Evening star., 1961-01-11

OF LABOR.
Although Mr.. Goldberg has
been one Of the union move
This is the fourth in q series Of bio
srophicuI and interpretive articles
on members Of the Kennedy cubinet.
Tomorow's article will be on
J. Edword Doy, the incoming Post
master General.
ment's top strategists, he en-
Joys the esteem of labor's critics
-as Senator Goldwater'S re-.
mark demonstrates.
He has severed all relations
with the unions he served as
legal counsel, and intends to
walk the straight line of neutral
ity. 1.-The Department of Labor
is not a class department and
we are not a class country" he
declares. pledging to work for
the public interest.
But to Mr.. Goldberg. the pub
lie interest comedies closely
with organized labor's views on
how to promote prosperity and
industrial peace. In his view
there is a mutually of inter-
est" among labor, management
and the public, and the goals Of
responsible union leaders would.
if attained, benefit the entire
Nation.
When he speaks for the pub
lie interest, therefore. Mr.. Gold
berg will echo labor's New Deal
ish voice on most issues con-
fronting the Kennedy admins
tration.
As AFL-CIO President George
Meany comments: HE can't
separate himself from his own
experience, his own background.
He can't do q Jekyll and Hyde.
His thinking won't change"
His Main Mission
Mr.. Goldberg won national
recognition as q union field
general in the 116-day steel
strike Of 1859. but he considers
promotion Of labor-manage-
ment peace his main mission
as Secretary Of Labor.
Only with industrial peace,
he warns. can the Nation pros
per and defend itself.
with the United States in o
cold war" he told this inter-
viewer, "it would be simply in
tolerable to have another 116-
day strike in steel. The public
and the Government, industry,
labor-none Of them could af-
ford It,"
In exhorting unionists and
management leaders, he de-
cries the deterioration Of indus
trial relations since World
War II. Labor and manage
ment, he finds, are becoming
tougher" and more "hostile," "
fighting each other from frozen
positions instead Of co-operat-
ing to advance their mutual
interests.
Mr.. Goldberg believes that
talk among reasonable men can
solve practically any problem.
so he bases his hope for indus
trial peace mostly on reopening
the lines Of communication be-
tween labor and management.
It was his suggestion that led
President Eisenhower to call a
so-called summit" conference
Of labor and management lead
ers last year.
Proposes Advisory Council
The conference got nowhere.
Mr.. Goldberg. a persistent man
who devises multitudinous
methods to reach his objeotives,
now has another idea for get
ting labor and management to
talk to each other. Just a few
days before his appointment as
Secretary Of Labor he proposed
in a speech to the National As
sociation Of Manufacturers that
the Government establish a
National Council of Labor
Management Advisers.
This council, which probably
will be set up early in the Ken
nedy administration, would
have representatives Of labor.
management and the public. 1t
would advise the President on
labor management relations.
economic issues and the whole
range of matters affecting in
dustrial peace and progress.
The council would fix guide
lines for collective bargaining,
help settle major strikes and
deal with national emergency
disputes like the steel shut
down. Above all, it would
establish a framework for COM
munication between labor and
management away from the
combative atmosphere Of the
bargaining table.
No force would be employed
to impose settlements or agree
ments. Labor and management
would use their powers Of
persuasion, with the Govern
ment, as the public's spokes-
man, nudging them along.
Persuasion is Mr.. Goldberg's
main talent. accounting for his
successes in collective bargain
ing, the courts. politics, lobby
ing and mediation Of internal
union disputes.
Recognizes Others Rights
Mr.. Goldberg ascribes his
success to this formula: II try
to present a point Of view