The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-09-30
Next Steps

Since the first celebration of Labor Day, amazing
changes in technical progress have revoluonzed human
life Though spiritually akin to those workers who
gave presentday unions the changes in homes
and in work procedures would make seem strangers
In those days hand work and the work day ten
and twelve hours for six days week. Now with
the ve-day fortyhour week and greatly expanded
omy which provides workers with electrically driven mac
hne TOOLS with output of that of seventy
ago. the workers need of the unions which
developed with factory production.
Unions organizations through which workers plan
and promote their interests Opportunities for progress
greater than before Workers have additional
fence which demonstrates the benefits of organization Since
the right to union membership is assured by law workers
who join following general practice and not
ring risk of the dread blacklist which cut them off from
poyment and involved all the dangers of strike and police
violence when strikers treated outlaws. We
practically the primitive period of labor relations when
workers denied the right of contracttha is partc
patton in determining the terms and conditions under which
they work Even the Taarey Law does not deny rights
but seeks to limit their effectiveness by qualifying and regu
lating them.
Though union gains have been substantial the struggle
for progress is just intense, but in different fields Pre-
sent union plans are consolidate gains by improving col
ecve bargaining data that rates shall be based
the workers contribution to the business enterprise Coec
tive bargaining should be based operating records show
ing costs of materials overhead including cost of sales and
labor COSTS with records of gross income and it's distribution
profits dividends reserves, taxes.
If management really wants the cooperation of the pro-
ducon force it must provide the challenge that from
problems solve standards to be achieved BY accepting
responsibility for providing the union with data prOduc
tion and ncomefacs about the enterprise in which work
of wage rates sound basis In return workers will give
consideration to whatever undu increases production costs
The will for efficiency is valuable asset to any business.
Most workers will be concerned they benefit thereby
The Federation believes that one key to sound labor
relations, well to economic stability, lies better
counting practices and in making records available to those
affected by the information involved We believe that the
production staff that invests labor power and ability in
enterprise just much partners in the business enter
prise those who invest capital Workers who carry out
production operations should have records not only of their
output and labor COSTS but of overall operations sales and
income distribution Some outstanding members of manage
have found possible and extremely useful to give
every worker regular reports his productonquantity
and quality BY making these frank modern practices gen.
era management the cooperation of workers.
An immediate step is for management and accountants
develop the data that will disclose what is happening in
business. There has been tendency accounting to
conceal what and boards of directors consider
unwse revelations Doubtless big factor in this tendency
that the needs of business not generally understood
and large earnings and large might not meet with
popular favor However, period when free enter
prise must justify itself by its results Business must be
understood basis of known facts.
1t lies within the power of management and accountants
develop and make useful all the facts necessary esa
sh standards in production and distribution These stand
ards will provide basis for honest labor relations.
The workers of the United States are proud of our
economic enterprises and their achievements By making
partners of workers and sharing business information with
them management make jealous, informed defenders
of economic system.
On Labor Day, in this crucial period of world history
the American Federation of Labor challenges business to
adopt this sound practice in it's interests and in the in
tereStS of the whole nation