Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / March 9, 1939, edition 1 / Page 1
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> . • x* ■ i :! . ■ ■ . ■ ■■ 'l IV own MiAU-v iNiHtrr«p«irt wan » yaw*. cwv bi nv» w * **» Che Charlotte labor Journal Us Trulhful, Honest, Impartial AND DIXIE FARM NEWS E*iavriMt to Sent (V Mttm - .. '■■- ' 1 ' " • "' Ml X Yqj^ VIII NO 42 *°wr 4o»mtim««t .n tni jowwAi «• • mo— CHARLOTTE* N. C** THIR&HA^* MARCH 9* 19.19 »■•*** 40VWT"^ mamm m )2*MPvTw _ 1 -^———————^——————a^—— MARTIN, OF AUTO WORKERS, IN ROLL, OF “LONE WOLF,” BUT AVOWEDLY ANTI C. I. 0.—DOOR IS STILL OPEN DETROIT, March 8—Homer Mar tin’s convention of the strife-divided t'nit-d Automobile Wo.kers elected him its president last night, and dem onstrating delegates, rushing to the platform, seized him and carried him around the convention hall on their -boulders. In a clamorous climax to a meeting which has resulted in creation of an independent union, related neither to A. F. of L. nor C. I. O., delegates ^ celebrated their choice of Martin, whom the C. J, O. has scorned. Martin, unopposed for election in his “factional convention” of the U. A. W., has taken up arms against the Congress of Industrial Organi zations, the so-called jarent body of the automobile workers’ union. The unionists’ he now heads are avowedly anti-C. I. O. Martin, who called the convention in defiance of a IJ. A. W. executive board majority which moved to im peach him as president, was without opposition for president of the inde pendent union. By resolution today the delegates abandoned the last claim to any con nection with the Congress of Indus trial Organizations. They voted unanimously to submi* any future question of affiliation “with any congress or federation of unions” to the rank and file member shio of the union. This left open the door to pos sible affiliation with the American Federation of Labor or a combina tion with the International Ladies Ga -nunt. Woikers’ union, which with drew last year from the C. I. O. The C I. O. has stated it would not recog nize the Martin-controlled union and i« supporting his opnonents, who will hold their tl. A. W. convention at Cleveland March 27. . Today's resolution declared that no f-.-ture affiliation shall be considered ‘uHesS the autonomy and democratic >rtiol of our union be entirely pre • ved to our own membership and the ni inciples of industrial unionism be 1 k"-.v>e in all respects preserved.” Although the U. A. W. in the past s sert delegates to C. I. O. meet and Martin himself was a mem b*r of the C. I. O. executive board,! *he convention’s resolution stated that j the U. A. W. had never been affiliated ■ with the C. I. O. and that “it has be-j come apparent affiliation therewith, (..rid only he accomplished by sacrific ing our democratic autonomy.” The resolution was passed, not Mice, but twice at the convention to day. After formal approval was given it this morning, the same resolution lobbed up again this afternoon ancf was acted on before the duplication vvrs discovered. At the request of representatives from the Det oit Ford local, the con vention voted to ark Martin to reopen b'-, negotiations with the Ford Mo tor company. Conduct of these ne gotiations was criticized by Martin’s C. I. O.-suppoi t.d opponents at a January executive board meeting, which preceded the open division of ♦he union. ry C. Bates, and Thomas A. Rickert, flared back at Lewis with a state ment declaring: “Anyone familiar with present day labor difficulties will realize that the C. I. O. proposal does not offer any possible solution to the problems fac ir.g us. We are convinced it was not even designed for serious considera tion.” The committee declared that the C I O. placed the President “in an era! bo m assing position by using the White House as a sounding board for its proposal. It served notice, however, that it in- < tended to proceed with the conferences in line with President Roosevelt’s re quest for a negotiated peace. “It should be obvious that the Only wav to obtain peace,” the committee said, “Is for both sub's to get down to the consideration of the facts in a realistic way and then negotiate a sett! 'ment Nothing can be accom plished by the issuance of fanciful *«**i tements for headline purposes. In the hone of finding a peaceful solu tion of the problems involved we inf t rd to confine ourselves to the pro cedure outlined by the President.” , • Lewis’ proposal to eliminate both A. F. OF L. REJECTS LEWIS’ PLAN FOR LABOR PEACE-PLAN IS HELD IMPOSSIBLE AS STRIFE SOLUTION A F OF L REJECTS . Q ' WASHINGTON, D.C., March 8—A . sweeping proposal by John L. Lewis that American labor sink its diffei ences and unite in one giant organ ' ization was sharply rejected yester-1 day by peace negotiators of the A. I F. of L. The surprise plan to form a new “American Congress of Labor”-—com posed of craft, industrial, and rail road unions which claim a total mem bership of some 8,000,000—offered “no possible solution” to the long warfare between the C. I. O. and A. F. L„ the latter’s spokesman de clared. , . , U . Lewis had thrust his plan-before President Roosevelt and A. F. L- lead ers at a White House conference—the first of a series called at the behest of the President in an effort to find a formula for labor peace. Striding from the President s of . fice with his fellow negotiators _for th- C. I. O.. Philip Murray and Sid > ney Hillman, Lewis disclosed his plan to reporters in a prepared statement. In brief he proposed: That the C. I. 0_. and A. F. L. hold special conventions between April 15 and 30 to act on the following pro posals: . _ , » ]_That representatives of the A. F. L , the C. I. O. and the four big - railroad brotherhoods meet in conven tion in the D. A. R. hall in Washing ton not later than June 1. . 2_That the convention organize the , American Congress of Labor to super sede and embrace the membership of the C. I. O., the A. F. L. and include the membership of the four independ ent railroad organizations (Brother-, hoods of Firemen and Enginemen, Trainmen, Locomotive Engineers, and, the Order of Railway Conductors). 3-»-That an executive board be set up composed equally of C. I. O. and A, F. L. representatives, with pro ortionate representation for the brotherhoods. Lewis included in his plan the stip ulation that neither himself nor Green be eligible for election to any office in the new organization and that both Green and Frank Morrison, secretary treasurer of the A. F. L., be given a life tenure at their present salaries for “services rendered.” (Green receives $12,000 a year and Morrison $10,000. Lewis receives no salary as head of the C. I. O., but eets $25,000 as president of the United Mine Workers, a position he presumably would continue to hold.) He also proposed that he conven tion select, as its president, men from the railroad brotherhoods, such as A. F. Whitney, head of the trainmen, or D. B. Robertson, head of the Locomo tive Firemen and Enginemen. * Lewis also suggested that to “in sure the orderly, tranquil and good faith execution” of his plan, Presi dent Roosevelt be requested to pre side at the organizing meetings of the new labor movement. Shortly afterward, the A. F. L.’s peace committee, Matthew Woll, Har RADICAL AMENDMENTS OF WAGNER LABOR ACT IS ASKED IN BILL BACKED BY AM. FED. OF LABOR WASHINGTON, March 7.—Back ed by the full force of the American Federation of Labor, Representative Graham Barden, of the Third North Carolina district, declared yesterday that he would push for an early action i<n his bill to amend the national la bor relations act. Mr. Barden said that he was “in dead earnest” over the need for a thorough overhauling of the Wagner h'mself and Green from the presi dency of 'he new ur ited labor move ment recalled that L.'W s offered 'ast October to step out as C I. O. head if Green would also 1,sign as presi dent of the A. F. L. Under the Lewis plan put forward today. Green, while drawing full pay, would be in retirement unless elect ed to some post in a constituent union ..f th? new organization. Lewis al ready has such a post—the presi dency of the United Mine Workers— and thus would continue to be active as a labor leader. The C. I .O. chieftain said his plan 'or unity was only a proposal and was subject to negotiation when the 'wo committees come together again. They arranged to meet in the Labor department at 10 A. M. today. Shortly after the White House la bor conference, a spokesman for Green announced that Daniel J. Tobirt, head >f the Teamsters’ Union, would rejoin the A. F. L. negotiating committee. Tobin quit the committee last week, pleading the press of other work, and Ricksrtw as named to succeed him. The action of the teamsters’ boss in refusing to serve was regarded in some administration circles as a blow to peace hopes, since he was the A. F, L.’s most outspoken advocate of a set tlement of the three-year-old struggle. His return to the conference will increase the fnembetshin of the A. F. L. committee from three to four. There was no indication, however, that the C. I O would add another negotia tor to its delegation. Labor men who examined Lewis' labor unity plan foresaw the possi bility that the equal representation he proposed for A. F. L. and C. I. 0. on an executive board probably would leave the railroad brotherhoods holding tb», balance of power. < To settle the rivalries now exist ing'between dual C. I. O. and A. F. of L. unions, Lewis suggested that the Labor department and its concil iation service be used to mediate all controversail questions of overlap ping jurisdiction. act. He served notice that he would make “every possible effort” to get hearings on his measure before the House labor committee, of which he is a member. The bill would abolish the present three-member National Labor Rela tions board and reconstitute it as a five-member Federal Labor board. Mr. Baron pointed out that it is sim ilar to the previous A. F. of L. bill introduced by Senator David I. Walsh, or Massachusetts, except for addi tional ‘ amendments approved by the executive council of the federation at ns recent winter meeting. Predicting favorable action by the House, Br. Barden said it would as sure “fair play” for all parties. itic bill will definitely outline the lules of fair procedure so that every one, employers and employes, major ities anil minorities, wifi know what j the procedure is to be before going I into a hearing,” Mr. Barden stated. I “Under the present set-up and the certain rules and regulations for pro ceedings wit ha case, it cost .between two and three thousand dollars to get a full review of a labor case. This situation naturally prevents smaller concerns and organizations from gain ing the full protection of the labor act. All I want to do is to lay down the rules of the game before the game is started.” The Tar Heel congressman’s an nouncement that he would ask for im mediate hearings on his measure came on the heels of Senator Thom as’ postponement of Senate hearings pending the outcome of peace negotia tions between the American Federa | tion of Labor and the Congress of In . dustrial Organization which begin to ' morrow afternoon at the White House. The C. 1. O. flatly opposes Wagner, act amendment. The amendments in Mr. Barden’s bill are necessary for two reasons. A. F. of L. spokesmen assert. “First, the present board has forfeited pub lic confidence and the appointment of a new board would enhance the pros . pects of fair administration of the I act in the future; and, secondly, the work of the board has in creased so tremehdously that it re quires the supervision of five men in stead of three.” “Enactment of these amendments will assure fair play for all, and I therefore do not believe there should be delay in acting upon them,” Mr. Barden stated. “There is also an overwhelming sentiment for a thorough survey of the situation, and I believe such an opportunity should be provided.” the charlotte labor journal Reaches the Buying Worsts in *» Section, and they PATRONIZE Its ADVERTISERS ■ , kuvina public earning over four* Million Dollars Annually 0u\BCMrAUSREADC£«uL»nitSh JOURNAL IS REAM^ ding the In Fair and Info *k ^ -,n every instance, zrsxssx?* b. o'-»«-* ADVERTISE IN THE »J*NA and get results FINK GIVES SUMMARY OF PROGRESS BEING MADE TO OBTAIN WAGE AND HOUR LAW FOR NORTH CAROLINA RALEIGH, N. C., March 6.—Be cause of the interest other southern states have in the efforts now being made by the North Carolina State Federation of Labor to obtain a state wage-hour law in this state, Presi dent C. A. Fink, of the North Caro lina Federation of Labor, was asked to give a brief summary of the prog ress being made. President Fink is acting as legislative representative for the state body and has been in Ra leigh since the General Assembly convened in early January. * “Two wage-hour bills have been in troduced, and have been the center of interest in the legislature aince pub lic hearings on the bills started on February 21,” Mr. Fink said. “The State Federation of Labor bill is based upon the Federal wage-hour bill in its entirety. The other bill, spon sored by the State Department of La bor, is identical except it provides for a 48-hour week in all service employ ment. This bill has more support than we have been able to muster for >ur bill,” Mr. Fink continued. “We are being fought by great in erests. Some eighteen organizations and trade groups have appeared be fore the Joint Committee on Manu-1 facturing and Labor to oppose the wage-hour bill. These included the Restaurant and Cafe Owners, the Hotel Men’s Association, the Retail Furnitnure Dealers Association, the Food Dealers Association, the Retail Merchants Association, the Laundry men’s Association, the Pressing and Dry Cleaners Association, the East ern Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Bankers Association, the Bakery Owners Association, the Western Un ion Telegraph Company, the South ern Bell Telephone Company, the Cot 4®n Oil Mill Association, and Bus and Truck Operators’ Association, the Fishermen’s Association ,and the To bacco Warehousemen’s Association. There are 21 members of the Senate committee on Manufacturing and La bor and 32 members of the House committee. These committees have been holding joint sessions since Feb. 21 hearing the opponents of the meas “res- 0n Wednesday of this week the State Department of Labor will be heard in support of their bill, and on Thursday the State Federation of Labor will be heard in support of our bill. We have been joined by the Four Brotherhoods, an assistance that conies to us in a most opportune time. Captain Carter, of the O. R. C., and chairman of the legislative com mittee of the Four Brotherhoods, is to speak in behalf of our measure. The entire executive board of the State Federation of Labor is to be with us Thursday morning and aid us in sup port of the wage-hour bills, continued President Fink. “Spokesmen for the service trades have declared that enactment of the wage-hour law will most assuredly put them out of business and put tl)eir employes on relief. It has been the same old cry that has gone up every time a laboj; measure has been pre sented, and it appears that many members of the joint committee are not paying much heed to the wails and cries of such spokesmen. The repre sentative of the Bankers association stated to the committee that they were interested in only one phase of the bill, and that was to have proper reg ulation made for the apprenticeship, or messenger, who is employed in the first weeks and months of employ ment. The bankers said they had no objection to the wage-hour law, and volunteered the information to the committee that the state could not hope to make any progress on a low wage basis. “Of course I cannot tell what the committee will do with our measure. I know that many southern states will be affected by whatever is done in North Carolina, and for that reason I am doubly anxious to get our bill through. The burden of our case wil be borne by Bro. James F. Barrett, who will present our argument to the joint committee Thursday morning. Mr. Googe has been kind enough to let us have Brother Barrett’s help for a month now, and we appreciate it.” “If the legislative committee of any other state wants copies of our bills, I shall be glad to send them out. I want all of our friends to pull for us this week, and wish us well.” Covered dishes were used long ago to preveht poison being put into the food. - . . . ks ! CHANGES ASKED FOR BY GREEN IN NLRB AS PEACE MEETING NEARS—PEACE PARLEY IS SET WASHINGTON, March 4—A de mand for sweeping reorganization of the National Labor Relations board came from the American Federation of Labor yesterday while the admin istration was completing arrange ments for A. F. of L.-C. I. O. peace conferences. In a statement issned simultane ously with introduction in the House of A. F. of L.-sponsored amendments to the lobor act, William Green, A. F. of L. president, said changes were necessary to “safeguard the act from being entirely destroyed by the pres ent National Labor Relations board.” One proposed amendment would in crease the board membership from three to five. Whether the act should be amended is a point of controversy between the A- F. of L. and the Congress of In dustrial Organizations. The C. I. O. opposes any change at this congres sional session. Shortly after Green issued his statement, Secretary Perkins an nounced she had arranged tentative ly to bring the A. F. of L. and C. I. O. peace committees together Tuesday for a White House House conference with President Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt asked the rival labor organizations last week to name com mittees to try aiain to effect a settle ment of their differences. Miss Perkins said she was con fident the peace conferences would end the three-year-old warfare in labor’s ranks. - In reply to a query, she said she had asked Daniel J. Tobin, head of the teamsters’ union, to reconsider his de cision not to participate in the peace conferences as an A. F. of L. negoti ator. “I hope he will reconsider,” she said. “He is very able and trusted bv every one on both sides. He is head of one of the largest labor unions and naturally has a great interest in the problem.” Tobin was first named to the A. F. of L.’s committee, but said his union’s business and demands on his «' time would not- permit his serving. Green then selected Thomas A. Rick ert, and A. F. of L. vice president, in place of Tobin. The A. F. of L.’s proposed amend ments to the Wagner art were intro duced in the House by Representative Barden, Democrat of North Carolina. They included the same changes advocated in the Senate by Senator Walsh, Democrat of Massachusetts, and, in addition, the proposal to in crease the labor board from three to five members. Green’s statement said the amend ments would prevent “future bureau cratic blundering.” “This (present) board, through un reasonable and arbitrary rulings, has done its utmost to wreck the law and pervert its principles,” he added.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 9, 1939, edition 1
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