Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-15
Seeks
Members Goal
'0f4O Million
Careful Planning
To Precede Sturt
OF Major Drive
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON
Star stan Correspondent

star ctAn CorresFonoent
MIAMI BEACH. Feb. IS
leades today set their
organization goal as
upward of 40 million members,
but privately labor officials con-
coded that considerable planning
to be done before con-
certed membership drive can be
undertaken.
A confidential report to the
AFL-CIO Executive Council
stated that only SO per cent of
the Nations work force eligible
for union membership now is en-
rolled in unions. The potential
union membership was put at
AZ million, excluding farm work.
ers and Others regarded as "un-
suited" for organization. OF the
potential. more than Is million
belong to affiliates of the ALL
CLIO and independent unions.
The AFL-CIO has set its sights
on organizing the 26 million
workers. Federation
leaders have resolved to double
their Is million membership In
the years Immediately ahead.
JurisdictiOnal Problems
But before the drive can be
started full-tilt the AFL-CIOI
must develop a plan. This in
cludes getting the 141 national
unions to work as a team. In
volved in that procedure is the
solving of many current jurisdic-
tional problems so that 1t will
be clear just where and in what
unions the newly organized
workers are to be placed.
The organizing report. pre-
pared by John w. Livingston, the
new AFL-CIO director for or
ganization, stated that the drive
to increase membership will not
go beyond the planning stage
until jurisdictional obstacles are
F. Jurisdiction Is the
most troublesome spot in the
future"
The AL In the past had
jurisdictional problems. Merger
with the CLIO has created new
ones. including revival Of the old
craft versus industrial union
struggle. A way out of these
was seen in the set
Element here of a two-week-old
dispute between the United Auto
Workers and building craft
unions at a Studebaker Packard
plant in Detroit. In this in
stance, AFL-CIO Vice President
Joseph D. Keenan, literally
out an agreement. 1t
may set pattern for other set
Elements.
Millions of dollars already
have been pledged to the mass
organizing drive by individual
unions. The comprehensive Liv-
ingston report pin pointed the
detectives Of the drive by areas,
States and industries. A new
committee was set up to raise
additional millions. Its men,
bers are AFL-CIO Vice Presi-
dents David j. Mcdonald,
George M. Harrison, David Du-
binsky and Walter P. Reuther.
The Livingston report said
Washington was the most COM
pletely organized State with So
per cent of the eligible work force
belonging to unions. Next was
Michigan with 48 per cent and
Oregon with Al per cent. fol-
lowed by Illinois. Indiana. Mis-
souri, and Wisconsin with IL
per cent.
Lowest in point Of union Or
ganization were the workers Of
North and South Carolina, where
only 8 per cent of the eligible
workers are union members.
Just slightly above those States
were North Dakota. New Mexico,
South Dakota and Mississippi,
in that order.
% Per Cent Organized Here
The report stated that % per
cent Of eligible workers in the
District of Columbia belong to
unions. The Districts union
was placed at 1885,
900 out of a potential of $780,
600. In Virginia the percentage
was II with 100000 union mem
bers out of a possible 100000
Maryland was listed as having
10000 union members out of a
possible $4,000 eligible workers
or Is per cent.
Mr.. Livingston indicated the
drive will be concentrated on the
South generally and the follow
ing industries Nationwide: Oil
See LABOR, Page Ala