Evening star., 1947-09-17
Unions Ask Denham
To Extend DeadIine
For Filing Affidavits
By james Y. Newton

Robert N. Denham, general
counsel of the National Labor
Relations Moard, said today he
had received unicn appeals for
a five-week extension of the
deadline for filing non -Commu-
mist aff1davits under the Taft
Hartley Act.
Mr. Denham indicated he would
act on the requests within the next
day or two, but gave no hint as to
what his decision will be.
However, unless he extends the
time for union filing of affidavits
thousands of cases pending before
the NLRB will be thrown out with
out further hearing beginning next
week.
AFL Cemplicates Situation.
The general counsel has ruled that
top officers of the AFL and CIO, as
well as officers Of individual unions
must file the affidavits prescribed
by the new labor law if any af-
fllated unions are to have recourse
to the NLRB.
The whole situation was compli-
Gated by the refusal last week of
the AFL Executive Council, all men,
bers Of which are officers of the
federation. to approve the filing
of the affidavits. Council action
on the matter was blocked by John
L. Lewis in stormy session in
Chicago. The C1O. likewise, has
taken no action in the matter.
Therefore, unless Mr.. Denham
extends the deadline for filing all
of the cases brought to the board
by the thousands of AFL and CIO
unions will be tossed out.
Backlog of 5000 Cases.
Specifically, Mr.. Denham has said
that beginning September % all
cases of unions which do not quail
ify, will be dismissed. The NLRB
has a backlog of 5000 cases. most
of which we're filed by AFL or CIO
unions.
The general counsel received a
telegram from union which he
did not identify, asking that he
extend the filing deadline until Oc-
tober 81. The message stated that
1t was believed the AFL convention
which opens in San Francisco Oc-
tober 6 would support the filing of
the necessary papers. Mr.. Denham
added he had received similar re-
quests from other organiza tions.
The C1O has postponed action in
the affidavit matter until its con-
vention, to be held later next month
in Boston
Daniel Tobin, head of the power
full AFL Teamsters' Union whose Of
acers have signed the non-Com-
munist forms, contended yesterday
this makes his group eligible for
NLRB services because it Is autono-
nous within the AFI. He appealed
directly to the NLRB to upset Mfr.
Denham's ruling to the contrary
The board made no immediate de-
cision.
Mr.. Tobin, represented by AFL
General Counsel Joseph A. Padway,
also asked the NLRB to delay the
case-dismissal deadline.
Such a delay would give time to
both the AFL and CIO to Nl try
to upset Mr.. Denham's edict requir-
ing leaders of both organiza tions to
file the Communist forms, or
ca thresh aut at their conventions
what they should do
Two other AFL affiliates, the
United Textile Workers and the
Laundry Workers International
Union. also have filed their affi-
davits.
1t was said the members Of the
NLRB could not reverse the Den
ham stand simply through the fl
ing Of request for it to do so.
The only way the board can re-
verse its general counsel, it was
said, is through an appeal from a
decision made by an NLRB regional
office, also under Mr.. Denham, In
a representation case. In other
words, if regional Office denied an
AFL union a place on a ballot In
bargaining election because top off,
GERS of the AFL had not filed affi-
davits and officers of the union in
volved had filed then an appeal