The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1951-03-29

administer a price control program
"emphasizing dollars and cent,
lceiling prices; effective procedures
| for handling manpower, utilizing
the voluntary efforts" of labor
management.
Green said labor would never
Iyield until the government granted
| it top-level responsibilities in the
shaping of the mobilization effor
against the world drive of Com
munism. The United Labor Policy
Committee pulled all labor repre-
sentatives out Of the defense agen-
cies Feb. %, charging that big bust
ness was running the show while
labor was given only window
dressing" roles. Twelve days earl
ier, labor withdrew from the Wage
Sterilization Board in protest
against the 10-percent-over-Jan. Is
1850 wage "catch-up" formula.
Before spelling out labor's pro-
gram, Green outlined labor's part
in the defense program from the
outbreak of hostilities in Korea to
date. He pointed out that in Aug
ust the AFL Executive Council
called for price controls with roll
back to June Is levels; wage con-
trolls if necessary, but not until
wages caught up with living costs
voluntary solutions to manpower
! controls; White House power to
allocate industrial materials and
ration scarce consumer goods; in
creased taxes representing equal
lity of sacrifice; full labor partici-
patton in defense administration.
A policy statement adopted by the
AFL convention in Houston, Texas
six weeks later "closely parallel"
the executive councils program,
Green declared.
Later on, the AFL found w.
Stuart Symington, chairman of the
National Security Resources Board
and for a time coordinator of mo-
bilization activities, Every willing
to listen to our point of view,"
Green said. The AFL participated
in a nine-man informal labor COM
mittee for dealing with Symington.
This informal group led to creation
of the United Labor Policy Com
mittee in December after Every
thorough discussion" by AFL lead
ers. The ULPC has been an "ex-
tremely effective instrument" the
AFL president pointed out. On
Dec. Is, President Truman named
Charles E. Wilson to "direct" mo-
bilization, and the picture changed.
The ULPC asked Truman to give
the Wage Sterilization Board auth
ority to make final decisions and
to allow wage adjustments in terms
of living costs, recognition of ex-
isting contracts, and overtime for
premium work. But in subsequent
meetings with Truman, Wilson, and
others, on the above topics and
new ones the ULPC found "its
recommendations ignored, or pos
itively rejected" Green said. Espec-
tally did the ULPC find that Will
son carried over into government
his private philosophy and view-I
point as a representative of "BigI
Business Wilson wasn't interest
ed in labor's potential contribution,
according to Green.
Labor's withdrawal from theI
Wage Sterilization Board Feb. 16l
and from all defense agencies 12l
days later was designed to bringI
the facts to the attention of the
American people, Green said. On|
both occasions the LPC explain
ed its position fully, he added.
One issue has been labor's de-
mand for full-scale representation
in Wilson's office at least on a
level with his top big-business de-
puties. But by the time Wilson
asked the ULPC to nominate men
for such a post, the ULPC "was
that the appointment of
any labor official to such posi-
ton would constitute only window
Green declared. He said
labor would "await details" before
an opinion on President
Truman's creation of a 16-man ad-
visory board, plus Wilson as chair
man, on which labor, industry,
agriculture and the public would
be represented. Green also charged