Evening star., 1955-05-06

CuTD GIlc power VI OISdA141CO 1dO
These moves point to no "e
management.
The National Association Q
local business groups to press for
"right-to-work" laws in the 80
States which do not have such
legislation. These laws would
ban the union shop. in which a
worker must join q union after
accepting q job. The Taft
Hartley law already forbids the
closed shop, In which only union
members can be hired by an en-
ployer.
The United States Chamber
of Commerce has lined up with
the NAM in supporting action "to
guarantee the individuals right
to work with or without joining
a union" And there is consider
able sentiment among business
men for amending Federal law
to outlaw the union shop.
Unions Fighting BACK
The unions are fighting back,
not only in an effort to prevent
new curbs but also to wipe out
restrictive legislation already on
the Federal and State statute
books.
Thus the battle lines are being
drawn as the American Fedora
ton Of Labor and the Congress
of Industrial Organizations work
toward a merger which would
give labor almost a solid front In
the fight.
In its simplest terms, one OF
the business-labor arguments
goes like this:
Business: 1.-THE AFL-CIO mer-
ger is heading in the direction
of labor monopoly and it must
be curbed. The American worker
shouldn't be compelled to join
a union-and he should have
the guarantee under law that he
has a free choice to join or not
to join q union"
Labor: 1.-THE right-to-work
laws are actually right-to-wreck
laws. They are nothing more
than a move to destroy union
security and destroy the trade
union movement. The talk Of
a labor monopoly is nonsense
because a minority Of workers
belongs to unions"
Henry G. Ritter III, president
of the NAM, said he has found
a good deal of concern among
businessmen around the country
over the planned merger Of the
AFL and the CIO. Mr.. Ritter
is president of Thomas A. Edison.
Inc. West Orange. N. j., and, as
NAM president. comes as closely
as any one man to representing
the voice Of business.
Fear Monopoly
Mr.. Ritter said: Businessmen
are not concerned over the mer-
ger as such. But they are con-
cerned because it seems to them
this move points to speed-up
of tendencies toward monopolis-
tic labor practices. Many Of us
are concerned over the fact that
the antitrust laws affect busi-
nessmen-and we have no quar-
rel with these Lawsuit the
laws exempt labor unions.
IT have found that business
men believe labor unions, even
without a merger, have become
a potent force politically and
economically. The belief is that
merger will increase the mo-
nopolistic potential"
Mr.. Ritter said the big ques-
tion on the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
front has to do with voluntary
versus compulsory unionism."
II think" he said, that
where a man must joinDa union
in order to work, where he can't
hold Job unless he is a member
of a union and pays dues, then
that is an execution Of monop-
olistic power.
Unions are Offering workers
a service-and without any COM
pulsion worker should be able
to decide whether he wants that,
service. But the union shop re-
stricts the workers freedom Of
choice In the job he pursues.
Education" Programs
Mr.. Ritter said the NAM
doesn't go into States and ac-
lively lobby for right-to-work
laws. But he added: I'VE have
an educational program which
emphasizes the idea of freedom
of choice by the workers and
why we believe in it. We express
our conviction and belief wher-
ever we can. We advocate and
promote on a national level,
but we leave the action to be
taken by State and local
groups"
What Is business reaction
to the announced intention of
the AFL and CIO leaders to
engage in increased political
activity?"
Mr.. Ritter: "The workers up to