Evening star., 1945-06-21
Hatch, Burton, Ball Bill
Seen Signifying Trend
Both Labor and Capital Seek End
of Federal Rule, Says Writer
BY David Laurence

of Federal Rule, Says Writer
BY David Laurence
Sponsorship of new legislation in the
field Of labor relations by Senators
Hatch, Burton and Ball-a bipartisan
trio with an objective approach to pub
lie policies-is significant development.
Unquestionably the present labor laws
are not contributing to the peaceful set
tlement Of disputes, as had been hoped.
Even the urge of wartime necessity has
not abolished strikes. Friction which is
piling up indicates that the moment war
with Japan is ended there will be an
unprecedented era of labor strife.
To tackle this problem now is the
highest responsibility of statesmanship.
Fortunately there is a recognition on
the part Of labor leaders as well as of
management that Government control
and regulation of labor relations Is
likely to be widened if strikes persist
and industrial bitterness begins to tie
up the Nations peacetime effort to re-
construct our national economy.
Neither Side Likes Clamp.
The desire to remove Government
from the realm of control and to put
management and labor in greater pos
session Of power to settle their own
disputes is recognized on all sides as
basic. Neither management nor labor
has enjoyed the clamp which has been
placed upon them through wartime
needs by the War Labor Board. sys-
tenn wherein the Government decides
issues that should be left to collective
bargaining can only result in buck
passing to the governmental agencies
and then strikes in protest against
Government awards. The record of
the last two years shows that many
strike has been called in defiance Of
a War Labor Board order where the
management had already agreed or
showed a tendency to make the neces-
sary concessions. This has been true
particularly in Government contracts
where the employer shrugged his shoul2
ders and said in effect that he would
grant the pay raise if the Government
wanted to foot the bill.
There obviously must be change
in the whole picture when peace comes
and because the subject is so compile.
1t is eminently desirable that progres<
toward a solution be made right ava
Hence the Hatch-Ball- Burton bill
a starter toward general discussion
One thing will become clear in til
debate. 1t is that the Wagner labc
relations law, while in need of som
clarification, will not be repealed ar
will not be nullifed. The right of CO.
lective bargaining has become imbedde.
in the American system of law and in
dustrial relations. There are some en-
ployers who would repeal that law to-
morrow if they could, but they ar
! much fewer in number than when tho
act was first passed in 1885.
| Today the attitude of industry
that while the Wagner law safeguard,
labor's right to bargain, it immunize
the labor organizations from anv nc :
cesslty Of bargaining in good faith anC
permits abuses of power over the en-
ployes especially in closed shops and in
other compulsory unionization schemes.
No Hasty Action Seen.
Congress will not act too hastily on
these matters but it is significant that
the subject has been brought up fol
action. In the Roosevelt administrsL
ton much ill-will was engendered b.,
the tactics of labor partisans in fore
ing congressional committees to souelch
all amendments. This meant that wide
discretionary powers were left with
Government agencies. In peacetime
Government control of labor unions is
step toward fascism. Labor leaders
would be ill-advised to resist attempts
now being made to broaden present
labor statutes so as to make them bal
anced and impartial, In the end the
cause OF collective bargaining will b.
strengthened thereby. No law which
permits monopoly to any group csr
stand up very long against public opllr-
ion.
Apparently the rivalry between thc
CIO and the AFL has come TO stay. an
hence the employer would not nave tc
suffer because of jurisdictionaal dis
putes between these two organization
There are other problems that need at
tention such as the prevention of stlikc
where electric lights, streetcars anc
other public utilities are concerned. TIL
public interest supersedes the right @.
employers and unions in such instance
The Railway Mediation Act furnishe
an excellent model for legisla tion il.
that field.
But the important thing is that three
prominent Senators, after having given
many months of study, have brought
out plan. There will be other plans
It's healthy sign of the trend towalc
restoration of collective bargaining.
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