Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Nov. 1, 1945, edition 1 / Page 1
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I JOURNAL’S POLICY The Charlotte Leber Jeereel k , ■tractive criticism. Its object ^ / is to promote erfseisettee M I the naorgaeiaed, to help brief KL KM ■beat e better uieniMiiu ^ W W betweee employer end employe. thereby gsleiep e bettor steed ard of livieg for the worker. I __ . _ . _ REPF Prngrees shall sHreys gevere I T»- Jeeraefs epieie-. [ Endorsed by r‘"VO,‘- XV; NO. 14 mmmamt^^SSSSSSrn WUWU.Y~ a" m Subscription Price $2.00 Per Year I ' C0II6RESS RETURNS i EMPLOYMENT RI6HTS TO VARIOUS STATES “The return of their employ ment services to the various states should prove to be one of the most constructive moves made by Con giess on behalf of business and industry,” A. L. Fletcher, Chair • man of the Unemployment Corn s' pensation Commission stated to il day when questioned as to the j Commission's plans with regard > to the Employment Service for North Carolina. The Employment Service, formerly functioned as a Division of the Commission before it was loaned to the Federal Gov-' eminent for the duration. “Here in N. C„” Fletcher said, “our state administration has been considerbly handicapped dur ing the period the Employment Service, operated by the War Manpower Commission, has di rected its energies to the recruit ment of labor for war industries, sending many workers away from N. C. to other states. There is no longer any need for such national M I Ml Vlt|vH*l “Our twn N. C. employers want help to run their businesses, their farms, their homes and their services; end we want to try to find suitable jobs at boase for all workers who become unemployed during economic shifts. “This Commission considers that finding jobs for unemployed workers is e prime responsibility and with authority to direct the Employment Service," Fletcher said, “we shall endeavor to have fewer workers drawing benefits for long periods/ “As clearing-houses for jobs and workers, local employment offices throughout the stats hold the key to the orderly development of in dustry. It is our goal to build a sound structure of placement and benefit administration, consistent with the different needs of the different communities. It is out ef local situations that national problems grow. If we can give satisfaction at home, there need be no national problem. “Success of our reconversion program depends largely on the gaiehe John Smith, businessman, soaaivn from the Employment Of ten, and how soon David Jones, meeker, is relocated in a job that suits him. Consequently super vision of activities of local office personnel is of the first impor tance.” In this connection, Fletcher said the Commission will want to make some changes to conform to the rules of the State Merit System. While the Employment Service was operated by the War Man power Commission, a number of appointments were made without Merit System approval, and these the U. C. C. cannot recognise. However, the Unemployment Com pensation Commission has guar anteed re-employment rights to all employees connected with it be fore the Federal Government took over and who have continued ns Employment Service personnel. Efforts art being ask to bring back as speedily aa possible, R. Afayne Albright, former Director of the Employment Service now abeent on military leave add serf 2_ T4.1.. i - Acres at Empty Desks Washington (LPA)—A Wash of empty desks” in the War Bept'i mammoth Pentagon Building here last week, and the explanation giv en. It seems that Army brass hats, afraid of losing rank if the men in their command are released from the service (a Colonel must have 16 officers under him to remain a Colonel) simply keep the under lings in the ranks. Since the men have no work to occupy them, they stay away. Result: acres of empty desks. National Casket Company "Employes Win Important Gains Philadelphia. — Important gains for employes of the National Casket Co. have been won as the result of the first joint contract negotiations conducted by the Upholsters’ Inter national Union (AFL) for Local 560, East Cambridge, Mass.; Local 412, Baltimore, Md., and Local 1928, Asheville, N. C. In the conferences extending over more than two months, the local unions were represented by Inter national President Sal B. Hoffmann, International Vice President Wil liam J. Heffernan, International Vice President Howard Litchfield, business representative of Local 560; C. F. Bradley, business repre sentative of Local 1928; Ray Thieme, business representative of Local 412, and Organization Di rector Arthur McDowell. John T. McGillicuddy, a company vice pres ident, represented management. Among improvements in the con tracts for the three locals are: Vacation pay was upped from 40 and 80 hours to 48 and 96 hours, provided the plants have worked at least six months during the year on a 48-hour week; overtime pay was set at double time for Sunday and 2Mi times for work on holidays; Saturday work was established as overtime regardless of the number of hours worked during the week as a whole; when overtime work ex tends to 7 p. m. or Saturday work beyond 1 p. m., 75-cent supper or lunch money will be paid; two paid 10-minute rest periods daily are es tablished on an experimental basis in the East Cambridge and Balti more plants (Asheville plant is on an hourly pay basis); the hiring minimum was upped 5 cents in the same two plants, bringing entry pay for men to 65 cents and for women to 55 cents; a 55-cent min imum with a 5-cent hourly raise to all workers was gained for the Asheville plant, bringing general hourly raises in the plant during the year to 11 cents. Wage P:;st of 15 Percent Rumored; Situation In Congress Is “Snafu” Washington, D. C.—Wild •pecu lation regarding changes in the gov ernment's labor policy enveloped the nation’s capital as Secretary of Labor Schwellenbaeh struggled to quell the waves of reconversion strikes and Congress continued ifa sit-down against labor. One of the rumors which gained increasing credence was to the ef fect that the War Labor Board, the Office of Price Administration aad other agencies were under pres sure by Schwellenbaeh to develop a new wage policy which would per mit wage rate increases of 15 per cent immediately even if price boosts resulted. This would require a new inter pretation of President Truman’s last Executive Order on wages or, perhaps, an amendment to that rul ing. It was reported that Secretary Schwellenbaeh was anxious to clear up threatening industrial disturb ances promptly in order to create a peaceful and harmonious atmos phere for the forthcoming labor management conference which is expected to recommend new pro cedures for the orderly settlement of industrial disputes. Whether a ‘flat 15 per cent in-' crease in wage rates would prove' satisfactory to labor at this time was considered problematical in view of the much larger losses in take-home pay suffered by workers as the result of loss of overtime and incentive bonuses. Meanwhile, Congress made no move to do anything about emer gency labor legislation urgently recommended by President Truman for “must” action. Despite their conference with the President at the White House, mem bers of the House Ways and Means Committee continued to bottle up the Kilgore Unemployment Com pensation bill and there was no sign of its being rescued from the com mittee’s pigeonhole. The House Committee on Expen ditures held hearings on the water ed-down Full Employment bill MORE SOCIAL SECURITY ASKED BY ALTMEYER Chicago—More liberal social se curity must be provided for the workers of America If “free en terprise” is to survive. That warn ing was sounded by Chairman A. J. Altmeyer of the Social Secur ity Board In and address here to a large audience of business men at a meeting of the Chicago As sociation of Commerce. Altmeyer called for highest un employment insurance, sickness and disability benefits, extension of old-age annuities to millions not now covered, and other im provements in the present Social Security Act. passed by the Senate, giving wide opportunities to opponents of the measure and showing no disposi tion to spaed action. ( Altogether the situation was just what the Gls sail “9hafu.” WLB BBFUSBS TO CUT RECONVERSION PAT RATES Washington, D. C.—In its first decision on a wage reduction pro posal, the War Labor Board denied a request of the American Car and Foundry Company of Wilmington, Del., for approval of a lowering of mechanics’ rates, coincident with the change from war to peace time production. Industry members dissented. In many instances during the war, employers who changed from the production of civilian goods to war products were permitted to raise their wage rates to the pre vailing level of that particular in dustry to enable them to compete for available skilled manpower. The reconversion of these concerns raised the question whether wage rates should go back. The board wrote no opinion in the American Car and Foundry case, but members have said that the important consideration in such cases was whether the required skills of the particular jobs under-j went a change in the process of ■ changing the product. UNIONS OVER II. $. SUPPORT VICTttY CAMPHOR FULLY Omaha, Nebr. — Full support of the coming Victory Loan drive, as well as a continuation of the Pay roll Savings Plan, waa given by members of the Nebraska State j Federation of Labor —' AFL, at | their annual convention. The mo tion which was carried by the con | vention reads as follows: ‘We have also had referred to our Committee for action a letter from the Treasury Department < asking help in the Victory Loan Drive and continuance of the pay roll savings plan. We feel that we have helped in the past drives and this should be contfaiued. We would move that the Nebraska State Federation of Labor co operate with the Treasury De partment in the Victory Loan Drive and continue the program which has been carried out in the past." J. J. Guenther, President, has assured Labor Unit officl ils of the War Finance Division U. S. Treasury of the readme s of the Federation to co-operats is every way to make the drive i success in this sttats. - - -ni, i - — ' New Frey Book <» Just Off Press Washington, D. C. — Just off the press ia a new history of trade unions by John P. Frey, president of the Metal Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor and one of the veterans of the la bor movement. It is entitled “Craft Unions of Ancient and Modern Timas.” * The book traces the course of the trade union movement from its early beginnings in antiquity, thru the development of civilization and into their present-day structure in America. It appeared serially in the American Federationist. Trade union history has been Mr. Frey’s hobby for many years. He spent a great deal of time and effort and research in preparation of his material, which is pressnted with skillful and painstaking care. Copies of the book may be ob tained by writing of the Metal Trades Department, Room 402, AFL Building, Washington, D. C. The price is $1.60. Consult your OPA area rant ofXlctiMMdMa&r Kbit cimwt bt evicted fee . * 5-j « In moot States, a tenant does not have to mow until a coart order i* issued. An OPA eviction form $ not an order to move... neither is the notice given to you "by your landlord ■ " v" ■ _ ■ 1 ■ ■ ■ ' r~~~ >■ ■ ■ 11 People, Spots In The News ■m ■■ ■ ■ 1 " ■ i 11 I ■ t j "SHANGRI-LA", kept secret through the years, was used by President Roosevelt for weekend retreats. Lo , cated in Thurmont, Md„ it was built ,) in the 30's by the CCC and is 70 miles j from the nation's capital. XMAS San Juan poses this you to mail package to frtends NEW USE fOR OL~ PRODUCT—Tile, which has assumed many important ro..s. Ilia new one as table top. Result: Pam Jordan, ", Matawan, N J., is unworried over “spilt" breakfast. Swish •f damp cloth will remove all damage. ^, < — AFL Unions Actively Aid Veterans Survey By Federationist Shows Washington, D. C. — AFL groups in many cities are performing nota ble services for returning war vet erans, according to a survey pub lished in the current issue of the American Federationist. The survey gave honorable men tion to the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly, which has estab lished a Veterans Service Center on the first floor of its labor temple under the direction of William Loo by, of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, who served in the first World War and is a member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Ab uie cciifccr vcicniiw *rc (fivcn information as to their legal rights under veterans legislation, where to look for a job, how to get appren ticeship training, how to obtain loans, where to build a home and what union to join, if they wish to do so. The Federationist article points out that the AFL called upon all its local affiliates to set up special committees to help veterans find employment and that the AFL’s Labor League for Human Rights also has advised AFL affiliates to become active in community proj ects for veterans. The survey con ducted by the AFL magazine die-1 dosed commendable activities in the following cities: <V ’ Boston — Two AFL representa tives take an active part in job counseling at the Veterans’ Center. Buffalo.—The Veterans’ Informa tion Center is governed by a citi zens’ committee. The advice and cooperation of the AFL are solicit ed. All inquiries from veterans con cerning AFL unions are referred to the Buffalo Federation of Labor or the appropriate local union. An AFL committee arranged a confer ence to set up a program of ap prentice ship training for veterans. Los Angeles.—The AFL helps to bear the financial cost of the city’s j Veterans’ Center. During July the1 AFL employment and Rehabilita tion Section successfully handled 485 referrals. Portland, Oregon.—The Portland ' Central Labor Council has spent $3,000 to furnish one floor of the] new veterans’ club, known as the; George White Center. The Machin- I ists Union presents each new member from the armed forces with a set of tools. Seattle.—AFL unions are active in all veterans’ projects. An AFL member heads the city’s Veterans’ Referral Center. Aurora, Illinois. — The AFL is fully represented on the city's Coun cil on Veterans' Affairs. Columbus, Ohio.—The AFL co operated in setting up the Veterans’ Service Center and an AFL repre sentative is serving on the center's advisory committee. Dayton, Ohio.—An AFL repre sentative is chairman of the Com mittee on Returning Veterans, spon sored by the Council of Social Agencies. The Dayton program is considered one of the best because of close coordination between all agencies. Frankfort, Kentucky.—AFL rep resentatives are active In all com munity projects in behalf of vet erans. Gary, Indiana.—The AFL helped to set up a Veterans’ Service Cen ter and is represented on its board of governors. Grand Rapids, Mich.—The AFL assisted in setting up a Veterans’ Service Center and is represented on its administrative committee. A committee of three serves with the i center’s personnel. Executive Council Act* to Free Labor From Regulation • CINCINNATI!.—The AFL Ex ecutive Council called upon Presi dent Truman to permit the Na tional War Labor Board to go out of existence and to remove all government controls over wages immediately. The Executive Council acted as the President was consulting with members of the NWLB in Wash ington on the advisability of re viving the agency. The firm stand taken -by the Federation's leaders was expected to halt any such move. Wasting no time in getting down to business, the council opened its fall session by firing a broadside into the advocates of continued fed eral economic regulation, of the life of the NWLB would result in increasing strikes and the threats of strikes, forcing labor and man agement to go to the government for the solution of their problems Stead of settling differences ough collective bargaining. AFL President William Green told newsmen at a press confer ence that the Executive Council intends to formulate a plan that will reduce strikes to a minimum. He indicated that this plan will be submitted to the forthcoming labor-industry conference by the AFL delegates to that parley. Mr. Green also revealed that the Executive Council had reaffirmed its decision of last August to fore go a national convention this year. While the government’s ban aa . conventions has been lifted since the last council meeting, the AFL leaders decided it would be im possible to make arrangements and obtain accommodations for a con vention before the year ends. Therefore, the next AFL conven tion will take place in October of 1946. In its statement on the NWLB, the council declared that the board had outlined its usefulness, that its authority had been weakened al most to the vanishing point and that new legislation would be need ed to give its decisions force and effect now. “Such legislation,” said the council, “would usher in another period of government by emergen cy. The executive council believes the nation has had enough of that. The time has come to move in the opposite direction. The time has ccme for the people of America including labor and management —to stand on their own feet in stead of depending upon the gov ernment.” According to reports in Wash ington, the CIO was the only group to urge continuation of the NWLB. Without mentioning any names, the executive council said in its statement “Those who desire prolongination of the National War Labor Board have no confidence in themselves nor in the operation of the free enterprise system. They are ready to admit that the American way of life is a failure. “The American Federation of Labor does not share these views. We firmly believe that the way to establish industrial peace and sta bility is to remove government control of wages immediately, in stead of reinforcing it.” The council warned that govern ment policies designed to prevent inflation already have resulted in deflation—“sharp deflation of the income of the nation's workers.” With wage earnings and take home pay dropping suddenly be low subsistence levels, it is no wonder that strikes are taking place, the council said. Calling upon President Truman to adopt a new course, the council insisted that wage controls can be lifted while price control and rent control are continued until peace time production and construction are expended to meet public de mands.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1945, edition 1
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