Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Major PrObIenls
|FaceAFL-CIOai
|FirsfConyeniion
ny CECIL HOLLAND

Challenging problems involve
ling corruption charges. juris-
diction disputes and prospects
OF restrictive legislation will
confront the AFL-CIO at its
convention starting Thursday
In Atlantic City. N. j.
Il win be the AFL-CIC's first
convention since the merger
two years ago.
One Of the principal and
most dramatic issues before
the convention over which ALL
CLIO President George Meany
win preside viii be the probable
custer Of the giant Teamsters
International Union on cor
Eruption charges.
The Transfers were sus-
pended from the AFL-CIO after
defying q cleanup directive and
electing James r. Hoffa Of De-
troit as president to succeed
retiring Dave Beck. Both
Hoffa and Beck have been
smeared by scandal on the ba-
sis Of findings by the select
Senate committee investigating
improper labor management
practices.
Discounted RumOrs
Responsible AFL-CIo lead
ers here have discounted ru-
mors current in the last few
days that Hoffa had made over
lures for a meeting with Mr..
Meany with intentions Of step
ping out and agreeing also to
the appointment of q monitor
over the unions affairs. Hoffa
has fiatly denied the reports.
The AL CLIO Executive
Council. which ordered the sus-
pension OF the Transfers, will
meet Wednesday the day before
the convention opens. At that
time 1t Is expected TO draft
recommendations for the GUST
er Of the Transfers but at the
same time issue a welcome Tor
any clean" local Teamster or
CARNATIONS to become directly
afiiliated with the AFL-CIO.
+ II is also reported that the
AFL-CIO viii move slowly in
setting UP any rival Teamster
organization on the grounds
that through court action
against Hoffa or through a re-
volt within the union the way
may be cleared TO bring the
Teamsters back into the ALL
CLIO fold within the next two
years.
Bakers 10 Meet
! Custer Of the Laundry Work.
ers and some action regarding
the Bakers union also is sched-
uled TO come before the con-
vention. One faction In the
Bakers union seeking the GUS
ter Of James @. Cross as presi-
dent. as demanded by the ALL
C1O. will meet in Atlantic City
Just prior to the federation
convention.
Both the Transfers and
Bakers unions are expected to
appeal their suspension to the
convention itself. But the APP
peals are expected to be re-
jected.
In another sphere threat by
the Building Trades Depart
Iment to secede from the ALL
clio unless a continuing juris-
ldiction dispute with the indus
trial unions Is settled also is
expected to come before the
convention.
Richard Gray. president OF
the l9-union Buildings and
Trades Council. has said he
plans to speak again "bluntly"
on the subject at the councils
convention starting Monday in
Atlantic City.
"No Comment"
| Asked about reports he
would undertake TO pull the
buildings trades union out OF
the federation, Mr.. Gray said
"I have no comment to make
I don't know of any threats and
/ wouldn't tell you II ! did"
/ AFL-CIO officials expect a
walkout threat but they said
they we're sure 1t would not
succeed.
While the building trades
union say that the jurisdiction
al dispute with the industrial
unions, which has been raging
since the merger. is back Of
their discomfort. there APP
peared to be more than that
Underlying the difficulty with
these unions. as well as with
the Transfers and Bakers. is
the larger question Of union
autonomy and whether a fed
Grafton, as the AFL-CIO. may
impose its will on afiiliated. au-
tonomous unions.
Most Serious Challenge
In this respect. the Atlantic
City convention confronts the
AFL-CIO with its most serious
challenge since the merger.
The convention also will be
called on to lay down the ma
, jor policy line on legislation,
largely Of q restrictive nature,