The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-27

Independents. Though these groups get together in various comhina- tions for specific purposes. general unification of the labor movement in 6 common front seems to be making no progress whatever. A postwar economic setback might provide impetus for bringing them closer. Tn the meantime, lack of organic unity provides comfort and strength for other elements of the population which may have cause to fear the growing power of organ ized labor.
 LABOR'S POWERFUL LOBBIES
 The need for a Department of Labor to serve as labor's spokesman m the halls of government has ceased to exist. Organized labor it. self is interested and active in every phase of government activity. The labor Hobbies are as powerful as any pressure groups ever established in Washington by industrial groups.
 Both A. F. of L., and c. l. O., and the Railway Brotherhoods to 8 lesser degree, have complete legisla- tive programs. U. M w. goes after the things that affect the coal indus try, but the other three have in- terests as broad as the nationa! economy, covering education, taxes. racial discrimination, appropria- tions.
 Practically no proposal comes up in Congress, practically no order is issued by an executive agency without drawing some comment of endorsement or disapproval from A. F. of L. President Bill Green or c. I. O. President Phil Murray.
 Union officials sit on many war agency advisory groups. Union rep resentatives sit on the National War Labor Board, passing judg- ment on its own controversies though not always winning major ity decisions to labor's liking.
 The federal government, has be- come so thoroughly saturated with the organized labor pointt of view tha tanti-labor forces Have in many instances turned to the state legislatures to enact curbsl on labor activities. In turn, the labor organ izationS are showing 8 greater in- terest in state and local govern ment.
 Activities of the c. I. O. Political Action Committee are well known to everyone who showed any in- terest at all in the last national elections. While openly opposed by leaders of the other big labor groups the P. A. c. program was unques. tionably followed by many rank and file members of those other groups. DICTATORSHIP CHARGES
 Many labor policy desicisions on both international and national af- fairs are made by labor leaders and executive committees before refer ence to union membership. This had led to charges of dictatorship of the rank and file by its hier- archy. If such dictatorship exists, 1t can be viewed as a healthy thing in attempts to enforce such deci- sions as the "no-strike pledge" It can be viewed with alarm if 1t sup presses the freedom of thought or action of the rank and file.
 Among the debatable major oh- jectives of the labor movement, these trends are worth watching:
 Postwar full employment and in creased social security. More and better public housing. Broader pub- lie health measures, including health insurance, disqualification and even socialized medicine. Roy alties on production to provide worker benefits.
 Increased minimum wage and guaranteed annual wage. More maintenance of membership and closed shop agreements. Elimina- tion of geographic wage differen- tials, leading to more national bar gaining on an industry basis. Or ganization of foremen and super visors. More labor-management CO., operation in war production, per- haps leading to greater labor parti- cipation in management.
 Add 1t all up and what have you?