Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-26
More State Power
In Tabor Relations
Proposed by NAM
By james Y. Newton

ne NdGlO11dI ASSOC1dC1Oll VI
Manufacturers today asked Con-
gress to restore to the States
greater authority to regulate
labor management relations.
George w. Armstrong, chair
man of the MANS Industrial
Relations Committee, made the
suggestion to the Senate Labor
Committee, which is considering
revision Of the Taft-Hartley Act.
He called for a general
strengthening of the Taft
Hartley provisions restricting
union activity.
Mr.. Armstrong said the States
could be assured of "a greater
degree of participation" in regu-
lating labor relations by a simple
amendment to Taft-Hartley. He
suggested it provide that moth
ing in the Labor Management
(Taft-Hartley) Relations Act
shall be construed to nullify the
power of any State to regulate
strikes and picketing within its
borders"
State Laws Restrictive.
State labor laws generally are
more restrictive of union activity
than is the Federal law. Mr..
Armstrong said Federal authority
had been extended so far that
the power of the States to regu-
late labor relations "or even to
maintain peace-has been seri-
ously affected"
Other changes in Taft Hartley
sought by the NAM would pro-
hibit the union shop, industry
wide strikes and eliminate the
compulsion on employers of hav-
ing to bargain with unions for
health and welfare plans.
In a statement prepared for
delivery to the House Labor Com
mittee, Joseph A. Beirne, head
of the soc, 000-member CLIO Com
munications Workers, said he
favored repeal of Taft-Hartley,
but would accept amendment
''in the light of present-day'
considerations"
Hits NOn-Red Affidavits.
Specifically, Mr.. Beirne asked
the committee to eliminate the
requirement for unions to file
compliance forms and non-Com-
munist affidavits; end the 80-day
injunction provision in national
emergency disputes; lengthen the
present six-month statute of
limitations on filing unfair labor
practices charges, and end 'em-
ployer abuses" of the free-speech
provision of the law.
He also asked the committee
to reject proposals for a ban
on industry and system
wide bargaining.
G. L. Patterson, general coun-
sci of the CLIO Rubber Workers,
likewise asked the House COM
mittee to eliminate the nom
Communist affidavit requirement
of union officials and to limit
employers rights to speak out on
union matters. He said that
provisions of Taft Hartley should
be eliminated where they give
State laws priority over the Fed
eral statute where they are
more anti-union."
Reuther Testimony Disputed.
Testimony two weeks ago by
CLIO President Walter P. Reuther
that he had not asked the
Government for an injunction
against the General Motors Corp.
in 1948 was disputed by a House
committee witness yesterday.
Charles M. Brooks, former as
sociate general counsel of the
National Labor Relations Board,
said Mr.. Reuther almost begged"
for the injunction to prevent GIN
from putting into effect an in
surance and welfare plan with
out first bargaining with the
union. He quoted Mr.. Reuther
as saying if the plan was put
into effect unilaterally by the
cOmnanv eft would have a de-
moralizing effect on his union"
the CLIO United Auto Workers.
The NLRB counsel obtained
the injunction against GIN and
Mr.. Reuther later won a more
elaborate welfare plan through
bargaining.
Mr.. Reuther two weeks ago
fatty denied seeking the injunc-
ton.