The union times., 1947-07-12

Council.
 They listed these developments:
 DEVELOPMENTS
 l. It has yet to be determined . whether the building trades unions in Connecticut come under the Taft-Hartley Bill. Until that deter animation is made, it is vitally inn pOrtant that all unions avoid juris- dictional disputes, and secondary boycotts, or any breach of agree ments.
 2. A majority of the building contractors in Connecticut want no part of the Taft-Hartley Law. There may be ''wild man. here and there who has been sharpening his razor, waiting for chance to 'get at" labor, but these are in the mi nOrity.
 3. Avoid signing any contracts with 'sno-strike" clauses, because of the provision for damage suits on breach of contract in the law.
 As to breach of contract; the law subjects unions to immediate damage suits in the federal courts. Accord ingly, and for the further reason that the ability of unions to police their agreements by disciplining employees engaging in wildcat strikes has been virtually destroyed under the new law, it is suggested that unions here after refrain from agreeing to no- strike clauses in collective bargaining agreements. This advice is given re- luctantly, but the restrictions placed upon labor organizations under the new law leaves no alternative"
 CLOSED SHOP
 Regarding closed shop, union shop and maintenance of membership clauses in existing agreements, all are valid if signed before June g, 1o47, even if they have two, three or more years to run. However, if contracts are renewed, extended Automatically or otherwise) after Aug. g, 1o47, the union security clause therein is voided.
 New contracts with closed shop or other union security clauses may \ be freely negotiated until Aug. 22, l947, when the Taft-Hartley acts clauses on them become operative, but they can run for only one year.
 Check-Off agreements are good until they expire or UNTIL July l, l948, whichever occurs first. There can be no extension of the check off after June 2, l947. After June g individual authorizations are re- quired for all agreements whether new, extensions, re0penings or re- newals. The automatic check-Off is rendered unlawful after June B, subjecting the parties to a $1O, 1000 fine and injunctions.
 On the issue of serving notice on employers of termination or modih- cation of contracts, the law requires 60 days notice prior to the expiration of the agreement, or 60 days prior to the time it is proposed to terminate or modify contract without fixed termination date.
 NOTICE PENALTY
 Failure to give notices to the fed eral and state mediation and concilia- ton agencies within 30 days after the notice was given to the. employer if no agreement is reached will subject the union to being charged with an un- fair labor practice. A strike during the 60-day period causes every striker to lose his status as an employe.
 1v,so1c xxy,fb within 59 days after Aug. g, 1o47, are advised to file the notices anyhow to be on the safe side. This does not apply, however, to contracts expiring before Aug 22.
 The AFL has announced that be- cause of the terms of the law, there is no need of filing the reports and affidavits required by the act until Aug. 22 Further information on this phase will be provided in bulletins to be issued by the A.FL. and the inter- nationals.
 ROURKE REPORTS
 Joseph M. Rourke, secretary. treasurer of the Connecticut Fed. eration of Labor, appeared before the meeting of the building trades Council held last Wednesday, and reported on his meeting in Wash. ington with some 100 A.F.L. law. yers, five of whom came from Connecticut. The A.F.L.'s interpre. tation of number of clauses in the Taft-Hartley law was presented by O'Rourke, who pointed out that
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