Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-11
Worning to Trumun Seen
In GSI Strike Protest
Murray Letter Calls for Showdown
With Left Wing UPWA.CIO
By Gerard D. Reilly

BY Gerard IL. KetHp
The tone Of the letter In which Phil
Murray demanded that President Truma
order Government officials ito refrain from
union busting activities" in connection wit
the current strike called in the Government
cafeterias by CLIO local should serve as
warning to the administration that it has tenn
ported far too long with the problem Of Com
munist iniltration of the executive branch
Of the Government under the guise of unionism
The local in question is branch Of the
United Public Workers Union, CLIO afhli.
| ate, which has been conspicuous for It's de-
nunciation of Secretary Marshalls foreign poll
| icies and its enthusiasm for Soviet penetration
Of the Balkan states. Needless to say, neither
its national nor its local officers have filed this
Communist disclaimers required by the new
labor law of unions which wish to avail them
selves of the facilities of the National Labor
Relations Board
UPWA has gained foothold in most Of
the larger departments. Although only small
minorities Of employees have joined, 1t has
taken in a stable number of workers with real
or fancied grievances. It has also acquired
prestige In some departments by inducing
officials either too timorous or too politically
ambitious to incur the enmity of a CLIO union
to abandon merit principles in promotion In
favor of the unions strict seniority policy. Once
1t has persuaded employees to join, however.
proceedings at union meetings are not confined
to matters relating to the status Of Government
employees but with discussions designed to
impress the theological theories of the leaders
upon the rank and file
During the war period when the workers In
cafeterias were feeling the pinch Of the Wage
Sterilization Act. this union capitalized upon
their discomfort by chartering q special local
to represent the mattresses and kitchen help
in the cafeterias Of the Government ONCE
buildings In Washington These cafeterias are
not operated directly by the agencies but by Q
quast-Federal organization known as Govern
ment Services, Inc, whose Board Of Trustees Is
largely made up Of the chief clerks Of the
various executive departments. Under this
arrangement the status Of the workers Is that
Of private employees and they are consequently
covered by the National Labor Relations Act.
Accordingly, the trustees entered into collec-
tive bargaining contract with the union setting
standards for wages, hours and other working
conditions.
When the current contract was expiring, the
trustees being aware of widespread detection
from the union, took position which was
both legally and morally unassailable. They
informed the union that If it wished to con-
tinue as the exclusive bargaining representa-
tive it must demonstrate in National Labor
Relations Board election that it still repre-
scented majority Of the employees.
Under the Labor Management Relations Act
the union, because of its failure to file the
qualifying documents, was ineligible to petit
ton for such an election. Moreover, under its
Interpretation Of the act in the Lowenstein
case, which has been the subject Of some criti-
cism, the board has ruled that even II an
election case arises on an employer petition 1t
will not put an ineligible union on the ballot.
Subsequently the union called a strike to en-
force its demand for recognition. The response
to the strike call was only partially successful
despite the unions picketing Forty Of the AZ
cafeterias have been operating with old en-
ployes and requirements.
The union has been contending that 1t mas
been justified in striking since the only legal
effect Of failure to file the affidavits under the
new law is to be deprived Of its standing before
the Labor Board. While this argument Is
technically correct it ignores the Boards rea-
soning in the Lowenstein case, which was that
victory at the polls by noncomplying union
even without later formal certifcation would
confer certain moral and practical advantages
which the basic policy Of Congress appears
to discountenance The plain implication OF
this opinion is that even a private employer
has no moral duty to continue dealing with an
organization which Is defying Congress II
this is true of industry generally, 1t would seem
to apply with even greater force to an agency
like Government Services, Inc, which is not
only composed Of Government officials but Is
acting for the United States in the expenditure
Of money appropriated for by Congress.
Unfortunately, the spacious plea OF the union
seenos tn have impressed some liberals who were
annsrently unaware of the underlying issue
Among them was Secretary OF the Interior
Krue. who requested that the Interior Depart
ment be closed while it was being picketeo.
The closing of the Interior cafeteria, however,
is not a matter under the Secretarys Jur1sdlc-
tion but lies within the province OF FederaI
Works Administrator Philip B. Fleming Inc
administrator promptly ordered the cafeteria
to be kept open, thus making himself the par
ticular target of Mr.. MuSrays denunclation'
DESPITE the fact that as director OF the wage
and Hour Division he had proved himself
devoted champion Of the legitimate rights Of
all wage earners
In one respect however, Mr.. Murray's trucu-
lent letter was right. The confusion IN policy
among high Government officials has indeed
created situation which calls for intervention
by the President. He should support the posi-
ton of Gen. Fleming and Of Government SerV-
ices, Inc, and call upon all cabinet officers and
bureau chiefs to respect them.
The President should also inform Mr.. Murray
that the United Public Workers Union under Its
present leadership is not an organization he
will continue to tolerate in Government depart
ments This. notice could be made effective
by the issuance of an appropriate executive
order.
time when the administration Is putting
forth every effort to convince members Of Con-
press of the efficacy and good faith Of its pro-