The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-07-07
More UNDERSTANDING Of
Ldbor's Aims Needed,
Illinois Conferees Say
Champaign, Ill. UPA) - What ::

| Champaign, Ill. LPA) - What
do organized workers expect from
the community in which they live
What does the community demand
from unions? How can labor and
the community achieve b e t t e 1
standards thru cooperation?
The University of Illinois Insti-
tute of Labor & Industrial Rela-
tions posed these questions last
month to leaders in all walks of
life in two we'll organized indus
trial towns in northern Illinois
LaSalle and Ottawa.
Local unions sponsored the meet
ings at which spokesmen for labor,
industry, local, merchants, nearby
farmers, and city government Of
ficials sat down together to ex-
change view points.
In both LaSalle and Ottowa five
man panels were confident that a
cooperative spirit among the prin-
cipal groups in the community
would result in better living for all
of its citizens. They stressed too
the Importance of each individual
in labor and business organizations
taking a responsible part in the
affairs of the groups to which he
belongs.
At the LaSalle discussion of
trade unions and the community,
Robert Foley. president of the
Westclox Workers Local Union
12753-AFL, said that the town
owes labor Square deal" Not
only are the workers entitled to
fair treatment by their employers,
but other community groups must
recognize unions as vital parts of
the social structure. Unions, Foley
declared, should receive decent
news coverage and honest editor
ial comment in local papers.
Labor's obligation to the COM
munity was discussed by Hobart
Payne, IA trustee of Local 70 of the
Int'l Chemical Workers Union
AFL. Payne said that altho "a
large group in labor believes it
owes nothing to the community"
its influence is declining.
He stressed the importance of
the union movements giving the
rest of the people a completely
honest discussion of it's problems
and interests.
Stuart Richardson, president of
the LaSalle Chamber of Commerce
admitted that the C of C as we'll
as some unions could do with "a
little housecleaning." He urged
trade unionists to make sure their
leaders are men who can command
the respect of the community. Ifl
they do, he declared, the workers
can be among the
"most powerful in the world"
William S. Miller, vice-president
of a local manufacturing company, |
at the Ottawa meeting, ventured
the opinion that breakdowns in
intra- community relations are due
to the fact that 1--WE have become
a nation of too many pressure
groups"
He declared that each of these
groups has sincere and broadmind-
ed objectives, but that too often
their actual conduct is dictated by
selfish motives. The welfare of a
depends upon citizens
taking an interest in it's welfare,
not just that one group.
Another Ottawa businessman,
Frederick Rabenstein, said that the
Chamber of Commerce should in
:lude unions as well as employers,
and become a civic organization
for the well being of the
own.
One of the directors of the Ill
nois Agricultural Assn, Charles
elliott said: "If there are any diff
'erences between US it is due to
misunderstanding. More discuss
ons like this would prove that
we're not as far apart as we think
We are"
Research Director Leland Beard
If the Federation of Glass, Cera-
mic and Silica Sand Workers,
out that "you can't divorce
abor and the community"
Non-union people SHOULD try to
our position and what !
we're striving for" he declared. i
.abor, Beard said, has got to do I
'etter job of explaining it's aims to
he rest of the nation.
Besides it's claims on employers, Z
abor has claims on the community
90, Secretary Walter Williams of /,