The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1951-03-01
Why Labor
(COnfinued From Page Ons)

tne American way OF lie.
"These many different objective,
set forth in the Defense Production
Act emphasize that wage stabiliza.
tion is intended to be only one
prong of a many-pronged attack or
initiation in highly complex ano
integrated economy. The Boaro
was not ignorant of the proper role
of wage stabilization. In fact, its
December 18, 1860 statement or
the place of wage policy in the pre-
vention of initiation is an excellent
summary of the problem. 1T is
necessary the statement declared
to place the wage and salary stab
ilization function in proper per-
spective and to assess accurately
the nature and extent of the con-
tribution it can make to the anti
initiation drive
"The statement sets forth three
major types of measures necessary
to control initiation: % measures
to increase the volume of essential
production; (2) measures to mini
mize the volume of money and
credit in circulation; and (3) mea-
sures to control specific areas of
the economy. Wage stabilization
was listed as one of the eighteen
types of action necessary. More
over, the Board recognized that
wage stabilization will not by it
self attack initiation at it's sources.
The Board stated, further, that it
was necessary to achieve AN equal
ity of burden and sacrifices among
groups and individuals
Regulation No. 6 adopted by the
public and industry members of
the Board deliberately ignores
these basic principles, first ex-
pressed in the Defense Production
Act and subsequently unanimously
agreed upon by the members of the
Wage Sterilization Board.
at ignores the equality of bur-
den and sacrifice" to which the
Board subscribed in its December
18 statement. The restrictive and
harsh provisions of the Regulation,
in effect, place the primary burdenl
of sacrifice involved in current mo-
bilization effort on only one seq
ment of the population, those whol
depend upon wages and salaries forl
their living.
"There is no single provision inI
the Regulation which is responsiblel
for this result. Rather the entirel
tenor of the Regulation is one of
harsh restriction. No flexibility isl
permitted in applying its provis-t
ions. No arrangement is made forI
handling cases involving hardships,
or sub-standards.
"The net result is a series of re-
strictions which, in effect, con-
tinues the wage freeze and makes
wage stabilization the basis of the
drive. The Board has
done this well-knowing that the
basic causes of initiation have not
yet been seriously attacked. Prices
are still rising rapidly, although al
egedly frozen; profits although
enthusiastically high are being guar
an equitable tax program
for this period has not been adopt
I'd. This list could be greatly leng-
but it is enough to say that
none of the seventeen measures,
lside from wage stabilization,1
leemed necessary by the Board has
,een effectively supplemented, and
some are not even in prospect.
1.-THE Regulation disregards the|
mandate by Congress that wagel
tabilization should maintain and|
urther sound working relations,
collective bargaining.J
Iot only does the Regulation fail
O recognize the wage provisions OF
xisting collective bargain 81
.greements, but its restrictiveI
erms will upset many existing
ontracts. Clearly, then, it is a stepl
way from collective bargainingl
nd sound working relations
"This is an issue of more than
cademic Importance. Successful
rage stabilization must start from
he assumption that it will supple
1ent, not supplant, collective bar
aiming relations. 1t is important
0 remember that collective bar
aiming itself provides a signifi-
ant measure of stability. AS the
United Labor Policy Committee
ointed out in its January IL state
,ent, Negotiated wages, unlike
lany prices which can change
rom day to day, eliminate uncon-
rolled fluctuations. Collective bar
aiming itself develops realistic and
table procedures for deteminingl
'ork standards on the basis of the
rst-hand experience of those most t
amiliar with the facts of par s
cular situation v
Finally, the Regulation ignores S
le principle set forth in the De- t
,nse Production Act that wage
;abilization must prevent econ O
mic disturbances (and) labor dis g
utes.' 1t can be said that even t
nder the best of circumstances, c
,rtain disputes would almost GER a
linly arise over the application b
nd INTERPRETATION of any general q