Evening star., 1948-11-28

I1tOI1Gy w 0CaA W4oAA ocAAnSS eAAess
threaten public health or safety,
and a longtime study by q joint
congressional committee Of labor
management problems. OF course,
Congress ignored the President and
imposed many more restrictions on
unions.
Curiously, when Mr.. Harrison was
asked how far labor eventually
would be willing to 90 in the matter
of new law, he. too, referred the
questioner to the Presidents recon-
mendations.
Most of the other AFL leaders ad-
NIT privately that labor will have
to take at least what the President
suggested nearly two years ago.
They are willing to make the addi-
tional concessions on non-Com-
ImuniSt affidavits and to allow en-
ployers free speech" in talking with
employees. While the Wagner Act
did not specifically permit free
speech, the NLRB, toward the end,
was interpreting it 80 as to allow
employers much more freedom of
expression. The AFL will insist, how
ever, that any coercion or threats on
the part of management in regard
to union membership must be ex-
pressly prohibited.
Joseph D. keenan,, director of the
AFLs political league, expresses the
changed attitude of many labor
leaders on the subject Of Federal
law.
Plans to Watch for Tricks
The Wagner law went too far in
helping labor and restricting en-
ployers. Then, the pendulum swung
much too far the other way and
Congress enacted Taft-Hartley
which, eventually, and especially In
times OF recession or depression,
could and probably would be used to
destroy unions. What hope for is
that the pendulum now will be bal
anced so that the law will be fair to
both Sides"
AFL plans to keep very close
watch on both Congress and the
Truman administration to see to
it that mo tricks are pulled" as
one leader put it. A three man
committee has been set up to lead
the drive for Hartley repeal.
Mr.. Harrison heads it. The other
members are Dan w. Tracy, head
of the electrical workers, and
Charles ]. MacGowan of the boiler
makers.
Then, a national legislative coun-
Gil was established by the conven-
ton. 1t includes legislative repre-
sentatives of the unions, plus Ex-
ecutive Council members in Wash
ington. The council will keep close
watch on both the administration
and Congress. AFL President Will
liam Green said the first meeting
will be held probably within a week.
Labor feels it played the ajor
role in the election of Mr.. Truman
and a Democratic Congress. AS for
the AFL, the last campaign marked
its first major venture IN the field
of politics. 1t liked the results
and is getting set to be even more
active in future elections.
The AFL feels that it is in a
position to get pretty much what
it wants in Washington. But, If
the convention speakers are to be
believed, there is no desire to take
advantage of the situation at the
public's expense.
There will be much bargaining
around Washington in the weeks
Immediately ahead. AFL believes its
position is strong. But when all
of the fog is cleared here is what
most of the thinking AFL leaders
believe the new law will include
in addition to the simple union Or
ganization guarantees of the Wagner
Act:
What the Leaders Expect
l. A way of handling national
emergency strikes or stoppages en-
dangering public health and safety.
Most AFL people would like, in this
respect, to see some method of vol
untary "cooling-off" periods sub
stituted for Taft-Hartley court in
junction provisions, or for revival
of Government authority to seize
struck facilities.
2. A ban or at least severe re-
strictions on jurisdictional strikes.
However, some leaders, Notably in
the building trades, say they will
not agree to q prohibition.
8. Curbs on certain types of Sec
ondary boycotts. But the AFL will
not agree to handling of struck
| WIN, AO1 CAh1uplC, VI W lldllUllllS
of goods produced in shops where
working conditions are considered
substandard.
4. Nom Communist affidavits with
the proviso that management repre-
sentatives must sign them also.
5. Free speech for employers. but
prohibition on coercive or threat
ening remarks.
It should be emphasized that this
is the position, generally given only
privately, of influential men of the
AFL. Publicly the AFL will go not
nearly so far until they have taken
full advantage of bargaining" with
the Government.
Labor, the AFL says, must be
freed from many unfair" union
practices of Taft-Hartley. The ban
on the closed shop must be lifted,
and among other things labor must
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