Che Charlotte labor Journal
Endorted by the N. C. Stott AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Official Organ of Central Labor Union; Standing
Federation of Labor > __[ for the A. F. L.
12 YEARS OF
CONSTRUCTIVE
SERVICE TO
NORTH
CAROLINA
READERS
VOL. xn. NO. 26
YOU* AOVIHTISSMNT IM TM« JOUKKAL IS A
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1942
$2.00 Per Y<
- “United We Stand tor Victory” -
The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County » Weekly Its Readers Represent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Charlotte
OUR WORKERS BOOST THE WAR
OUTPUT TO FOUR TIMES
Workers on the aircraft assembly lines, in the shipyards, and
on every sector of the production front have boosted production
of war equipment 400 per cent since Pearl Harbor, WPB Chief
Donald Nelson disclosed this week in reporting on September’s
wa rproduction.
In that month, he disclosed, airplane output went up 10 per cent, ord
nance 7 per cent, naval and army vessels 22 per cent, and merchant ships
10 per cent. However, he added, .“production of miscellaneous munitions,
which includes all items not covered by the 4 major categories, remained
steady in September. Motor vehicles, clothing and medical supplies com
prise a large part of miscellaneous munitions, and output of some of these
items is now tapering off, because large supplies have been produced.” The
problem of raising propeller production is one that must be solved rapidly
if aircraft output is not to be impeded, Nelson disclosed. “Plane construc
tion,” he said, “may increase in the months ahead more rapidly than pro
peller production, unless propeller output can be greatly increased. Thus
far, however, enough propellers have been made to fly all planes.
“Mass production methods have been greatly improved; many engineer
ing difficulties have been overcome; skills of new workers are being im
proved and training is preceeding well. “Some plants that have come into
production recently are making an exceptionally good showing—much better
than early experiences had led us to anticipate. And the number of months
in which these plants were under construction before they turned out a
plane was much less than the time taken to construct and bring into opera
tion the first new plants in the war effort.”
DONNELLEY’S SOWED THE WIND,
AND IS NOW REAPING WHIRLWIND
1,650 LABOR-MGT. COMMITTEESNMIT
PRINTING CONCERN THAT USED TO BAR “THE MAN PAST
40” CAN’T HIRE HELP AT ANY AGE NOW
The Chicago Lakeside Press plant of R. R. Donnelley & Sons
Company, largest nonunion printing concern remaining in the
United States, is now confronted with more “labor difficulty”
than it has had in the 37 years since it locked out its union help
to defeat the 8-hour day and establish the so-called “open shop.”
Interesting sidelights in Donnelley
labor policy are given by the Chicago
Printing Trades Unions (608 S. Dear
born St., Chicago), the organization
which is coordinating the nation-wide
drive of the International Printing
Trades 1.'*’‘ftps against the anti-union
printing concern.
The Donnelley employment depart
ment has, ever since 1906, put an “ac
cent on youth,” with the result that
the average age of the 5,000-odd em
ployees was held down to 31 years.
Having sown the wind, the company
is now reaping the whirlwind. Hun
dreds upon hundreds, of the skilled
workers have been inducted _ into the
armed forces through Selective Serv
ice. Other hundreds upon hundreds,
dissatisfied with low wages and slav
ish working conditions, have checked
out of the plant and obtained jobs in
unionized defense plants at better
wages and with better working condi
tions.
I me proDiem oi replacing inese ae
parting workers is the cause of Don*
nelley’s worst headache so far. The
firm has been advertising heavily in
the daily papers of Chicago and other
cities and has not even overlooked the
foreign-language press. 'Most any
kind of help is welcome at Donnelley's
right now, except union help. The
company’s want ads have asked es
pecially for men past 45. (Previously
they had no interest in “the man past
40.”) Unable to get sufficient num
bers of older men, the employment
department asked for women and also
for draft-age men “who can work at
least one month.” But Donnelley’s
reputation with the Chicago public is
so unsavory that local people gave
the plant a wide berth.
Ads then appeared calling for
“farm workers,” but this has been
soft-pedaled since the Printing Trades
Unions added it as a new count in
their indictment of Donnelley’s pa
triotism.
GREEN PRAISES NAVY’S “CHANGED
ATTITUDE” REGARDING LABOR
American unionists now find “high ranking officials of the
Navy eager to talk things over with the representatives of labor,”
AFL President William Green declared in a radio address last
week.
Navy chiefs, he declared, are anxious to bring about harmony and are
“quite willing to give open recognition to the achievements of the nation’s
workers in furtherance of the Navy's war effort. These achievements to
date have been considerable.
“The largest warships are being launched many months ahead of sche
dule. Destroyers are now being built in six months’ less time than formerly.
Warships damaged in battles with the enemy are being repaired with miracu
lous speed. This is th» kind of service the Navy needs and demands in order
to win.
“But I’ll promise you one thing—that all the accomplishments of the
past will pale by comparison with what labor is going to achieve in the
months to come with the friendly support and cooperative encouragement
of the Navy. Speaking for the six million workers of the American Fed
eration of Labor, I say they want to be recognized as shipmates of the
men in the Navy.
“Teamed together, they will most certainly wipe the seas clear of the
enemy.”
Notice To Our Readers and Advertisers
Due to war conditions, now prevailing, The Labor Journal
will not adhere to its rule of issuing one large Christmas edi
tion, this year, but break it up into four issues, beginning
with the issue of December 3rd. This will prove, after all,
of benefit to our regular advertisers and the individuals and
concerns wishing their friends in the Labor movement the
season’s greetings through its columns.
-v W. M. WITTER, Publisher.
USE THE PAYROLL PLAN
10% EACH WEEK FOR WAR BONDS
Free Labor Will Out-Produce Nazi Slaves
They Must “Grow Old” in South Car.
Journal Writer Visits “Down There!”
Labor “Pays Respects” To Governor;
Workers On Job For Thanksgiving
BY. J. A. MOORE
I am writing this letter from a section of South Carolina
where the Sun rises and sets between here and Town. As I came
down the road a few miles before I stopped, I met a man who was
crying. I asked him what was wrong? He said, Father slapped
me. I asked him why he did it, he said because “I sassed Grandpa.”
Then in my most sympathetic manner I tried to console him. Dur
ing the conversation that followed I asked him how old are you?
He answered, “I am only ninety-five next December.” That is
why I came down here for a few days, believing that if the natives
lived to be old enough for their ninety-five-year-old grandsons to
sass them, I might at least add one year to my days by staying
a few days in their “MONGST.”
A fanny thing about these people down here, they have heard about
Organised Labor all their lives, and they call it, or ns, anything, even in
some cases, Co-operative Labor, yet they have the highest regard for ns,
in all cases, whether it be something in which we are concerned or not, they
ask the question, what is Labor going to do about it? This Just shows the
respect they have for the Judgment of our leaders.
What has gone wrong with our Governor? I remember when he was
a very prominent member of the BAR ASSOCIATION? (Lawyers Union)
in Raleigh, N. C. he must have continued his membership until he was elected
Governor of the State, or he wouldn’t have had the support of all the
Lawyers in the State in his campaign for the Governorship that he had, I
am sure that if he had been in arrears with his dues he could not have tried
many cases in the Courts of North Carolina and, I very definitely remem
ber when he attended one convention of the North Carolina Federation of
Labor- H bragged that he once had worked in a Union Shop, now he is
opposed to the payment of Union Dues! Why is this? Does he not intend
to return to the practice of Law when he leaves the Governor’s Mansion?
Before this reaches the eyes of the readers of The Charlotte Labor
Journal, Labor will have demonstrated that we are willing to forgoe the
Thanksgiving Holiday, and that work has gone on as usual, only those
that are employed in non-essential Industry will have taken-a day for
thanksgiving. This is further evidence that Labor is vitally interested in
the outcome of the war. We are “shooting the works” and will continue
to until Old Glory waves over all the land that it has once waved so proudly.
The Central Labor Union has called off the Meeting for the week, but Labor
is Carrying on. President J. A. Scoggins will put in Just as many hours as
usual on the Ration Board; Lon Conder will put in his hours on the Job
at Hoffman, N. C.; Hill Kiser will be at the Rubber Plant; C. R. Meacham
and J. S. Barrow will be picking up new and used automobile tires, and all
the recognised leaders in the Movement WILL CARRY ON AS USUAL.
We are out to win the war and may God have mercy on the Souls of those
that oppose our old “Uncle Samuel.”
The lady of whom I asked the question about in lust week’s paper was
none other than Mrs. Wm. M. Witter. s When I get acquainted with sohm
1 of our Ladies in other lines of organized labor I ahull attempt to say some
thing about them and I am right this very minute pleading with their old
men to get on the labor wagon with them. Let’s put it over, and to the dele
gates that were absent at last meeting of the Central Labor Union I can
only say that if your wife asks me if you were present I will tell a LIE for
you one time, but watch the future, for I only tell the same lie one tiape.
Thanksgiving will not mean a holiday for the Labor Journal, so let’s
read it. If you are not a subscriber Just call me and I will see that your
name is placed on the mailing list.
OWMMSWMMMSNMMMMMMMMMMMMMAMIMMIMMM
THREE MILLION WORKERS SPEED
WAR PRODUCTION THROUGH THE
1,650 LABOR-MANAGEMENT COM.
More than 3,200,000 workers are giving their brainpower to
the job of boosting war production through over 1,650 labor-;
management committees, Government reports disclosed this week.
Huge increases in outpnt have been reported to War Production Drive
Headquarters, since tbe opening of the drive to build union-employer coun
cils in every war plant. In addition, there have been hundreds of reports
on successful salvage drives; on the elimination of waste; on the speeding
up of operations; on the substitution of readily available materials for scarce
items; on improvement of production; and on the reduction of absenteeism.
America’s unions have led in calling for establishment of active labor
management committees. War Production Drive Headquarters cited the
following recent report as typical:
A survey of the die casting industry showed that there were labor
management committees in plants having 23 per cent of the industry’s ca
pacity; and those plants produced 38.1 per cent of its output.
ORGANIZED LABOR HELPS MAKE
“COLUMBIA THE GEM OF 7 OCEANS”
SHIPS AND MORE SHIPS—-from California to Boston
—from Wilmington to Oregon—from the Great Lakes to
the Gulf—Organized Labor is making ships for America.
Liberty Ships, PT Boats — Cruisers, Cargo Ships, Oilers,
Tankers, Submarines, and Aircraft Carriers. Let the wily
ones whisper about union labor—they will crawl into a hole
some day to try and hide. That day will come when the
. Japs and the Nazis give up and it is possible to tell the fuH
story of American ship production which made our country
the Mistress of the Seven Oceans—that story of union labor
production wiU be the most amazing in the annals of all
human endeavor from the very beginning of history.
FARM PROFITS
EXCEED FARM
WAGE RAISES
Increasing costs on the farm
can be met through increased
profits, according to a recent
agricultural survey. Figures
showed that farm wages have
gone up 65 per cent, production
costs 40 per cent, gross income
73 per cent, and net income 112
per cent.
BUY Bonds NOW
Rationing Dates
For Consumers
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. — A
check-list of rationing dates for con
sumers was issued today by the Office
of Price Administration. It read in
summary:
GASOLINE
Dec. 1—Nation-wide rationing effec
tive. Passenger-car tire inspections
begin.
Dec. 12—Illegal for motorists to drive
after this date if they have not reg
istered and received inspection rec
ords.
COFFEE
Nov. 22-28, inclusive — Retail sales
halted. Only restaurants, hotels
and other institutional users who
have purchase certificates and the
armed services may buy coffee.
Nov. 29—Sales begin under rationing.
FUEL OIL
Nov. 30—Purchase of fuel oil without
ration coupons extended to this
date.
About Dec. 1, (depending on locality)
—Current fuel-oil heating period
ends. Coupons for this period are
valid until Dec. 13 to 19 in some
zones.
FOOD PRICES
JUMPED 2.4 Pet
SEPT.15- OCT. 13
The cost of food for the average
family rose 2.4 per cent between Sept.
15 and Oct 13, Secretary of Labor
Perkins reported this week. Most of
this rise occurred dating the latter
part of September and early October,
prior to the OPA action Oct. 6 bring
ing under price control an additional
30 per cent of the family food bill.
At the higher mid-October levels,
foods in retail grocery stores were
selling 6.6 per cent above the level of
mid-May and 16 per cent higher than
a year ago in October.
The increase during the month was
nationwide, affecting all of the 51
cities surveyed.
AFL HitsWPlT ;
Threat Against \
Labor Press
WASHINGTON.—Publishers of la
bor papers throughout the country
are pratesting War Production Chief
Donald Nelson’s discrimination against
them in his Newspaper Industry Ad
visory Committee, the AFL News!
Service said. >
On the committee, the Nov. 3 issue
says, labor and farm press are not
represented. “On the contrary, it
made up largely of bitter foes of
unions,” it says. <
If the committee’s recommendatiod
is accepted and newsprint “frozen’?
and consumption cut drastically, lm-gtf
publishers could reduce the number of
their pages, but it would result in a
“body blow” to the labor press, the’
AFL says. With labor papers that
print only four pages, it goes on,
“this solution would not be possible
. . . They will be forced to sacrifice"
readers.
-V- ;
DEMAND THE UNION LABEL
Label in your hat?
Label in your shoes?
Label in your clothes?
Label on your printing?
Union barber shave you?
Union carpenter build yoid house?
Union painter paint it?
Union bricklayer put the foundation
under it and the pillars in front of It?
Union plumber fit out your sanitary
equipment?
APPRECIATE *
AMERICA