Evening star., 1948-12-26

|PrOrnlnent1n
Italy's Labor
MANAGEMENT Council
Influenced. by
Red Doctrine
By Fronk o'Brien

By Fronk o'Brien
TURIN.-Men in oyeralls, guided
by Communist doctrines, have taken
seats at directors tables in Italy's
biggest industries.
They are members of "Consigli di
Gestione"SCouncils of Management
perhaps the most powerful long
range Communist weapon in italy.
These Councils Of Management
have nothing to do with union Or
ganization or ordinary labor COM
plants. In the words of young,
soft-spoken. Giovanni Comipozzi,
Communist secretary for the Coun-
cils of Management movement at
the Turin Chamber Of Labor, the
councils "are interested in every
thing that normally interests the
Board Of Directors"
In year Of intense activity,
councils have been established in
nearly every big firm in North and
Central Italy. That is where almost
all big factories in italy are located.
It is also where communism is
strongest.
Fiat Is Organized
Asked if it would be correct to
say where communism is strongest,
the Councils of Management move
ment is strongest" Cominozzl Smil-
ingly replied:
THAT is about right. We prefer,
however, to say that where labor
organization is strongest the Coun-
cils of Management are strongest" "
The biggest Italian industry Of
all-Fiat's giant works in Turin,
making everything from auto
mobiles through farm machinery
and motorboats to airplanes-has a
Council of Management in every
section, plus supreme Council OF
Management that sits down once
month with those who own and
direct Fiat.
In a smaller one-plant industry,
one council suflces. But Fiat is the
pattern for big-scale operations.
800 Councils in Action
The Councils of Management
movement was encouraged by the
General Confederation of Labor,
which is dominated by Communists.
The first steps were taken shortly
after Northern Italy's liberation
three years ago. The movement got
hard push from the confederation
about 18 months ago and in the last
year has become increasingly evident
as a major instrument Of Commu-
mist Labor policy in Italy. There are
approximately 800 councils In action
now.
This is how the councils are organ
lied, and what they mean to do.
The information is from pamphlet
put out by the Coordination Com
mittee for Councils of Management
in Piedmont. Piedmont is the highly
industrial region of which Turin is
capital.
Labor must control production,
the pamphlet states.
But the Councils first duty, espe-
cially where owners oppose the
movement, is to assure jobs"-keep
the men at work by preventing lay
ioffs. This proviso was heavily en-
phasized by the pamphlet.
Fight Against Layoffs
One of the chief ills Of Italian
industry-all but Communicated
labor are agreed-is swollen pay
rolls. The confederation is dedi-
Gated to a no-quarter fight against
employers who try to lay men OH.
Most strikes in Italy now arise from
layoffs.
Employers almost unanimously
claim they cannot bring down pro-
duction costs and reduce consumer
prices until they can eliminate
workers they say are superfluous'
The employers say they can only in
crease employment by first laying
men of, offering the public goods
at reduced prices (Which could COM
pete for foreign markets where they
cannot now, due to the high price
of Italian MANUFACTURED and, with
increased consumption, absorb the
laid-of workers, and more, into in
creased production.
The Councils of Management, en-
ployers say, steadfastly refuse even
to consider this solution.
Insist on Improvements
The councils insist technical i'm
provements in production, invest
ment of more capital, retooling
with modernized machines and mar
keting without middleman profits
can achieve the same end without
the painful layoff interim.
The councils functions are "ad-
visory." Each council consists OF
an equal number of men elected by
the workers from their ranks and
men appointed by the employers.
The head or owner Of the factory
presides, with two votes, giving him
and his side the majority.
But it is not advisable for en-
ployers to use their majority to
frustrate the workers representa-
tives on major issues. The coun-
cils cannot call strikes. But they
work in strict liaison with internal
Commission" set UP by the con-
federation in all factories.
Books Open to Council
A firms books are supposed to be
open to its Council Of Management
in all matters Of interest to the
council, the Piedmont committees
pamphlet said.
Councils of Management should