Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-23


oress on labor problems toilt
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES:
There are submitted herewith
for the consideration of the
Congress. recommendations for
amendments to the Taft-Hart-
ley Act and for additional
legislation to provide greater
protection for the rights Of
individual workers. the public,
and management and unions.
In labor-management relations.
No labor-management rela-
lions legislative program today
tan ignore the disclosures Of
corruption. racketeering and
abuse of trust and power in
the labor management field.
Many Of these disclosures have
been made in congressional
hearings and in Investigations
by grand juries ana local law
endorsement agencies. In the
various States vigilant atten-
ton by law-enforcement ofii-
cials. and public interest in
the effective enforcement OF
existing laws against criminal
activity. are doing much TO
eliminate many Of the evils and
abuses which have occurred.
Union oficials-most Of whom
are decent. honest Americans
are also doing much to elimi-
nate the few in the ranks Of
organized labor who are corrupt,
However. the Importance To
American workers and to the
public Of preventing the i'm
pairment Of the individual
rights Of employees and the fact
that voluntary action is made
Quate in this respect have be-
come increasingly evident. In
order TO protect the basic rights
OF the individual worker and e
maintain the integrity Of trade
unionism itself. action on the
part Of the Government i.
needed.
The American public Is il
need Of reinsurance:
/. That the funds which ar,
set aside for the benefit o.
working men and women Il
health. welfare and pension
plans are accounted for.
?. That the moneys which ar,
contributed by workers TO unioI
treasures are being used solel,
TO advance their welfare.
3. T h q ( organizations II
which working people associate
together voluntarily to i'm
prove their status through
collective action viii be ad
ministered in such fashion q.
70 reflect their will.
4. That working people ar,
more fully protected from deal
tngs between representatives o
labor and management which
have the effect Of preventing
the full exercise Of their right.
to organize and bargain collec.
lively.
5. That the public Is pro.
tected against unfair labor and
management practices within
the collective bargaining rela-
tionship which give rise to the
exercise Of coercive power BY
one as against the other tend
ing to impede the peaceful
development Of that relation
ship. or which infringe the
legitimate right Of innocent
third parties.
Program Recommended
The Secretary Of Labor Ia.
recommended to me q COM
prehensiye program Of legis-
lation which. II enacted. will
] believe. give that reinsurance
70 the American public. Hi,
recommendations constitute the
program Of this Administration
in the labor-management field
and the Administration urge:
the Congress to enact legis.
lation:
!. To require the registration
and detailed annual reporting
to the Department fof Labor
with appropriate disclosure. o
all plans which provide health
welfare or pension benefits :,
working men and women
whether administered by EN-
ployers. by union. or jointly b
both. The Administration mad