Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-18
Special Board 10 Settle
Atomic Labor Disputes
is Urged in Report
By loseph A. Fox


day recommended creation of an
atomic energy labor relations
panel to settle labor disputes in
atomic plants and laboratories
owned by the Government and
operated under contract by private
enterprise. corporations and uni
versities.
The panel, TO be chosen by the
President from nominations made
by the Atomic Energy Commits
sion, would take jurisdiction only
after collective bargaining and
the normal processes Of concilia-
ton, including the Federal Media
ton and Cancellation Service. have
failed to effect settlement.
Where a panel is unable to reach
a settlement 1t would make recon-
mendations, but these would not
be compulsory.
The presidential board was set
up last September 3 by President
Truman after the Government
had headed Of q threatened
strike of AFL employees at the Oak
Ridge plant.
Board Headed by Davis.
In the case the Government en-
Joined the strike for 30 days
through the Taft Hartley Act and
then when the Injunction expired
the Mediation Service moved in
and got an agreement that kept
the establishment functioning.
The Presidential board was
headed by William H. Davis, war
time head of the War Labor
Board and included two other
prominent labor relations figures
Aaron Horvitz and Edwin E. White.
Their report stresses that neither
the security rules applicable to
atomic installations nor their ad-
ministration are matters for COL
lective bargaining between man
agement and labor"
In a statement issued as the re-
port was made public, President
Truman stressed that he would
give it careful consideration and
he pointed out that no special
legislation is necessary to make
the recommendation effective.
Special Responsibility Cited.
The special board report en-
phasized that the atomic program
includes some vital operations
which must not be interrupted by
strikes or lockouts and says there
lis a very special responsibility"
on the part Of private contractors
and labor unions" to seek in every
way by voluntary procedures and
mutual agreement peaceful and
orderly settlement of disputes af-
fecting such vital operations"
The report proposes that SUBJ
ject only to the Atomic Energy
Commissions responsibility under
law and to the special mediation
procedure recommended in the
report the normal and typical
aspects Of wages, hours and work
ing conditions which are the sub
stance of collective bargaining"
be left without Government inter-
ference to management and labor
- Trial Period Suggested.
The presidential board would
have the panels composed of three
members and says that the pro-
cedure suggested should be given
"a trial period Of two or possibly
three years" which would be sub
ject to termination by the Acc
at any time.
The panel procedure would be
modelled after that Of the Railway
Labor Board with q cooling-o of
period provided before a strike or
lockout could take effect.
As the board emissions opera
tons. private contractors and
unions at atomic installations
would be required to agree that
in case of dispute there would be
neither strike, lockout nor change
in existing terms and conditions