Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-07-14
Fact Sheet On Labor Unity

ores, of Industrial Organizations and the
American Federation of Labor has been pre-
pared by the CIO Publicity Department TO
assemble details on previous discussions on
the subject as ,rell as general chronology OF
tho nresentlu contemplated discussions be-
ttceen the t,Do orgdnizdttons)
The theme of labor unity has run through
d,scussions and writings in both the ClO ana
fhe AFI, during the entire post war PERIOD
ON December 6. 1946 CIO President Muir
rsv addressed letter to the heads OF the Am
erican Federation of Labor and the various
Railroad Brotherhoods in which ne suggested
that some degree of labor unity would De ne
cessary to provide adequate defense against
the expected anti-union activities OF the IN
coming 8Oth Congress. This corresponding
continued between President Murray and AfL
president Green until March 1947 when plans
were formally completed for series OF unity
discussions between the AFL and the ClO.
These discussions were held at the Hotel
statler in Washington on May l and 2, 1947.
The meeting constituted the fourth series Oh
discussions between CIO and ALL on unity.
previous meetings in 1887, 1889 and l94l-43
had ended without agreement
The CIO spokesmen at that time consisted
of. CIO President Philip Murray; President
walter Reuther of the United Automobile
workers; President Emil Rieve of the Tex
tile Workers Union of America Presldent
Jacob S. Potofsky of the Amalgamated Cloth
ing Workers of America; and Albert j. Fltz-
gerald President of the United Electrical, Ra-
dio & Machine Workers, which at that time
was CIO affiliate.
The AFI, committee consisted of: AFL
President Green Secretary-Treasurer George
Meany; President John L. Lewis of the United
Mine Workers now unaffilated; President
@AnVI AA1 ~ Tann
sters: and William Hutcheson of the Brother
hood of Carpenters.
The CIO proposals placed before that
meeting called for four steps;
/. Emergency joint action against anti-un-
ion legislation.
2. Proposals for an AFL-CIO agreement
"to eliminate jurisdictional disputes" and pre-
vent intra union boycotts and raidng.
3. Recognition in the unified labor move
ment of the principles of the industrial or
Ranization autonomous rights of international
unions and creation of effective labor political
action machinery.
4. Exploration by AFL-CIO unions in each
field of the possibility of eliminating jurisdic-
tional strife and seeking common programs.
The AFLs proposals were three in num-
ber:
1. That the various unions of the CIO SIM
ply affiliate with the AFL as the United Mine
Workers (unaffiliated) had already done.
2. That the "jonture" be completed by the
October, 1947 convention of the AFL, where
the various unions would have delegates in
attendance.
3. That the joint committee continue to
meet to work out details and to help pool la
bor's efforts in the economic and legislative
fields.
The two committees adjourned after a
dav in fha fun
sets of proposals. They issued joint state
ment however declaring that their "unani-
nous opinion" was that Organic unity should
be established within the American labor
movement" The statement said that two
groups would devote our energy and pur-
pose toward the realization of this common
objective. In the meantime, we shall continue
our efforts to prevent the enactment of highly
Objectionable anti-labor legislation now being
considered in the Congress of the United
States"
The 1947 unity discussions thus ended in
conclusively but the subject was matter of
continuing study.
The 1947 CIO Convention, held in Boston,
noted the devastating attack now being di-
rected against labor) by big business" and
the necessity to mobilize the progressive
forces of the nation for effective economic
and political action in the national and state
locals"
The same resolution voiced the conviction
'that a united labor movement Is necessary
and obtainable we believe, in all sincerity,
that joint united action within the American
labor movement Is the answer to the COM
pelling challenge to obtain the repeal of all
vicious anti-labor laws, and we shall work
tirelessly for such detectives as a contri-
button to the development of that unity of
labor and the people against the forces of
reaction, the CIO is prepared to enter into
mutual agreements with other trade unions to
bar any cross raiding and to respect one an
others organizational status"
II should be noted that a number of CIO
unions have in fact, completed such formal
and informal understandings with AFL un-
ions. One such example was the no-raiding
agreement concluded in the winter of l949-5O
between the United Automobile Workers CIO,
and the independent International Association
Of Machinists.
On December Is, 1948 CIO President
Murray addressed another unity letter to
AFL President Green and to the heads of the
Railroad Brotherhoods. This letter coming
about a month after the 1948 elections sug-
gested that close cooperation among all major
labor groups would be necessary to help win
T0I EDO lINI0N l0IIpMAI