Evening star., 1947-08-31
Clio and AFL Decision
On NLRB Boycott
Likely in 10 Days


The nine vice presidents of the
CIO will hold highly important
policy meeting here with President
Philip Murray Thursday Decisions
made at the session will affect every
member of the big organization.
One decision expected to be made
is whether the vice presidents will
sign the anti Communist affidavits,
which the law requires of union Of
f1cers and which NLRB General
Counsel Robert N. Denham says CIO
and AFL officers must sign if their
members are to receive protection OF
the law.
The AFL Executive Council will
open week of critical meetings in
Chicago September 8. Recommends
tions to the AFL convention in Oc-
tober pertaining to the Taft Hart
ley Act will be drafted.
Lively Battle Expected.
1t is expected that lively battle
will be waged in the AFL council on
the question of whether to boycott
bllN 4<b1I11s lieu All Wlbll UlldU dlC
decisions on questions of anti-Com-
munist affidavits, the filing of union
financial statements and other data
required by the new law.
Most observers believe a majority
of the AFL council will favor use of
the NLRB and Taft Hartley Act
machinery although they are ex-
pected to call for early court tests
OF important phases of the new law
However, present indications are
that John L. Lewis. the miners
president and member of the coun-
Gil, may not go along with the new
law. Since each council member is
a vice president of the AFL they
must also send in to the NLRB the
Communist affidavits. Should Mr..
Lewis persist in a boycott of the
board the projections of the labor
relations law would be denied to all
of the AFL, under Mr.. Denhams
recent ruling.
Most of the big CIO unions have
declared they will boycott the NLRB.
1t is expected that such a policy will
be confirmed by the vice presidents
here Tuesday.
However, should the AFL decide
on the opposite course it would put
heavy pressure on the CIO to 60
along, too.
Little Business for NLRB.
Meanwhile, an Associated Press
survey OF regional boards of the
NI.RB showed that neither manage
ment nor labor made any concerted |
rush to use the NLRB during the
first week of operation of the Taft
Hartley law. The regional Offices |
over the country, where cases orig
mate, reported very little business.
What NLRB business there was
consisted of movements by employees
to strip unions of the right to repre-
sent them gin their shops and scat
tered charges of unfair labor prac-
tices of the ordinary kind En-
ployers were not exhibiting any
hurry to press such charges against |
unions despite their newly endowed
rights. Under the Wagner Act, |
which is superseded by the Taft
Hartley Act. only the boss could be |
charged with an unfair labor prac-
tice. Now the boss can bring the
same accusation against union.
A damage suit was instituted
against Mr.. Lewis United Mine
Workers in Federal Court at Ovens
boro. KY. The company asked
s125,000, alleging the UNIV tried
to get employees to leave their jobs
and force the strip mining firm to
suspend operations or bargain with
the union.
The Eau Claire (Wis) Printing
Co. squared off for showdown with
the AFL- international Topographic
cal Union. which has adopted a
policy of signing no more written
contracts to avoid Taft-Hartley
penalties.
Two Cases in Chicago.
The ITU asked the employer to
recognize it as the bargaining agent,
and the printing house promptly
asked the NLRB to certify an agent
by election.
Two cases were started in Chicago,
but that was all the business done
there. A substantial number" OF
senior engineers, assistant engineers
and student engineers of the Illinois
Bell Telephone Co. petitioned the
regional director to de-certify the
AFL International Brotherhood OF
Electrical Workers as their repre-
sentative.
Claiming they were professional
employees, they sought a vote on
whether they should be included in !
the bargaining unit. The electric
ianS' union is trying to organize tele-
phone industry workers.
The Union Motor Coach Terminal
Co, Chicago passenger bus operators.
charged the AFL Brotherhood of
Railway and Steamship Clerks had
violated the new labor act by refuS-
ing to bargain with the company.
The union was accused of striking |
July II without proper notice to the
company while a contract still was
in effect. The strike, involving 96
workers is still on.
While the Taft Hartley Acts full
provisions did not 60 into effect until
August $50 days after enactment
union liability clauses went into
operation Immediately.
Situation in Typical Areas.
The Associated Press survey of 81 !
regional and seven Sub-regional |
Offices of the NLRB disclosed these
other details in typical areas:
Cincinnati-tWo cases. A union pc
titioned for certification as the bar
gaining agent, but the regional direc-
tor has held up action pending notice
that the union reported its finances
to the Labor Department and filed
the non-C Communist affidavits with
the NLRB. An employer filed a
charge that strike exists by reason
of a jurisdictional dispute-which
would authorize the board to seek a
court injunction against the parties.
New Orleans-Two petitions were
fled nv epnpIOyerS a. oSkirp doca ri fira