Evening star., 1948-04-30
Labor Board Attorney
To Question ITU Head
On TaftAct'V Violations
By the Assoeioted Press

Whether the AFL International
typographical Union is violating the
Taft Hartley Act in contract nego-
tiations with New York City news
paper publishers was at issue today
Allen Snsheimer, attorney for the
National Labor Relations Board, SO
charged yesterday and said he
would prove his contention by ques-
tioning Woodruff Randolph. presi-
dent of the ITU, at hearings today.
The ITU is barred by a Federal
Court injunction from continuing
alleged Taft-Hartley violations as
charged by the American Newspaper
Publishers Association. The NLRB
hearings are being held to determine
if the charges are true.
Up to Denham.
Mr.. Sinsheimer told reporters it is
not up to him, but to NLRB General
Counsel Robert N. Denham, to de-
eide and tell the court whether the
New York case runs afoul of the in
functions terms. The court order
was issued March 27.
Mr.. Randolph had charged in a
statement that NLRB attorneys are
trying to dictate" what terms the
ITU should offer the New York pub
fishers and are indicating they are
deslrous of preventing fair collective
bargaining"
This brought a denial from Mr.
Sinsheimer who told reporters he
wanted to show % the ITU still is
debating policies to it's locals, and
CD ordering the locals "to commit
certain unfair labor practices" now
at issue in the ANPA hearings.
Mr.. SinSheimer succeeded in hav-
ing the ANPA proceedings amended
to include New York City as a place
where the ITU Is specifically charged
with Taft-Hartley violations.
Van Arkel Objection Lost.
This was done over the strenuous
objections of Mr.. Randolph's attor-
ney, Gerhard Van Arkel. Mr.. Van
Arkel contended any evidence or
matters arising since the March q
injunction date was immaterial tc
the ANPA hearings.
Mr.. Van Arkel said the union haC
changed some of its practices tc
conform to the injunction. He said
if evidence on these new practices
was allowed, the NLRB, when it
eventually reviews the case after
the hearings. may decline to rule
on the legality of the former prac-
tices barred by the injunction on
the ground they don't exist any
more.
On this point, Mr.. Van Arkel, who
formerly was the NLRBs general
counsel, said:
THE board has showed no dis
position to decide important issues
during the past few months. If it
can find a dodge to avoid deciding
important issues it will do it,"
Reached Tentative Agreement.
Mr.. ,Sinsheimer indicated he does
not consider it to be a violation of
the Taft-Hartley Act for the ITU
to suggest contract clauses to locals
but that he does consider it vio-
lation If the ITU insists the locals
have no right to vary from them in
bargaining.
The New York ITU local reached
a tentative agreement with pub
fishers there about two weeks ago on
a contract for composing room
printers. But the proposal was
rejected by Mr.. Randolph and the
TITUS Executive Board. The ITU
has a rule that all proposals must
be approved by the international
union.
In his testimony yesterday, Mr..
Randolph defended the ITU against
the alleged violations. In a sepa-
rate proceeding, he was granted ad-
ditional time to reply to similar
charges brought by the commercial
printing industry.
In the ANPA case, Mr.. Randolph
testified he had not tried to prevent
employers from hiring nonunion
foremen.
Won't Approve Contracts.
He also declared, however. that he
would not approve any work con-
tracts which would allow news
papers to hire nonunion foremen in
their printing departments.
z The Taft-Hartley law prohibits q
union from restraining or coercing
an employer in selecting foremen
Mr.. Randolph said he had been
assured by attorneys that the union
still can legally insist on a contract
clause specifying that composing
room foremen must be ITU mem
bers.
He said some newspaper publish
ers are agreeing to this clause in
contracts.
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