Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-12

k0IICu JCnSUIIVI1oI
Executive Hints Collision
By Truman, Union Chiefs
To Disregard Bargaining
By David Laurence
More sensational in some re-
spects than the Washington in
vestigations into the irregulari-
ties Of the "f1ve percenters" are
the disclosures at the hearings be-
ing conducted in New York before
q fact-finding board in the steel
dispute.
For It Is being intimated that
the President participated in a
conspiracy to disregard the obli-
cations of collective bargaining
under the law.
Clarence B. Randall, president
Of the Inland Steel Co.. insists that
wage demands were heard of for
the first time by his company at
the hearing before the Presidents
Board and that each company is
given about Is minutes to argue
for its economic life. He says:
bargaining was undertaken by
this union that turned out to be
bargaining in name only. Take
Inland Steel Co.. for example. It
Is now quite clear that at no time
did the union actually intend to
come to an agreement with us
We were but an insignificant part
In the working out of the global
strategy by which the establish
ment of this board was to be
forced upon the Government.
Strategy Of the Union.
1.-The wage demand which was
presented to you gentlemen was
never brought to our bargaining
table. We hear of 1t first here. It
was pensions the union asked OF
us. We made an offer on pensions.
We were confident that our en-
ployes liked that offer, but the
global strategy Of the union re-
quired that it be rejected and that
no single company be permitted to
make an agreement.
80 we ind ourselves pleading
our cause before strangers, men
of standing but men who are
strangers to our company and to
our employees. You have never
seen our plant, and never talked
with our men, and it isn't human
to expect that, In the few brief
moments that we shall be before
you, you can understand our prob
lens. Collective bargaining has
been destroyed. It has been re-
pealed by the President. And II
this union strategy works this
time, collective bargaining will
never come back. The precedent
here attempted. rejecting the
similar attempt made In 1916,
would commit us to boards and
Government wage-fixing forever. I"
Mr.. Randall declared that the
board would. by its recommends
TONS" be fixing wages and that,
even II the board denied the
unions demands, he would hold
the same view that the whole
President Truman was asked at
his press conference to comment
on Mr.. Randall's, remarks, but he
said that faet-finding boards had
been appointed from time to time
in industrial disputes for Is years
or more. ,,,, % : z., Ill.,. ,
What Mr.. Truman did not COM
ment on was the charge that the
union rugged up with the White
House the plan to avoid collective
bargaining in good faith and to
bring about the setting up of q
presidentially appointed board.
Leaders Gain Advantage.
Mr.. Randall's accusation can
well be made against all fact
finding boards II one or the other
Of the parties in the dispute con-
nive with the Government to have
them appointed as q means Of
achieving what could not be gained
through . direct negotiation.
In the case of steel, strike
was threatened but. before there
could be an exhaustive examina-
ton Of the issues, the plan for q
presidential board was Matched
n, as . consequence, the leaders
Of the steelworkers' union gain
an advantage, what Is to prevent
them from asking for the same
procedure on subsequent occasions
and ignore collective bargaining?
The answer lies in the attitude Of
the employers in the steel in
dustry.
Mr.. Randall says that IF man.
agement In q particular steel COM
pany feels 1t must take exception
to your findings. an attempt will
be made to forget the word
recommendations and to whip UP
public opinion to force company
acceptance-this I say my COM
pany will resist"
It remains to be seen, therefore,
whether the fact-flnding board
device can gain public confidence.
especially II the appointment Of
this board is proved to have been
part of q colluSive action by
President Truman and the heads
Of the steelworkers' union.
0eproduction Rishts Reserved)
(2!!4z|:Q!!|!!!!
d.! .!.l, cos spe!ai0l