
dustry and the community. The level of achieve
ment which the union may reach will depend upon
the understanding, experience and sense of re-
sponsibility of it's membership and it's officials
It's progress will depend upon the methods OF
education.
Local unions will increase their power and
effectiveness by affiliation with the national or
ganization having jurisdiction over its work. Such
affation will necesstate conformity with rules
and requirements OF the national organization,
but there will be representation for all unions In
determining those standards. Each national union
is assured elf-government with majority rule and
will in turn voluntarily conform to the regulations
of the national federation which it may elect to
join in order to benefit by united action by all
workers.
Federatons of local unions for community andI
state action must carefully refrain from infring-
ing on the rights of both local unions and theirI
and must follow the policies OF thel
national federation.
The organized structure of our free tradel
union develops body of union law and prece-
dents quite independently OF the law of the land,
but not in conflict with it. Should a union member
or official transgress the law of the land he is
liable to action through the courts. But union
government, which is the effective work govern
ment in the lives of millions of workers, should
remain voluntary structure with lexlbllty to
adjust to industrial changes. 1t is thus fitting
agency within free enterprise.
1t must remain free agency if the workers
it serves are to retain the right to take job of
their own choosing and the right to leave that
job when that course best promotes their inter-
ests
The success of this type of organization de-
pends upon voluntary respect for the rights of
other unions as a condition for maintaining indi-
vidual rights
As we have frel eluently pointed out the Nazis
sured their control by seizng the free unions and
them into a Labor Front affiliated
% their party. Ar alliance between unions and
political parties is dangerous at any time because
t facilitates political control unions More
,reedom-not regulation by others-will develop
he character and the responsibility which guar
lntees maintainance of freedom.
The free labor movement must be unfetteredI
~ legislative regulations which would control
lnion operation and it must be free from alliance
With political parties which seek control Of politi-
al offices. ,
Union concern with government is to get the
necessary basic legislation and its effective ad-
ninistration. Union concern with administrative
officials is to assure understanding and effective
of labor laws and service. For all
'ther political purposes we act as citizens OF
democracy. =