Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-12-22
1850 Labor Survey

Labor became increasingly concerned over the
sloppy handling of the mobilization program. The
AFL, CIO, Machnists and Rail Unions formed an
unofficial committee defense mobilization. On
December IA, this was made permanent 14-man
body, to present united front on labor policy in
regard to wages, prices manpower and production.
Only John l.. Lewis was not represented
In late November wage raises were won for
over million workers in steel AT the time
steel companies announced price boosts averaging
Sc per ton. Ford and General Motors also raised
prices, refusing government request to hold the
price line Pressure for controls mounted. Other
auto makers also raised prices.
AS news from Korea worsened with entry of
Chinese Communists into the war, Truman went
to Congress for $18 billion to expand the armed
forces.
In mid-December, an overall Defense Produc-
ton Agency was established, with General Elec-
tries Charles E. Wilson head. The President
declared the nation to be in estate of emergency"
and called upon everyone to help in vast mobil-
ization effort to stem Communism and keep the
lamp OF freedom burning in every part of the
world.
CONGRESS IN 1850
President Truman, in his State of the Union
message, expanded the Fair Deal program in terms
of the goal ahead Most of the measures he called
for were not enacted by the Congress.
In March, the Senate engaged in a tremendous
brawl over bill that would take control of natural
gas away from the federal government raising the
cost of gas to home consumers by billions of dollars
But President Truman, under labor and liberal pres
the bill.
In August Social Security bill was finally passed
increasing payments and covering some farm and
home workers not included previously. The BILL
however, contained BOBBY trap amendment allow
ing states to refuse jobless benefits to workers who
refuse to scab.
Many federal agencies took cuts in their funds
during the year, after economy Senators had work
ed over the appropriations bill Only after terrific
pressure from the White House and from liberal
groups, was enough money furnished to continue
Marshall Plan aid to Europe and provide start
on Point Four aid program for other areas of the
world.
CIVIL RIGHTS: Civil rights legislation was
postponed to death, bad blow to American pres
tge abroad The proposal for Fair Employment
Practices Commission was squashed.
The movement to abolish discrimination Jared
better in the courts. In June, the Supreme Court
barred segregation in railway diners and in state
universities Progress also made in sports,
where the whites only" rule was dropped by the
American Bowling Congress, and in the US Armed
forces.
HOUSING AND RENTS: Possibly the worst de-
feat of the year for the Administration that of
the Middle Income Housing bill in March. Unions
had fought hard for the measure which would
have broken the housing bottleneck through oc-
operative building projects for families in the $25OO
to $45O0 year bracket
Rent control took beating in the 81st Con-
gress too. In June when controls were to expire,
bin squeaked through extending them to the end of
the year and giving local communities the right to
vote decontrol.
After Thanksgiving when Congress reconvened,
1t passed 90-day extension under pressure of the
defense program.
MONOPOLY: price squeeze by the big steel
companies was investigated in April by House
subcommittee chaired by Rep. Emmanuel Celler
d., NY). Government economists warned at the
time that the indusry's failure to expand would
eventually lead to steel shortage and unemploy-
ment. Their predictions were borne out less than
three months later when the defense program got
started All antitrust legislation however died in
committees.
TAFT-HARTLEY: The Taft Hartley act is still
on the books. During the year, the Senate subcom-
mittee on Labor Management Relations, watchdog
for the law, held series of investigations into
labor relations in the textile phone and maritime
industries. Committee Chairman James Murray Cd,
Mont0 said the testimony showed that changes
needed.
A labor-Spy racket the east coast waterfront
WAS hr0l1phf To oft dur