Evening star., 1952-05-08
Union Leaders Blast
Smith Anti-Strike Bill
As Insult 10 Labor
BY the Associated Press

Spokesman for organized labor
condemned the Smith anti-strike
bill today as shocking and vicious
ly anti-labor.
In statements prepared for de-
livery at House Armed Services
Committee hearing considering the
bill. William Green, head of the
American Federation of Labor, and
Joseph Curran, vice president of
the Congress of Industrial Organ
izationS, attacked the bill as a
one-sided measure favoring man
agement.
The bill, introduced last week by
Representative Smith, Democrat,
of Virginia, provides for 80-day
injunctions to prevent strikes af-
fecting national security and for
operation of unions and industry
by court-appointed receivers after
80 days if no agreement has been
reached. It would prevent changes
IN wages or working conditions
during the period of negotiations
and receivership but would not bar
price or profit increases. 1t would
allow Congress as well as the Pres
ident to initiate the Injunction
proceedings.
Calls Bill Insult"
Mr.. Green said the legislation
would have a catastrophe" ef-
feet on the morale of workers.
He called it "a gratuitous insult"
to organized labor.
Mr.. Curran, who also is preSi-
dent of the National Maritime
Union, said the CIO is completely
opposed to every provision of the
bill. He termed it "as viciouSly
anti-labor a bill as has ever been
introduced in Congress"
Mr.. Curran claims the bill was
designed to break strikes and "to
break unions by running them
financially and by turning them
over to the direction and control
Of government administrators"
He disputed the claim Of the
bills supporters that 1t was de-
signed to promote industrial peace
and obtain maximum production.
ut makes no contribution
toward solving the difficult prob
lem Of labor disputes during a
time of national emergency" he
declared.
Cites Dictatorship.
mo person who favors the con-
tinued existence in this country of
free trade union movement can
possibly support the bill the
fascist relationships in Spain,
Argentina and Venezuela have all
provided for state administration
of the labor unions. In no indus
trial country anywhere around the
globe is political democracy to be
found without the accompaniment
OF a free trade union movement" 3"
Mr.. Green said that "even in
seizure the bill assures that the
employer will be hurt as little as
possible and the union as much as
possible"
The labor leader was in New
York and his statement was read
by a subordinate during the COM
mittee's second day of hearings on
the bill.
Mr.. Green thereby joined Sec
retary of Labor Tobin and John A.
Stephens, chief negotiator for the
steel companies, in opposing the
bill by letter instead of personal
testimony.
The lack of live witnesses caused
some grumbling among committee
men.
Representative Bates. Republi-
can, of Massachusetts,, suggested
that Mr.. Tobin be called in per-
son.
Mr.. Smith and Secretary of De-
tense Lovett were the only wit
neSses yesterday. Mr.. Lovett said
the bill appeared to be sound as a
means of continuing production
but needed substantial reviSions
to make it fair and equitable.
Mr.. Green's statement particu-
larly criticized the proposal to
place industry and the unions
under receivers with authority to
continue operations without
changing wages or working con-
ditions.
Since business and profits con-
tinue as usual" Mr.. Green said,
there would be absolutely no mo-
tive for the employer to attempt
a bona fide settlement of the diff
ferences between the parties OF
even to atone for any injustice
which may have caused the strike
so that in the end the union could
have no alternative but to come
a. r