Evening star., 1947-02-16


coal truce December Z, strikes have
been at a low for recent years. The
current strike record is better than
in wartime. Latest Labor Depart
ment figures showed that only $1,000
of the tens of millions of American
workers were on strike. A year ago
the number of strike-idle was over
100000.
All of this looks quite rosy. The
recent strike score, however, tells
very misleading story. The truth is
that the big issues-the showdown
battles in most of the big indus
tries-have been deferred until later
in the year either by extension of
wage agreements or the fact the
contracts this time expire later than
last year.
just as Mr.. Lewis wished the Su-
preme Court to decide his injunction
contempt case free from pressure,
so are all the big labor leaders de-
sirous of having Congress decide
their legislative fate free of crisis.
They do not want to play into the
hands of management by muddying
the industrial waters at this time.
Murray Directs CIO Strategy.
Industries in which new contracts
have not been worked out include
the giant steel industry (Which
usually sets the wage pattern), auto
mobile, electrical appliance, nearly
all of oil, railroad, maritime, coal
and many others. While other con-
tract details apparently have been
set, the big rubber industry has not
settled the wage issue.
By contrast, at this time last year
the issue had been joined in most
of the big industries mentioned
Coal and its 59day strike came a
bit later; so did the railroad crisis
In most cases, with General Motors
Westinghouse and coal notable ex-
ceptions, the disputes and strikes
were bitter and of comparatively
brief duration. The strike of 10000
steel workers ended a year ago yes
terday.
President Philip Murray is di
recting CIO strategy. Only recently
Mr.. Murray, who also heads thu
United Steelworkers, got togethe
with the Giant United States Stee
Corp. and announced an extension
of the contract until April 30. I
would have expired yesterday. Sine
United States Steel sets the pac
for the industry, the rest of tn
basic steel manufacturing companie
and the hundreds of companie
which make things of steel, wer'
carried along in the extension.
The big three CIO unions a
least-steel, automobiles and cleo
trical-have resolved not to push
their new demands until the situa,
ton on Capitol Hill has crystal,
ized. 1t is also designed to show
Congress and the public that The
CIO is patient and willing to allow
plenty of time for bargaining be.
fore making any effort to force
the issue--a sort of self-imposec
cooling-of period.
Labor Opposes Restrictions.
In automobiles, negotiations be.
| tween the United Auto Worker!
and Chrysler began in October un,
der a wage-reopening provision OF
the contract. Since then talks have
continued sporadically without
much apparent progress. The
whole contract expired January 2;
and was extended. Negotiations
currently are in a state Of post
ponement. Wage provisions of the
General Motors automotive contract
do not expire until May 81. The
Ford contract is up May 80.
CLIO United Electrical Workers
contracts with Westinghouse anc
General Electric are up April l
while the agreement with the GIN
electrical division expires April %
There is every indication that il
that industry, too, the CIO viii
proceed slowly.
Labor's strategy is to lie low
and oppose all measures that Woulc
restrict union activity in any way
Their leaders have been careful no
to weaken the solid front by sug-
costing counterproposals to Con.
gress. For a while it appeared the
AFL would come forth with a pro-
gram, including concessions similial
to President Truman's suggestions
for ban on jurisdictional and or
ganizational strikes. But at thai
point Mr.. Lewis took charge. He
dictated a statement issued by the
AFL Executive Council in Miami
opposing any and all union-restrict-
ing bills.
Management, leaning heavily on
Congress to clip labor's wings, gen.
orally is we'll satisfied to postpone
the contract showdown, although
there is no doubt that some indus
trialists would like a spectacular
strike to help their cause on Capt.
tol Hill. The management strategy
is to ask for the moon in the way OF
union-curbing laws in the hope that
something will come out of Congress
to aid them at the bargaining table.
No Panacea Sighted.
It is healthful to allow plenty OF
time for bargaining, and quite
contrast to the tactics perfected by
Mr.. Lewis-to hit hard during a
short period of negotiation and force
the issue by walkout. But the in
dustrial air at the moment certainly
lis not conducive to understanding
1t cannot possibly be so until Con-
gress has had its final say. Then, II
the breakdown on labor is too severe
1.-THE strikes are likely to come.
| Wise treatment of the battling prob