The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-08-21
A TRADE UNION REVIVAL

THE LABOR MOVEMENT OF the United States faces a
situation in which the key to progress strong dis
cplned organization with membership that understands
why union is needed that knows the strategy effective
union operation to get the best results the
and that knows how to maintain the union for time
! vice. We reminded of axiom frequently quoted in
those days when we were establishing the labor movement
What the government gives it can also take away"
The government organized unons but it created
conditions which facilitated largescale organization Work
organized unions to get wage before
they knew how to operate union to exercise with
discretion and of responsibility order to safeguard
their rights.
Trade unionism is way of life in which workers organ
ze to exercise collectively the right of contract which
dviduals is effectively available to them Collectively
they bargain with their employer equal footing and
thus make work provisions favorable to them to the
| employer.
The old National Labor Relations Act prevented employ
from imposing their will the workers. thus leaving
workers free to bargain guided by their best judgment
Progress lay in aordng unions experience to develop better
procedures and better standards Experience be eec
work which had previously accompanied union organization
First workers who had long been prevented joining
discharge and the knowledge that employers organic
ed to prevent unemployment of union sympathzers joined
of the members understanding and belief in trade
unions Secondly the split in the labor movement favored
radng and fighting tactics instead of educational methods to
develop understanding OF trade unlonism.
Division in the labor movement also facilitated enact
ment of the Taftarey Act which seeks repress and
weaken unions This is the why Executive Coun
Gil placed organzaona unity of labor the first step get
We shall continue to insist upon organic unity the
field prerequisite to political cooperation.
In efforts for unity, and quite irrespective of
the results of these efforts we must move for revival of
trade unionsm that workers realize the union is their
for securing the economic gains which make possible
higher standards living security for the future The
union only strong the devotion and discipline of it's
members for organization of human beings joined by
common interests and by understanding united they
win and divided they They work common
interests of all and not for individual promotion this is the
this subordination of Individual welfare requires
long discussion and study of experience When this basic
lesson becomes action becomes possible to
Our unions have established rights for their members
and have tried to teach members to exercise their rights
interfere with the rights Others The majority
of trade unionists like the majority of all citizens value hon
esy and fair dealings Experience in time will convince the
rest.
AS result of their constructive policies presidents of
national and international unions receiving
from employers with whom they have had contracua rea
tons expressing the hope that labor relations be
cooperation and mutual understanding that collective bar
gaining makes possible.
Where collective bargaining results in labor relations
satisfactory to workers and employers and in output salts
factory and dependable to there need for outside
interference control The establishment and maintenance
of such relations the ideal which the American Federation
of Labor seeks to attain and we must organize educational
work to that end
ethat s workers join with others to determine policies in
dealing with work problems and select representatives to
carry out those policies Unions follow the democratic policy
of decision by majority vote and abide by majority decision
until it is oveTuled by members eligible to determine policies
Each member is under obligation to seek his welfare
member OF the union and not against it at the of
the The union develops orderly planned
to promote wageeaner welfare primarily through collective
bargaining.
Union officials acting for members under obligation
report back to their constituents In the light reports
the union confirms changes policies and plans how to meet
developments The union will need to check the facts
involved in decisions and will want to know how other
dealing with similar problems
Union members have responsibilities just officers do.
good union member must be able consider both
and Legislative problems and their connection with the wei
fare of democracy.
Good union members, in addition to expecting service
mindful of their duties to and community They
realize that the union the agency through which workers
rights and interests maintained and fuhered in accord
with social and economic progress.
Good trade unionsts must also be good workers. appre
catve of good tools and machinery and of the value
of good workmanship and teamwork to the quantity
and quality of output worker be good trade unonis
only he is good citizen who values the opportunities of
democracy and performs ntelgenty his duties in maintain
ing democracy The principles and qualities which give in,
dvduals value in aspect of living equally important
in other relationships.