Evening star., 1946-02-11
Foct-Finding Reports
Can Let Public judge
Writer Says Strike Post.Mortems
Might Prevent Stoppases

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Writer Says Strike Post.Mortems
Might Prevent Stoppases
By Dapid Laurence
There are two sides to nearly every
controversy and the course of simple
justice is better served when people
generally come to realize that In strikes,
for instance. the provocation must be
very severe to cause union of workers
to tie up vital facilities and subject the
public to great inconvenience.
Just now the public is sick and tired
OF all strikes, and that sentiment un-
doubtedly is reflected In the overwheln-
ing vote Of the House of Representatives
on bill which seeks to limit the right
to strike and make the unions legally
responsible for the fulhllment Of con-
tracts.
But will such measures alone do the
trick? Employers today are alfeady
legally responsible for execution of con-
tracts with the workers but neither
unions nor employers are legally respon-
sible to the public.
Take the case Of utilities, like electrio
light and power, or even the tugboats
which have been tied up in New York
Harbor, causing hardship to schools and
citizens generally who have lacked a
normal fuel and food supply. All the
public knows is that the unions wanted
higher pay and the employers wouldn't
grant the increases. But Is it possible
that some employers didn't think the
unions would dare to tie up traffic and
hence resisted demands which they
otherwise might really be able or might
be compelled to grant If all the facts
were made known?
Can Dare" Unions.
Isn't the employer who operates facil-
tiles necessary to the public really in
better position to refuse workers de-
mands than any one who manages a
competitive enterprise? For in the lat
ter case, the employer will always fear
that his customers may be taken away
from him and his business gobbled up
by competitor. In the case, however,
Of business operating virtual mo-
nopoly. such as streetcars or city buses
or tugboats, doesn't the employer some
times, in effect, dare the unions to call
strike, knowing full well that public
resentment because of interruption of
facilities will rise and react against the
union?
Under such circumstances, there Is
an even greater responsibility on the
shoulders Of employers in this category
of companies than in any other. II
Congress is about to limit the right to
strike in such businesses, 1t must find
some way to bring proper pressure to
bear on those employers who, by con-
tinued refusal to grant wage increases
which they may in part at least be able
to pay, can really beat the strike. Con-
versely, the way must be opened to put
| the finger of blame on the irresponsible
| union leader who misuses the threat to
strike or abuses the actual power In
| ordering a strike
1t doesn't help the solution very much
for the Government merely to seize the
properties and operate them This
doesn't dispose of, but merely post
pones, settlement of the issues. 1t also
makes the working class bitter against
the institution of Government which
uses its physical power to break strike
and deny them pay increases. The an
swer is not to be found in that direction,
simple as 1t may seem to those who
think that all strikes are merely the
Vaccinations of misguided leaders or Of
workers allegedly enslaved by the auto
cratic rules of closed shop or q union
constitution.
Real Remedy for Strikes.
Despite all his mistakes In failing to
exercise vigorous leadership, President
Truman has put his finger on the real
remedy for strikes-the fun disclosure
of all the facts, no matter who dislikes
the publicity involved. 1t is significant
that union and employer groups are
both fighting vehemently the President s
legislative proposals for fact-inding
boards. Unquestionably such boards
could abuse their powers and could be
packed with prejudiced judges, but the
public would in due time take care of
that betrayal of its faith and obtain i'm
partial administration. The President
however, is absolutely right in insisting
that there be fact-finding machinery.
Attention has been focused on fact
finding before strikes occur, but the
facts ought to be investigated as thor
oughly, too, after strikes are settled
The inside story of what has happened
behind the scenes recently in the tug.
boat strike in New York would be a con.
structive piece of fact finding. Post.
mortems have helped medical science
They would aid immeasurably In the
science of curing labor ills.
Suppose the truth about strike that
imperiled the public interest came Out
afterward in the form of report which
had as much authority and credibility
as grand jury report-it is quite con.
ceivable that union leaders and EN-.
ployers. protected nowadays by secrecy
might think twice before again imperil-
ing the public interest with . work
stoppage.
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