The Omaha guide., 1957-08-30
1857 Labor Doy Message
BY George Meany, President, AFL-CIO


There good widespread celebration of Labor
Day this because more men and women are employed at high
under better working conditions than before IN
the history Of the country.
simple al-mportant accident of fate
direct result Of putting into practice the American concept
of expanding ecOnomyOf constantly increasing production
with everyone sharing the rewards
Political parties credit for bringing
prosperity Public officials also have been known
sweeping claims of that Some Of major industries
vie with each other advertising campaigns to convince the pub
lie that their particular activities are the key to the nation
Yet seldom, the the contributions Of
the trade union movement given recognition
principal ways which the trade unions as
SUCH have helped build maintain hghleve prosperity
speaking performed by the members Of
trade Of the increased ss and efficiency promoted
by Let consider here simply the
higher wages which have attained not
only for their members, but for all workers
The don't believe necessary for me
any detailed proof At the of the century before
ions were very strong worker SIS sixty
hours Of work was considered well paid Today the average
tory for fortyhow week is $50 Millions of skilled
workers make as much as sl2O week The rise the
employed tremendousfrom about 27 million
Now let's do little arithmetic This increase in the number
those that extra four billion dollars week
being pumped pockets families Of this
try against 5oodd years On annual
basis it amounts to over 200 billion year.
That jump in purchasing power the real secret OF A
merica's economic
It is not only secret but mystery to people
Frequently travels in Europe and South America have
been to strength BY
is this:
America. helps build house afford
buy one puts together automobile enough
the factory worker who makes radio and eevon
and regerators and washing machines buy them"
there production there must be the
consumption possible By high standards
and working conditions In countries where workers lack the pu
chasing buy what they need and what they would like
production does not exist.
employers country complain having
pay high forgetting those very high wages help
ing keep making possible for him earn
increased profits
Every American businessman every farmer
should realize they sell in order keep producing
they would be able sell unless the great majority
If American workers earning high income
this merely the trade
pat for its contributions national
prosperity but explore how that prosperity can be maintained
for the benefit Of all elements population
The main threats ahead continued economic webeng stem
directions The first naon the second return
Of unemployment due to automation.
Initiation, simply defined makes dollar worth less and
of days odays dollar is worth
only fifty Obviously have had considerable infa
sixteen years If initiation continues unchecked
dollar may shrink further.
While great deal has been said
danger initiation there has been serious attempt to track
down its cause and to halt its spread.
One of the symptoms initiation higher prices IN
ustas and their friends in Congress have tried to put the
blame price Higher they force the
employer charge higher prices and thus an nfaonay spiral be
This argument sounds plausible many
higher do higher costs because
of abosavng production In other employers
have prices far beyond their increased labor costs Big
business years than its share Of profits
charging the consuming public all the traffic
would bear.
BY called risk capital Nowadays big
either gets Uncle for factories through
the fast tax system pay means
Of higher prices that bring surplus profits.
Of the AFIc0 believe strongly that there should
be full impartial Congressional investigation whole
oriceprotwage relationship affects the living that
intelligent be launched combat
initiation.
So wages concerned the facts crystal clear
purchasing shrnks factories forced to
close down the afflicted disastrous deon
STILL country and its forward
frozen there Is incentive for increasing
production creating jobs for the young who
market each Thus standing still actually means
drifting backward in terms Of the national economy
realizes that
workers Of business enterprise than they put
function Of unions TO obtain for workers fair share Of
the wealth they help produce Our movement IN Amer reog
ues the right private capital and private likewise
10 receive Of the rewards Of production only when
pro aw of line that beeoms critical Of t TFofss
system.