The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1945-02-01
UNION FIGHTS FOR LABOR PRINCIPLE

THE INTERNATIONAL Hod Carriers, Building
and Common Laborers' Union of America is
low engaged in fighting for principle that is
)aslc to the continued existence of the American
1 abOr movement in it's established form. The same
j principle might be extended to any kind Of organ
zatlon that has affiliated local autonomous
branches, like civic clubs, lodges, church groups
)r even government itself.
/ In Washington, it appears that local official
! IF local union, Laborers No. IA, "cut some cor
ners, resulting in charges against him and some
i ocal associates involving violation of a federal
liquor tax law and the misuse of local union funds
With considerable fanfare and possibly some help
from small opposition group within the local
assisted by attorney, the District Attorney fol-
The District OF Columbia succeeded temporarily at
east in placing his own Interpretation on what a
relationship between international and local unions
should be- Besides the individual direct-charge
indictments against local officials, he secured an
overall conspiracy" Indictment, involving sew
era people, including the president, the secretary
treasurer and a representative of the Laborers'
international.
This Conspiracy" Indictment is entirely mega
Itive-that is, it does not charge the commission
of any crime, but infers that it was the duty of
the international to prevent the irregularities
charged to officers of the autonomous local union |!
How could the internatiOnal-or any interna-
tiona-"prevent something of which it had no
knowledge? But the records show this interna-
tiona did act promptly and effectively just as soon
Under such Interpretation, expressed in the
indictment, international officers of any labor
union would be held responsible for violation of
law or of union constitutions, locally, by local
union officers!
Counsel for the Laborers' international con-
tends (and the point is well understood through
out the labor movement), that the local union,
while affiliated, are autonomous local bodies andl
no such Interpretation can be properly placed onI
officers Unless proper charges of
constitutional violation are filed with the inter-
national on appeal, such matters rest solely with
in the jurisdiction of the local union. Any charged
must first be filed with the local union secretary,
under the Laborers constitution then appealed, i'll
desired, unless the local is under direct interna-
tional supervision. In this case, the internationa
took over supervision of Local IA soon as it
heard of alleged Irregularities the International
president himself placed charges against the local
officers and they were tried before the unions
general executive board.
If the conspiracy" indictments against the
Laborers' international officers should be allowed
TO prevail, it would mean the virtual elimination
If Independent autonomous local unions affiliated
with internationas-not only the LaborerS, but
others as well. For, in sef-defense the interna-
Iionals would have to take direct charge OF the
details of all operations of local groups
However, both law and custom have recognized
yhe existing Set-up of unions in the Americana
abor movement. Also, international constitutions
ire recognized the rules governing the conduct
If the international in its relation with local
Inions.
Simple logic demands that superior officers
cannot be held responsible for acts of officers of
subordinate local autonomous bodies; especially
when the superior officers have no knowledge of
my wrongdoing by local officers. In this case,
conduct of the international appears to be strictly
n accordance with the unions constitutional re-
luirements.
This fight is bascally for an established labor|(
principle Therefore, it is hoped the Laborers'
International will proceed with this case to sue
essfu conclusion, not only for the protection Of
is own interests but as well in the interest of the
ntire American labor movement