davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1947-12-18
BY JACK ABBOTT

Union negotiators have often urged
that raises be granted in a particular
enterprise because the employer is
making large profits. They have been
met with the argument that the m
~ployer's profits are his own business,
that his ability to pay is nc concern
of the union.
But strangely enough, when the
shoe is on the other foot and the en-
ployer claims he is losing money, he
often urges that as a reason for not
granting an increase. and in many in
stances Uses it as an excuse for a
wage cut.
About a month ago an arbitrator
was called in to decide a controversy
on wages between the Federation OF
Architects Engineers Chemists &
Technicians (CIO) and the Roberts
Pressure Valve Corp, a New York
firm making dental accessories.
The union had asked for a $3.50 wage
increase so that its members might
meet the higher cost of living. The
company cOuntered with the claim
that it was losing money and could
not afford the increase.
The arbitrator declared that ability
to pay should not itself determine
whether the union was entitled to ar
increase. Said he: IF wages were sci
in any situation in accordance with
ability to pay, then the rate Of profit
accruing to the employer would have
to be determined. A standard OF
what constitutes a fair profit would
be necessary. Immediately one i'm
pinges on management functions
Montana labor news., 1947-12-18
Job and the Law

This is not a role which an arbitrator
or a union may assume.
"On the facts, therefore, | find that
inability to pay as presented here
may not be used as a bar to granting
of a wage increase, but rather as a
limitation to the amount to be granted.
The company shall pay a general in
crease Of 1879"
Try this argument when next you
negotiate with an employer who as
sures you that he is losing money by
keeping the plant in operation.
Compensate Inference
An employee Of the Davis Steel Co.
in North Carolina named De Virie was
subject to apoplectic fits. His duties
on the Job required him to stand on
a concrete platform and lower a flag
daily. One day De Virie was found
at the bottom of the flagpole uncon-
scious with the ropes of the flagpole
%entangled about his body. He later
died without recovering consciousness.
The state workmen's compensation
commission could not determine
whether the accident occurred because
De Virie fell from a ladder which was
found nearby. or whether he fell to
the ground when seized by an apo
plectic fit. But the commission did
decide that he died as a result Of a
fall of some kind, and that the fall took
place while he was working on the
job. Compensation was awarded to
De Wires father.
The company appealed the decision
to the North Carolina Supreme Court
which decided in September 1947 that
the Commissions decision was correct.
The court declared: THE fall occurred
while the employee was engaged in the
discharge of his duties and it resulted
IN his death. This permits the infer
ence that the death was compensate"
re court is quite right. A mans
prior condition should not permit his
employer to escape liability for an in
d~ustrial accident.
Montana labor news., 1947-12-18
ATOM BOMB NO SECRET
SAYS President OF
IT, OF Chicago

Chancellor Robert NJ. Hutchins of
the University of Chicago has sub
stantiated the recent claim of Soviet
Foreign Minister Y. NJ. Molotov that
the atomic bomb is no longer a secret
and adds that there is no defense
against it as a military weapon.
Hutchins. writing in the December
issue of the American magazine. said:
Any realistic appraisal of the status
of atomic energy today. militarily
speaking. must be .predicated on two
simple propositions: ID There is no
secret. g, There is no defense
The educator said that the fact that
atoms could be split and that this
splitting released enormous quanti-
ties Of energy" was demonstrated be-
fore World War II. This was not an
American secret: il va known by
scientists in many countries. The
only problem since that time has been
to capture and control the atomic
energy thus released. and discovery
of methods Of doing this has been only
a question OF time.
Much as it may discomfit some of
our professional patriots Hutchins
writes, 'the fact is that a very great
part of this preliminary work. as prac-
tically all the subsequent work, was
done by foreigners
After stating that the Germans had
no facilities to make the bomb and
"the Japanese wouldn't even have
known where to start" ever if the
whole enterprise had been published
in the newspapers Hutchins said:
That is not the case today with
Russia.
Can Russia make them? OF course.
\. Is Russia making them? We
would be foolish to assume that she
is not" the article warns.
Hutchins says American publication
of the Smythe report enabled the
USSR to bypass the succession of
blind alleys and dead-ends we had to
explore and that today 1.-THE produc-
ton Of atomic bombs is merely a
manufacturing process. There is no
secret" He says that those who
would have Americans believe they
possess an atomic secret are either
ignorant Of the facts or deceitful.'
The world, Hutchins writes, stands
at the fork Of the road. To the right
lies peace, productivity beyond all our
imagination, eace Of living beyond
our brightest dreams. To the left lies
war and the eventual end of all life
earth. We must make our choice
five years.
Perhaps the practical solution is
the establishment of a world govern
ment. Such a blueprint is now being
for presentation to all ma
Montana labor news., 1947-12-18

Rep. John Mcdowell OF the house
un-American activities committee. who
announced recently that he would con.
duct an open inquiry into fascism, has
now decided there aren't any fascists
in the u. S. worth investigating.
He might try cross-examining some
OF his committee colleagues.
Montana labor news., 1947-12-18

Use of Negroes on the Atlanta police
force has finally been authorized, but
they will not be allowed to arrest q
white person for any crime.
Even m%urderers, a%rsonists, rapists
burglars, etc, presumably will be al
lowed to scamper away from the scene
of their crimes unmolested il they're
smart enough to stage them in Negro
sections of the city.
The union times., 1947-07-26
Ct. Unions Advised On T Taft- 1artley Law
.CreenAnnounces 3-Front Drive
 Against T-H Law
Working Together, They Can Help The Entire
 Community

UTICA, N. Y. (LPA)-The 84th convention of the New York State AFL set a new precedent here last week when it heard and accepted a telegram from the CIO proposing a common fight" against the Taft Hartley law and other oppressive leg islation.
 The telegram, from State CIO President Louis Hol1ander, said "As sister labor organization we will be happy to- cooperate in this fight and should the occasion arise, We will gladly join with you in our common fight for the preservation of the lib- critics of American workers and the American people,"
 AFL President William Green an- nounced to the convention that the AFL would make a threefrOnt cam- paign against the ''hateful and Ob- noxious" Taft-Hartley law.
 We are going to fght-fght with every weapon at our command-in an all-out drive that will never relax url- til victory is won.
 ''We intend to fight to protect the rights of our members by ne- gOtiating new contracts with em- ployers which will shield labor from at least some of the disas- trous effects of the new law. The new contract negotiated by the United Mine Workers Union just recently is an outstanding example of how this objective can be suc- cessfully won.
 Secondly, we are going to fight in the courts to have this law held un- constitutional We have been assured by legal counsel that many sections of the law are direct invasions of the constitutional rights of the organized workers of the nation. We will take up that challenge and we will carry it all the way to the highest court of the land.
 Finally, we are going to unite our combined strength and re- sources in the greatest political bat tie ever waged by organized labor in America-a battle that will be fought relentlessly until every member of Congress who voted for this mOnstrOus legislation is de- feated.'
The union times., 1947-07-26

bllity that unions may be subjected to criminal penalties or civil damages makes it imperative that they take continual account of the Acts prohibi- tions.
 It is entirely likely that there will be a determined attempt by em- plOyers to broaden the coyerage of the Act beyond the industries cov- cred by the old Wagner Act.
 To be covered by the Hartley Law unions must represent employees in an industry affecting commerce" that is, an industry which receives or ships goods from one state to another, or an industry in which labor dis pute would tend to obStruct the ship ment of goods from one state td an- other.
 While in our highly complicated so- ciety there are few things which do not in some way affect commerce." there IS no reason for any union to assume that it is covered by the Taft Hartley Law if it would not have been covered under the old National Labor Relations Act
 Thus unions representing em- pIOyees in industries which are mainly local in character-such as the building trades Gin most cases), hotels and restaurants, laundries, dairies, and so On-shouId con- tinue to operate as they have in the past. Only where a significant per- centage of materials is received from out of the state, or where a significant percentage of finished products is shipped out of the state, or where a labor dispute would clarly impede the receipt or shipment of goods in interstate commercially in such cases should an industry be considered as coming within the jurisdiction of the Taft-HartIey Law.
 Except for the political contribu- tion section which applies to all labor ganizationS, unions which in the past were not subject to the Wagner Act because of their local character should not consider themselves subject to the Taft-Hartley Law. In borderline cases, where violation might sub Ject the union to penalties, it might be we'll to secure legal advice.
 In the ensuing articles the more important provisions of the Taft Law will be discussed in greater detail.
The union times., 1947-07-26
RR Bremen To Fight At Polls On Labor Issues

San Francisco (LPA) = Appeals for more militant action by the na- tion's railroad workers highlighted the international convention here of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and Enginemen.
 The conclave, attended by over 1000 delegates from the United States and Canada-representing 114000 mem bers-swung into its second week, with political action a prominent is sue. By asserting their power at the ballot box, railroad workers and all labor can make the coming few years an "era of opportunity" President D. B. Robertson told the delegates.
 Robertson also called for a cam paign against the Taft-Hartley law, even though it only lightly affects rail workers. "This infamous anti-la- bor law seeks to destroy the political effectiveness of all organized labor, including the railroad labor organiza- tions, which are otherwise exempted from its provisions" he said. "We will fight this attempt to destroy our in- alienable rights; fight it at every step and with every orderly process at our command"
 Edward Keating, editor and man. ager of Labor" in an address to the convention, urged that all lodges of the Brotherhood start a movement now to get every member registered in time for the 1948 elections. Appeal ing for effective political activity, Keating declared: Tt will do us lit tie good to pass resolutions or deliver flamboyant speeches. We must regis ter our will at the ballot box. That is the American way"
 Among early decisions taken by the convention, which will last about five weeks, was a vote establishing a 70- year age limit on officers of the grand lodge and local lodges of the Brother hood.
The union times., 1947-07-26
COP Votes To Probe Why COP liked Prices

Congress is having even more trou- ble. And the Republicans seem to have hit on an easy and comfortable solu- tion-as far as they're concerned. They're going to investigate; 1t will cost $1OO,O00 to study prices, another $100,000 to find the facts about hous- ing.
 To make it still more painless, the COP leadership proposes that the price report be ready by Jan. l, 1948 and the housing report by Jan. 2, 1949.
 Two resolutions laying out this strenuous program of action were ap- proved last week by the Senate Bank ing & Currency Committee, and hope was expressed that both Senate and House would find time next week be- fore leaving for the year, to pass the measures.
 The price resolution, sponsored by Sen. Raymond Baldwin (R., Conn. would set up subcommittee of the Joint Committee on the Economic Re- port, which has just completed several weeks of hearings on general economic questions with considerable attention paid to the question of high prices.
 Despite the fact that thousands of pages of testimony were taken by a special joint committee on housing in the last Congress, out of which grew the Wagner-Ellender-Taft general housing bill, Sen. Mccarthy indicated that he preferred to make another such study before drawing Up any long-range housing legislation. The Senate Banking Committee, of which he is member, has already approved the housing measure.
The union times., 1947-07-26
Rand, Known In Middletown, Is Up To Old Tricks
Machinists Holding Firm Against Mohawk Valley"
 Propaganda

The Remington-Rand Cor poration, originator of the mo- torious Mohawk Valley for mula" for union-smashing, has become tough again-and as a result the Machinists are having a showdown battle, with the com pany for the second time in a decade.
 Back in 1886, the LAM. had its first big struggle with James H. Rand, IT,, the head of the corpora ton. The battle reached a climax in Middletown, Conn, and other cities, where the union was forced into a prolonged strike by Rand's hard-boiled refusal to make any concessions in collective bargaining.
 Rand warred on the strikers with the ''Mohawk formula" which in- cluded use of thugs, tear gas attacks, vigilantes, professional strikebreakers, phony back-tO-work movements, and infammatory newspaper "ads.'
 The Machinists suffered a setback, but regained lost ground when Rand eventually was ordered to rehire 4,00O locked-out strikers with back pay un- der terms of the Wagner Act.
 Old Tactics Again
 For the past several years, relations were harmonious, but when the Ma chinists, recently demanded at least the pattern" wage increase of 13N to Is cents an hour for 6,50O employees at the Rand plant in Eln1ira, N. Y, the management forced the workers out on the picket line rather than agree.
 For seven weeks that strike went on without incident, and the plant remained shut. Then suddenly Rand resorted to the old methods. He started running huge ''ads" with back-tO-wOrk appeals. He hustled into his plant 30 operatives of the Burns Detective Agency, some of them equipped with brass knuckles and police billies.
 Back-tO-WO Try Fails
 Then the management set specific hour for opening of its plant and mo- bilized its forenen to parade into the factory in a body. As they marched in, company officials yelled to the pickets to follow. Not one moved.
 On Tuesday, Rand abandoned the attempt to reopen the Elmira plant and tried to put the blame on 'lack of police protection" by To- cal authorities, but this was imme- diately denied by Elmira's police chief. The management continued the ''union-busting" campaign, hOwever-not only at Elmira, but at Rand plants in several other cities.
The union times., 1947-07-26
As We See It
 by THE STAFF

Building trades locals through out the state are urged by Council Secretary Treasurer James O'Kane to send in their contract books for the yearbook. The book must go to press soon, and all accounts must be closed. Please act prompt ly.
 Five of COnn.'s six representa- tives in Congress voted this week for passage of the anti-pOH tax bill, which all labor favors. Reps. Foote, Seely-Brown, Lodge, Patter- son, and Miller voted s3aye." Rep. Sadlak was not listed as voting. The bill passed 29O to ll2. Some 73 Democrats went along with 2l6 Re- publicans. Opposed were IA Re- publicans and 98 Democrats. Guess where the 98 Democrats come from.
 ON THE UP. wire in California {: "SAN DIECO-Fire-fighters today patrolled the rim of a brush and timber fire which blackened more than 10000 padres before being brought under control. In the End line abv read it XXX 10000 acres."
 With the New Deal pretty we'll unraveled and the Both Congress only half over, the COP should be able to- get around to righting a lot of wrongs before it's through like the great harm done southern shareholders in the war between the states. And if they hurry they may be able to renew the witch-burning laws of colonial days and even re- peal the Federal income tax laws.
 Out of this world. That's Pres. Charles E. Wilson of General Mo- tors. Just this month he grimly warned the American people that they were being misled by ''propa- ganda in high places that prices are too high and profits too excess sive."
 Let's take a look at the facts. A leading big business organ, Busi- ness Week, says that Corporate profits for the first half of this year were undoubtedly the highest ever."
 Business Week estimates that the profits for the first six months of l947 will reach an annual rate of ''more than SIG billion,' nearly 25% greater than the former alI-
 (Continued on Page Four)
The union times., 1947-07-26
Labor Candidate Wins Election

Baltimore (LPA) - Organized la bor-AFL, CIO, and the railroad brotherhoods served warning on Congress last week that the Novem- Der, 1o48, elections will be a reckon ing time for every Congressman who voted for the Taft-Hartley law.
 The warning came as the AFL, CIO and RRB combined to elect Edward A. Garmatz to the Congressional seat vacated by Mayor D'Alessandro. The AFL-CIO victory gave 'Garmatz, a Democrat and a member of the Int'l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, since 1919, total vote of 12,179, more than the combined votes of both his opponents.
 The Garmatz victory cheered Gael Sullivan, director of the Democratic Natl Committee, who pointed out that Garmatz's Republican opponent got only 16% of the vote to trail an independent candidate. Said Sullivan, Despite tlNe fact that the Republican organization poured money into the district in desperate effort to win they were showed under"
The union times., 1947-07-26

TWELVE POINTS
 In briefest summary, the Taft Hartley Law accOmplishes the fol lowing:
 l. It amends the Wagner Act to such an extent that Government protection of the right to organize and bargain collectively is rendered meaningless; there remain almost no instances in which it would benefit labor to invoke the prOvi- siOns of the Act;
 2. It prescribes unfair labor practices by unions;
 3. It so cOmplicates the repre- sentatiOn procedure of the National Labor Relations Board as to make it virtually impossible, within a year of filing petition, for a un- ion to be certified as the exclusive representative of employees;
 4. It bans the closed shop; the type of "urlion shop" which it does permit is almost unattainab1e under the pre- scribed procedure and provides no url- ion security when obtained.
 5. It prescribes voluminOus re- ports for unions to file with the Secretary of Labor before they can avail themselves of the provisions of the Act;
 6. It subjects unions to injunctions ];
 7. It subjects unions to huge dam age suits;
 8. It bans the check-off and union welfare funds except under certain limited conditions;
 g. It bans secondary boycotts and jurisdictional disputes, whatever the justification;
 INJUNCTIONS
 TO- It prescribes sweeping injunc- tions to be brought by the Government against strikes in so-called national emergencies"
 II. It forbids political contributions or expenditures by labor unions in na- 'tional elections;
 12. It provides heavy criminal and civil penalties for violation of its terms.
 WHOM DOES THE ACT COVER
 Although in all probability there will be few occasions when unions will invoke the provisions of the new La bor Management Relations Act" they may not ignore the Act. The possi-
The union times., 1947-07-26
Coop Defeats Smash Move

TOPEKA, Kans. - (FP) = The Consumers Cooperative Assn. of North Kansas City won a complete victory in supreme court here against efforts of State Atty. Gen. Edward F. Arn to dissolve the coop.
 The court upheld the right of CCA toa engage in industrial activity and ordered the secretary of state to amend the associations articles of in corporation allowing an increase of capital stock from $2 million to SIP million.
The union times., 1947-07-26
Do You Know How
 It Affects Labor :?
Attorney Gordon Says State Building Trades Unions In Most Cases Should Continue To Operate,
 As They Have In Past
By WILLIAM S. GORDON, JR.
A. F. of l.. Attorney

(At Attorney WHEian, Hartford
 NerO EngLand Resident Counsel A.
 Counsel American Federation Of Labor, prepared
 articles fhe Taary LaO. This
 Over the Presidents veto, the TafHartley Law the statute books Section by section and phrase phras
 IS designed to hamstring labor unions in their efforts organize and to their members with respect wages hours and working conditions The failure ot the of the Act in accomplishing purpose cripping labor will depend in large part upon standing by leaders and members of labor of the Acts provisions
 It be added that labors ability strength and its gains the face of this legislation be the determining factor whether avoid dis astrous economic crisis For unless wages thus purchasing be kept in balance with prices another depression
The union times., 1947-07-26
T-HLaw Used To Stop Tearnsters

PORTLAND, Me.-(FP) - Elm boldened by the Taft-Hartley Act, 27 trucking firms have ended seven months of bargaining with an Int1. Bro of Teamsters (AFL) local here and locked out more than 600 drivers.
 The Carriers Employers Group, Inc, used the appearance on the bar gaining committee here of Teamsters Intl. Vice Pres. Nicholas P. Nor rissey as an excuse for breaking off negotiations.
 The union, whose scale has been 92c an hour is seeking a 25c increase and has been offered 13c. It also wants a 54-hour week with time d-a-half after AS hours and two weeks vaca- ton instead of one.
The union times., 1947-07-26
Local 4O4 Wins At Wilcox's


 Local 4O4, New Haven Hotel and Restaurant Employees, is the bargain ing agent at Wi1cox's Pier Restau- rant, as the results of an election held July 18th by the Conn. State Board of Labor Relations at which time the employees of the restaurant voted 2 to for the local.
 Wilcox's is the largest restaurant in Connecticut and is one of the few in New England that can handle large parties of a thousand or more. Pre- vious1y the New Haven Building Trades Council had settled its differ ences with the firm so that it is no longer on the New Haven Central Labor Councils unfair list.
The union times., 1947-07-26
.No-Strike Pledge
 Recommended! !!

ST. LOUIS, Mo. = (FP) = Elm ployerS were advised to seek contract clauses forbidding individual en- ployes to strike at conference of 600 management representatives called by the Associated Industries of Missouri to explain the new Taft-Hartley law.
 The advice came from Al Attor- ney George B. Logan. "The clause should provide that the individual en- ploye be required to cross picket line established by any other member or members of his union unless the picketline was ordered by the union in accordance with the Taft-Hartley act, Logan said.
 A similar clause is being plugged by Sen. Robert A. Taft's (R. O. law firm in Columbus which handles labor relations of local radio station
The union times., 1947-07-26
Fire 10 ATM Members

ST. LOUIS (LPA) = Only six musicians are left on the staff of radio station KWK here as a result of the firing of 10 members of Local 2, Amer ican Federation of Musicians-AFL under the Lea Act. ATM President James Petri11o has predicted wide spread unemployment as result of Lea Act hrings, plus "hard times" in the entertainment industry generally.