The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1951-02-22
the cost of living.

| the cOSt OF living.
"The only aspect Of the defens,
mobilization program in which rep
resentatives of labor have been il
a position to influence policy has
been in the wage stabilization pro
gram. But the marriage between
public members and industry mem
bers on the WSB is complete. Last
night, our representatives on that
Board were called into meeting
and presented with a proposal. In.
dustry members had already beer
consulted and their approval OBJ
tanned before the meeting. From
the beginning, the major effort of
the public members has been dir
ected at winning the approval of
industry representatives in COM
plete disregard of the interests of
labor.
"The wage stabilization formula
adopted by the industry and public
members of the Wage Stabilization
Board manifestly fails to consider
the serious and legitimate econ
omic needs of Americas wage
earners.
ut is, in effect, formula to un-
stabilize. peaceful labor-manage-
ment relations throughout Amer
lean industry. Rank and file work
ers in industryAthe men and wo-
men who produce and transport the
equipment for our defense needs
will recognize it as blow to their
living standards and security.
"The formula for wage control
approved by the Wage Sterilization
Board is not a means Of securing
economic justice for millions of
American wage earners. It is, in
fact, a series of penalties and re-
strictions-imposed at time when
prices are continuing their upward
rise. The wage formula is inflex-
ible, inequitable and unworkable.
More than that, it constitutes a
repudiation of a pledge by the Gov
eminent that the wage stabiliza-
tion program would not result in
the abrogation of union-manage-
ment collective bargaining con-
tracts.
Contracts between management
and labor-many of them contain
ing express provisions for cost of
living increases or productivity
benefits and otherl
provisions that contribute to stabil-
ity-are threatened. Any orderI
that will deprive millions of work
ers of benefits accruing to them
under existing contracts will create
and will impose unequal
burdens of sacrifice not only on|
union members but on the over
majority of wage earn
srs--white collar and industrial
alike-whO compose the
great proportion of our lower and
middle income groups.
"The results of this wage policyl
.an only be dissatisfaction and SER
Gus unrest in industry.
"The formula blocks any fair ad-
ustment of wage inequities now
md in the future affecting millions
# employees in the low income
brackets. 1t freezes such injustice.
We are convinced that the wage
rider of the WSB was dictated byl
he Director of Defense Mobiliza-
ion. The people, the Congress, and
he President must act quickly to
epair this damage before it ruins
he entire defense production pro-
ram.
Prices
"In the past, the United Labor
'olicy Committee has repeatedly
ointed to serious shortcomings of
he Defense Production Act, which
erves as the basis for our anti
nflation program.
"We warned that loopholes and
eficiencies in the Act rule out anyI
hance Of it's effectiveness as bar
ier to initiation. The Act must be (
hanged. Until it is changed, we