The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-07-03


agreements mutually arrived at
and satisfactory to the parties.
"This is a long step toward the
settlement of economic issues by
government dictation," said Tru-
man. 'Tt is an indication that in
dustral relations are to be deter
mined in the Halls of Congress,
and that political power is to sup
plant economic power as the criti-
cal factor in labor relations.
Instead of improving labor-em-
ployer relations the law would en-
courage distrust, suspicion, and ar
bitrary attitudes" Truman contin-
ued. "The bill time and again would
remove the settlement of differ
ences from the bargaining table to
courts of law"
The Chief Executive declared flat
ly that he believed that the bill
"would prove unworkable." 1t
would provide for heavier penalties
against workers than their employ
ers for tn same offense, he pointed
| out. "Much has been made of the
claim that the bill is intended SIM
ply to equalize the positions of la
Dor and management. Careful an
alysis shows thatthis claim is un-
founded ;"
The bill would substantially in
crease" strikes, Truman predicted.
"It would discourage the growing
willingness of unions to include
mo strike provisions in bargaining
agreements, since any labor organ
ization signing such an agreement
would expose itself to suit for con-
tract violation if any of it's mem
bers engaged in an unauthorized
wildcat strike"
Truman declared, as did many
union witnesses before the House
and Senate labor committees, that
the bill arbitrarily decides against
the workers" on such contract
clauses as union security, welfare
funds, safety provisions, rest per-
iod rules land many other legiti-
mate practices, since such prac-
tees may fall under the language
defining 'featherbedding.' s"
The bill would hit employers,
too, Truman stressed. 1t would Sin
vite unions to sue employers !.
regarding the thousands of minor
grievances which arise every day
over the Interpretation of bargain
ing agreements" In addition it
would prevent an employer from
freely granting a union shop con-
tract even where he and virtually
his entire working force were in
agreement as to its desirability."
The various projections that
unions give their members would
be destroyed, Truman said, "The
bill would make it easier for an
employer to get rid of employees
whom he wanted to discharge be-
cause they exercised their right
of self-organization 1t would
permit an employer to dismiss a
man on the pretext of slight
infraction of shop rules even
though his real motive was to
discriminate against this em-ploye
for union activity 1t would
give employers the means to en-
gage in endless litigation, drain
ing the energy and resources of
unions in court actions, even
though the particular charges were
groundless 1t would deprive
workers of the power to meet the
competition of goods produced un-
der sweatshop conditions ;"
In addition, Truman pointed out,
at would reduce the responsibility
of employers for unfair labor
practices committed in their behalf.
At the same time it would expose
unions to suits for acts of violence,
wildcat strikes and other actions,
none of which were authorized or
ratified by them"