Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-07-20

are determined not to make use Of
the board does not mean that they
cannot be cited by the board as
defendants. Whether or not they
have filed the necessary documents
an employer may still file charges
against the union involving any Of
the unfair" union practices set
forth in the act, or the employer
may challenge the unions right to
represent his employees.
There are several things that
could happen to force a union to
change its board boycott" policy.
The most obvious one, and one
which many labor experts predict
will impel an about-face in order
that union membership may be pro-
tected from raids by other unions
involves instances of intervention
in elections.
AS an example. say the CLIO
electrical workers have had a con-
tract with a firm for number OF
years. The AFL electrical brother
hood steps in, does some organ
izing and upon expiration OF the
contract demands an efection to
determine whether it has enrolled
a majority of the employees. 1t may
do this by showing that it has signed
up 80 per cent of the eligible
workers.
Important Question
In such case it is necessary for
the CIO union to intervene in order
to get its name on the election bal
lot and protect the local. The ques-
ton arises whether the CLIO. union
could intervene without filing all
the necessary data and being recog-
nized by the board.
CIO attorneys believe their unions
will be able to intervene without
formally recognizing" the NLRB or
getting recognition from the board,
but they admit 1t is a point the
new board itself will have to de-
eide. One of the boards early i'm
portant decisions probably will deal
with that very point.
On this same point, II the union
previously recognized remained out
side the proceedings, it would be
possible for the. challenging union
and employer to Gerry -mander"
the bargaining unit in such way
as to bring about defeat of the CLIO
electrical workers, no matter what
happened afterward. They might
bring a group of workers from an
other part of the firm into the ZAP
propriate unit" who would swing the
election to the petitioning union.
John L. Lewis has refused to say
whether or not his United Mine
Workers will boycott" the NLRB,
although his contracts with coal
operators are drawn in such a way
as to indicate that is his intention.
District No. so
However, Mr.. Lewis has as part
of the UNIV an outfit known as
District so. 1t Is sort of a catch
all in which busy UNIV organizers
put workers of various industries
and crafts. District so frequently
is initiating and defending itself in
NLRB elections. It might well de-
velop that Mr.. Lewis will be forced
either to abandon the District 50
project or to do business with the
board. 1t is generally agreed that
the outfit needs Federal protection
in order to survive.
A certain result of the new labor
law is intensification of organiza-
tional activities by all unions. The
many groups which at least at first
spurn the help and protection of law
in favor of self-help will make doubly
sure of holding their strength and
will increase efforts to add new
members and locals.
Since this organizational activity
will be carried on outside Of the
board it probably will lead to many
new interunion rows and strikes.
With the return OF organizing to
catch-as-catch-can power basis of
years ago the weaker unions will be
sure to suffer at the expense Of the
strong.