Evening star., 1945-12-01

floor of the conference, after earlier
defeats on the subject in the Ex-
ecutiye Committee. Mr.. Murray
submitted resolution calling on
the conference to approve the prin-
ciple Of "substantiar wage increases
ito cushion the shock to our work
ers, to sustain adequate purchasing
power and to raise the national in
come"
Says Leadership Needed.
ut is not enough for the repre-
sentatives of labor and manage
ment to simply state that the ques-
ton of wages should be referred to
collective bargaining without pro-
viding through the medium of this
conference some guidance or de-
claration of principles regarding the
overall problem of wages" he as
serted.
There Is no real, constructive
collective bargaining going on in
America. 1t is the bounden re.
sponsibility of this labor manage
ment conference to lend encourage
ment to constructive collective bar
gaining, to provide leadership and
give the people hope that peace may
well reign in American industry"
The CIO leader vigorously denied
that his resolution represented ar
attempt ito pull Mr.. Murray's chest
nuts out of the fire with regard tc
the United Automobile Workers
Union and the Steelworkers." The
UAW currently is engaged in a
strike against General Motors ir
support OF its demand for a 80 pei
cent wage increase, while the Steel.
workers Union headed by Mr.. Muir
ray has authorized strike in sup
port of its request for a $2-a-day
pay boost.
After a 45-minute address by the
CIO president. the AFL. UNIV and
Railroad Brotherhood delegates eau.
cused on the wage issue. AFL Pres.
ident William Green then presented
an amendment to Mr.. Murray's
resolution which urged the confer.
ence to go on record to the effect
that at is of the first and utmost
Importance that general wage in.
creases be granted Immediately
Previously Mr.. Murray's rival labor
colleagues had taken the stand thai
the wage issue should be left to in.
dividual bargaining at the plant ane
industry level.
Raps Murray for Absence.
Mr.. Green accused Mr.. Murray ol
being ION strike" by his failure t.
attend the sessions of a subcom.
mittee which had been given the jot
Of seeking compromise wage reso.
luton. The AFL president told thu
delegates that IF Mr.. Murray hae
served, he could have had his reso.
luton considered-but his voice wa.
silent; he wasn't there"
Every representative OF labol
organization is champion of higher
wages" Mr.. Green added. "Th,
American Federation of Labor i
mobilizing all its financial strength
in support of the demands of ou,
membership for higher and still
higher wages. The organizations
am speaking for now are going tt
carry on an uncompromising figh
for increases in wages"
In presenting management's view
point, Mr.. Mosher declared to labo
that you've got the cart before tn
horse"
Business wants higher wage
consistent with production" he said
"You have got to get production
first. Nothing is available out o
this national economy that doesn'
come from production. The recon
version program won't roll any
where except downhill If we don
60 to work together"
Mr.. Mosher replied to Mr.. Muir
rays charges on the lack of rea
collective bargaining with the state
ment that collective bargaining
yours for the asking de
manding Is not to be had from any
body"