The Omaha guide., 1945-04-21

motions Unfortunately because Of
my race, color. or creed"
We admit hat seniority is only
a step in organized labor's social
security program, as workers have
suffered from chronological unem-
ployment, seasonal and clical idle
ness, lack of an adequate health in
a program and other causes
OF insecurity. These causes in the
main are beyond the scope of union
management relations It the level
of the individual productive unit or
competitive company, and require
the concerted action of
ment, government and organized
labor on an industry-wide and ma
tionaI basis.
owevers seniority lis a founda-
ton that has been firmly laid and
accepted method of administering
union contracts fairly wnen equit-
ably carried out. If seniority pr:n-
ciples are not equitably and justly
applied. the remedy is to make il
work. not destroy the vehicle which
is the prime guarantee against dis
elimination within industry which
is government by labor-industry
contracts. XVI
Eliminates avOritism
To summarize seniority. it is a
set of rules designed to give work
ers prior claim to a job over others
with fewer years of continued
service, provided they fulfill the
requirements. 1t is the only e.
quitable method, proved practical
of administration, to eliminate law
oritism and discrimination among
a group Of workers.
The arbitrary decision of manage
ment is replaced with a set Of rul-
es. The human element--prejudice.
inclination to favor one bndivid-
ual over another for intangible or
other reasons-in governing the re
lations Of a group of workers with
one another and with management
is reduced t GA minimum.
The dangers inherent in any type
of proposal to relax the seniority
provision should be readily appar-
ent. We have to make a start in
balancing the scales of justice in
favor of the Negro and woman wor-
ker. Seniority. justly administered,
is the best guarantee hat we have
fashioned up to date. 1t would dc
much to destroy the progress that
has bee made oward interracial
unity by the Go since it's ineep-
ton.
The large group of whites who
subscribe to the principles Of the
Go and have exerted every effort
to remove unfair and discriminat-
DRY practices from American in
dustry. and who would be unfairly
displaced as a result Of relaxation
of the seniority principle, would be
come not only anti-Negro and anti
woman. but also anti-union. Re
Taxation of the seniority principles
would also serve to transfer the
burden Of discriminatory hiring pol
icies Of management to the labor
movement, where it does not belong
Debate Mt Convention
The question Of relaxation az
seniority principles was fully de-
bated in the last convention Of the
United transport Service Employ
ees Of America. This Information
al passed a clearcut resolution w
the effect that it considered sen
iOrftv rich thSfa cnrparvtrru
ganized abor n indicated its
wholehearted opposition to any
plan or scheme which would main
tain any worker, group of workers
or race Of workers on the Job by All
abridgement of the ndament
principles Of seniority. The United
Federal Workers or America meet
ing in convention in October 1914 J
likewise voted down a III
relax or change the seniority rules
clio United Auto workers
The CIO United Auto WORKERS
called a conference of women wor-
kers in Detroit, Mich. on December
3. 1914. At this conference this
question was considered and dis
cussed n all proposals that would
serve to relax or compromise H.
seniority provision in favor Of wom-
Ell or any minority group was over
whelmingly turned down. The con
ference passed a resolution to the
effect hat the international execu-
tive board should review all JAW
Go contracts from the standpoint
Of helping local unions To elimin-
ate clauses proved discriminatory
to women and improve future con-
tracts so that all discriminatory con
tract clauses governing promotion.
~upgrading, transfer. lay-off and re-