Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-05
Labor Council
|DuetoAct TODAY
On Cleanup
BY a star stan Correspondent


MIAMI BEACH, Fla, Feb. s.
AFL-CIO was expected to act
today on suspension charges
against three international affil-
iates some officers of which are
accused Of misusing millions in
workers health and welfare
funds.
The three unions were appeal
ing to the Remember Executive
Council findings of the AFL-CIO
Ethical Practices Committee
which suggested strongly they
should be suspended and ulti-
mately booted out Of the Fedora
ton for the abuses first exposed
by a Senate committee in 1855.
Because of lengthy arguments
by defense attorneys. the council
yesterday heard only the appeals
of the Laundry Workers Inter-
national union and the Distillery
Workers. The case of the Allied
Industrial Workers was to be
aired today.
This delay. AFL-CIO Presi-
dent George Meany said. means
the Executive Council probably
will have TO extend its busy
meeting to tomorrow instead of
winding UP today as planned.
Calls Efforts Belated
Mr.. Meany said the two unions
heard put up a very. very Wig
orouS" defense against the
charges. but he described as
debated" their efforts to clean
house. A source inside the
closed-door sessions said the at
titude of one of the unions was
one of "belligerency" indicating
to him they had found a haven"
with some other labor group in
event they are kicked out of the
big federation.
The council could vote out
right suspension of the unions.
set up trusteeships to clean
them up. or allow them another
period of grace in which to
purge themselves of corruptive
influences.
In event of suspension. Her.
bert Thatcher, attorney for the
Laundry Workers, said his group
would appeal to the AFL-CIOI
convention next November.
Only the convention has author
ity to expel,
Mr.. Thatcher said there was
mo crookedness in the union"
and added no union member &C.
tually had lost money as a.
result Of welfare fund shortages
which the Ethical Practices
Committee said exceeded 81 mil
lion.
DORA Plans Announcement
1t was announced that Eugene
c. James. suspended secretary
treasurer Of the Laundry Work.
ers. had been ousted as an inter-
national officer. Anthony Doria,
secretary treasurer of the Allied
Industrial Workers, another Of
flcer named in the AFL-CIO
indictment. said he would make
an. interesting" announcement
today.
But Mr.. Meany said Whether
these actions were enough to set
the unions right with the coun-
Gil was another question:" He
lett the impression he didn't
think so.
Aside from completing the
trials" the Council still had
considerable business to transact.
Included is a report on organ
izing, consideration Of the lag
ging mergers Of AFL and CIOl
State and city organizations and
a dispute between the United
Steelworkers and Sheet Metal
Workers over representation
rights at steel fabricating plant.
Marathon peace" Meeting
A 13-member committee made
up Of officers Of former CLIO and
ALL unions. meanwhile, reported
progress in efforts to settle a.
Wholesale dispute over work as
Signments between building craft
and industrial unions in the auto.
steel and electrical products in |
dustries.
Following the meeting lasting
until after midnight. President
Meany said. II think we at least
got the thing in position to point
1t toward settlement, but / am
no predictions" He said
the special committee would meet
again in Washington 500.