Montana labor news., 1949-03-31
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

The struggle q labor's enemies to block repeal Of the
Taft-Hartley Law shows how deep rooted is the opposition
in some quarters 10 assuring unions equality Of opportunity
TO promote the welfare Of workers as now exists for those
eontrolling industries 10 advance ther particular interests
Workers ask the right to contrac- on the same free basis
as is enjoyed by management. The TaftHartley Act at
m is not only to regulate capricioasly the terms of contract
lewecn workers and employer hut it also undermines the
right of the majority to collective laIgaining by maintaining
the right Of a minority 70 indNid Ealgaining and redress
Of gret ances.
1t is impossible 10 administer III conflicting basic prin-
ais through the sans agencies nhen some government
al agency decides whas are pro q subjects for collective
La a.nHnz. inevitably collective bargaining bccames ineffec-
{ in %furtherng lator 5 welfare.
.or this basic reason, in addition 10 wage and often con
frosNions Of the Iafttlartley Law, its provisions
' b dsoG m nate against workers as a group and its limi-
OK Of lasi1 rights Of workers as free citizens, trade unions
le 7 cent political campaign to defeat labor enc
) es and elect representatives pledged to the
al 81 the Taft-IIarley Act as well as for the election of a
-a tor President pledged to the same objective and
! ~Lo lad vetoed that act. The results Of the election justify
M 4 Is Immediate repeal Of the Iaft-Hartley legis-
II enents If labor are using delaying tactics in the
lftah;ne down our opposition. They talk about
oa Q top strikes endangerng national health and
Is en recognizing that denial of the right to
y rs in industry implies even a greater menace
Il n4.onal rAty and Independence.
. dla' o. s com letely at variance with the basic prin-
{ moa1acy. Whether a strike in a specific industry
l. rs ma 5cnal safety depends upon conditions existing
a lie TIM within the industry and the country.
" The injunction places absolute power in the hands OF a
dtraI JUICE from whom recourse can 81 had only o Otner
edfral judges. Federal judges are appointed by the Presi-
lee ION the President, who is head of a political
!" party, the responsibility for declaring a strike endangering
;, .a41ual health and satey involves the decision in politics
and ;n1 olives the President in the use Of methods to create
y o, eminent by judiciary instead Of through chosen repre-
sentatives Of the voting citizen.
h The anti-C communist oath should be required Of all or of
none. Laws dealing with communism should be directed
~ against party members and heir agents and not indscrimin-
ately against those who work for wages.
Taft Hartley in a number of ways encourages litigation
to settle intra-unicn controversies and issues between employ
ers and employees. Experience has proven that the spirit
Of give and take in negotiations, supplemented by volun-
tary arbitration, provides greater justice and more workable
agreements than legal procedures and rulings.
Experience has also demonstrated that the purpose of in
dustry are better served when management and unions get
together and determine their own rules and conditions of
work and then jointly administer the operation of their con-
tract.
Out cf rlch OPP counties foi justice develops the cooper
ion lciw cen labor ard management necessary for most
onom Il unit production and bese utilization OF materials
land .ools. There develops an economic government suited
1, production objecnves with greatest justice and welfare
49, to all.
The American Federation Of Labor asks that the Taft
4 Hartley Act be repealed and the Wagner Act re- enacted
4 with provisions similar to those OF the Railway Labor Act
4 70 provide for serious emergencies