Evening star., 1955-11-29
By NORMAN WALKER

The first man to concede that
the AFL-CIo merger viii tend
to concentrate and broaden or
ganized labor's economic and po-
litical powers Is George Meany,
who will boss the job.
But Mr.. Meany says the powers
will be used to benefit the Ma
ton as q whole. Economically,
he argues that unions have won
much of the Nations present
prosperity by increasing worker
purchasing power and that the
merger viii be aimed ct advanc-
ing that cause.
Politically, he says:
Pears have been expressed
that there win be too much
power; too much concentration Of
power, and that 1t might be used
politically. Wen, in my book II
will be used politically.
Continuing The March
mot with the idea in mind o1
running the country. not with thu
idea In mind of seeking public
office for trade unionists-al.
though there is nothing wrong
with that. we have some prett,
good ones-but with the idea o.
continuing the forward march o,
American labor, getting for Amer
lean labor the fair share Of wl1at
we produce.
Let those who worry abou
Iabor's political power remember
this: We did not choose thi
battle-ground. this political battle,
ground. II they can pass law.
that can hamstring, weaken anc
destroy the trade union move.
|ment. then our place to defenc
ourselves is in the same hall:
where they passed those laws"
Mr.. Meany has recognized tina
misuse Of increased labor powel
may be countered by new legis.
lative curbs against unions. H.
has counseled that union powers
must be used wisely or face thai
consequence,
The merger. which become.
effective next week, win throw
together 10S AFL unions and 81
CIO unions into one federation
The CIo group Is to remain In
tact as a Department Of Indus.
trial Organizations within thu
new federation.
CIO Could Pull Out
Presumably this win leave ths
CIO free, In the first few years
Of the merger at any rate. tc
quit as a body and establish q
rival federation Just as happened
In 1885 when a group OF union,
withdrew from the AFL to form
the CIO. Nobody, however. seem:
to be worrying now about an.
other schism.
Mr.. Meany will draw the same
SIS. 900 per year salary as head
Of the AFL-cIo as he presently
as AFL president. While
this Is above the average union
leaders salary. it's less than the
$50 900 paid to Miners Chief
John L. Lewis or to Teamsters'
Union President Dave Beck. or
the $4,000 received by George
Harrison, president OF the Bro
therhood Of Railway Clerks.
Little effect Of the merger Is
expected on the Forthcoming
presidential campaign. For the
next year or more. the combined
AFL-CIo plans co-directors Of
political activity, one for AFL
unions and one for CIO unions.
They probably win operate more
closely than in the past. how
ever.
A two-year period after the
merger has been arranged TO
perfect the doyetailing Of the
thousands Of State. area and city
AFL and CIO organizations,
some Of which have maintained
strong rivalries for years.
Merge All Down Line
They are supposed to merge
all down the line and, If they
haven't at the end. Of the two
year period provided. they are to
be forced together.
Leaders Of the ALL and CIc
seem to feel they'll be able To
collect more voluntary political
contributions from union mem-
bers under the setup.
However that turns out. the
main union political advantage
out Of the merger Is likely to be
that one AFL-CIo organization,
in each State eventually will
have the power to give or With