Evening star., 1949-12-01
Green Calls for Fight
Against Reds by New
Labor Confederation
BY the Assoeiaied Press

BY the ASSoeiofed preSS
LONDON, Dec. 1.-Willia m
Green, president of the American
Federation of Labor, called today
for fighting anti-Communist
campaign by the proposed new
Free World Labor Confederation.
1--WE must have a strong. mill
tant, fighting International" he
told the $50 delegates at a confer
ence called to form a new anti
Communist confederation OF 50,-
O0O, 900 workers.
Communists have chosen to
fight our democratic trade unions.
That is one of the reasons why we
must carry the fight to them"
Mr.. Green said the new interna-
tional must work for economic
democracy"
That meant, he said: THE right
Of workers to organize unions free
Of control; the right Of labor to
free choice Of employment, the
right to strike, the right of collec-
tive bargaining. higher wages, in
creased opportunity for education
and better housing for the work.
ers."
"No Depression in u. S."
There is no economic depres-
sion in the United States" Mr..
Green said. Every sign points to
sustained high level of economic
activity. an economy which can
afford minimum wage Of 81 an
hour, the AFL goal"
He assailed communism as "the
slavery of the worker" and he said
talk that Russia was workers
paradise is a myth"
Most of the unions represented
at the conference Withdrew last
January from the World Fedora
tion Of Trade Unions. Commu-
nists controlled it. The delegates
here represent As countries.
Martin Bolle Of the Netherlands,
spokesman for the International
Trade Secretariats. pledged the
secretariats to cooperate with
the new international. He said he
spoke for II secretariats with o.
900. 900 members.
Each secretariat is made up Of
workers in one particular industry.
In the past they have refused to
join international labor bodies
made up of dissimilar unions.
For the time being we will
maintain our basic independence,
will cooperate fully. and then
later review that question of in
dependence" Mr.. Bolle said.
Mr.. Bolle indicated that the
secretariats' decision on joining
the confederation will hinge on
how large a voice they are given
in its affairs.
I'VE want adequate representa-
tion," he said.
Irving Brown, European repre-
sentative of the AFL, suggested
that the economic and social de-
mands of the new confederation
should be:
More production and capital
investment to improve workers
standards of living everywhere. !"
Social security Tor the workers
in a democratic system where
free labor exists and can organ
ize in defense and the protection
of economic and human rights.
Investigation, exposure and
elimination of forced labor and
the militarization Of labor as prac-
tices in the U. S. S. r. and Eastern
Europe.
"Unification of national econ
omies on regional and continental
bases and extension of the role
of trade unions in the economic.
the governmental and intergov-
ernmental agencies of the world" ;"
Wall Street Assailed.
David Mcdonald of Pittsburgh,
member of the CIO delegation,
told the conference the recent
CIO-led steel strike in the United
States-was forced on us by Wall
Street"
"But at the same time we were
attacked in other directions" he
said. Various branches Of the
Communist Party In the United
States attempted to distribute
their literature calling upon the
workers to smash reactionary
trade union leaders,
THE Moscow radio. too, called
on the steel workers to rise in
revolt against their union. But
the steel workers stood firm, won
a great victory and secured tht
rights and benefits for which they
had struck.
This steel workers victory was
the most fatal blow that has been
struck yet at communism. We
have proved that through trade
union practices of free action and
free choice men can face the fu-
ture, heads up and unafraid."
Burma Airlift' Carries On
With insurgents still blocking
most lines Of transportation, gov