Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-07-14

the ALL are IN SUBSTANTIAL agreement III IHeH
support of the legislative program to which
President Truman and his incoming Admins
tration stand pledged The same holds true
with respect to the Railway labor unions"
The AFL, at that time, declined the C1O
suggestion of united action.
Mr.. Murrays letter was, in a sense, fol-
low-up to a speech he had delivered at the
closing session of the 1948 CIO Convention
held in Portland, Oregon, November 22-26.
In that address, he said the CIO "is prepared
to meet with representatives of AFL for the
purpose of giving consideration to plans OF
social, economic and political nature advanc-
ed to meet the cause of the American people
we propose to develop, if it is humanity
possible, cooperative relationships not only
with that organization but with all other Ia
Dor organizations in the USA, to look toward
the attainment of our common goals"
During the following year, there developed
increased indications of the desire for labor
unity. both in the state and local scale. Dur
ing the 1949 strikes in the coal mining steel
and auto industries, for instance, there were
a number of pledges of mutual help and sup
port - usually involving gift or loan OF
money for strike funds or legal assistance
where possible.
At the same time and growing out of the
1948 elections, there was manifested grow
ing spirit of operational labor unity among
local and state CIO, AFL Brotherhood and
independent unions. The national office of
the CIO has many reports of consultation and
formalized programs for state and city legis-
lative activity strike assistance and political
action work. This latter was symbolized by
the appearance of Mr.. Joseph keenan,, Direc-
tor of the AFL Labor's League for Political
Education, as an invited speaker at the CIO
National Political Action Conference held in
Washington, D. c.. on June 16, 1850.
During $780, over 80 state or city united
labor committees, representing CIO and AFL
unions were functioning on political action
and/or legislative issues and problems.
One other aspect of the trend toward labor
unity developed in the field of international
affairs. This move toward unity was worked
out in connection with plans for new world
labor group, the International Confederation
of Free Trade Unions, which was established
at an International Conference In London at
the end of November, 1949.
In making plans for the participation of
both the CIO and the AFL in this new organi-
zation, discussions were held in Washington
on April %, 1949. A subsequent issue of The
CIO News reported that it had been friend
ly discussion" and that agreement had been
reached on number of points. The points
included methods of achieving balanced AFL
and CIO representation on various executive
bodies and committees of the new ICFTU;
and The CIO News also reported that sit was
also agreed that CIO and AFL delegates to
meetings of the new international labor organ
iZation will seek to consult before hand in an
effort to reach common policy"
vi
The latest unity move developed out of
letter written on April 4, 1850, by CIO Pre-
sident Murray and addressed to AFL Presi-
dent Green and the heads of the United Mine
Workers of America, the International Asso-
citation of Machinsts, the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers and the Railway Labor Ex-
ecutives Association.
In that letter. Mr.. Murray proposed the
creation OF a joint labor committee Consist
ing of duly accredited representatives of our
various organizations with authority to en-
bark upon and pursue a common program.
This committee should be given a double
mandate. Immediately, 1t should be empower
ed to coordinate our efforts in the organic,
legislative and political spheres, 1t should also
seek to achieve the organic unity of all the
American labor"
MI' MuITdy letler received COmpletely
favorable responses from President AL Hayes
of the International Association of Machinists,
from President John l.. Lewis of the United
Mine Workers, and from President w. p.
Kennedy OF the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen.
President Green Of the AFL replied on
April z, 1880, that the matter would be taken
up with the AFL Executive Council on May
3, 1850. AT that time, President Green wrote
to President Murray that the AFL Executive
Council "has authorized and directed me to
advise you and your organization that we
are prepared to select a committee to meet a
like committee of the CIO to engage in con-
ference looking toward an early and success
ful realization of unity upon a permanent and
secure basis between our respective organiza-
tions"
Mr.. Green indicated that the AFL is still
primarily interested in achieving organic un-
ity in all fields of organized labors activ-
ity -"
In subsequent weeks, the AFL and the CIO
have both named unity negotiating commit
tees.
The CIO committee consists of President
Murray; Secretary-T Treasurer James B. Carey
Vice President Allan S. Haywood; President
Joseph Curran of the National Maritime I'm
ion; President Walter Reuther of the United
Automobile Workers; President Emil Rieve of
the Textile Workers Union of America; Pre-
sident l.. S. Buckmaster of the United Rubber