Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / March 14, 1946, edition 1 / Page 1
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Wnt Charlotte labor Journal (AND DIXIE FARM NEWS) A Newspaper Dedicated Ta The Interests of Charlotte Central Labor Union and Affiliated Crafts—Endorsed By North Carolina Federation of Labor and Approved By The American Federation of Labor. i\ MARCH 14, 1946 Price 5c Per Copy Subscription Price $2.00 Per Year Case Bill Slashed To Pieces By Action Of Senate This Week Washington, D. C.—Condemning the Case bill as a “monstrous” anti-labor measure, AFL President William Green told the Senate La bor Committee that the federation would oppose it “uncompromising 1) with all our collective and po litical strength.” In a furious attack on the spon sors of the legislation, which has been passed by the House, Mr. Green charged that the same sin-" ister influences which put the dis credited . *.... w..—Act on the law books have sought to in spire “angry hatred” for organised labor. Mr. Green literally took the Case bill apart, analyzing it section by section and demonstrating forcefully how dangerous and hy pocritical its provisions are. His testimony took immediate effect. Senator fames E. Murray, chairman of the 8enate Labor Committee, predicted the bill never would be reported out of commit tee. He said it was “an extreme measure, designed to destroy la bor unions.” witness stand and took a few pow erful licks at the Case bill. He warned that passage of the meas ure “may well initiate an era of industrial warfare” and called it an ill-advised “hodge-podge,” heav ily weighted against labor unions. In his analysis of the bill, Mr. Green directed heavy fire against the section attempting to ban boy cotts. This section, he contended, was “a flat and permanent prohibition against the right to strike in usu al and ordinary circumstances.” He commented: "Consider, for example, the case of an employer having several plants, each of which works on or processes the same items. Under this prohibition the existence of a board certificate and a contract covering one plant would make it unlawful for the employes of all other plants to strike for recogni tion, for higher wages or for any other plainly lawful objective.” Mr. Green declared that “irre parable losses” could be caused to labor unions by suspension of their rights for 90 days to 6 months if found guilty by the NLRB of vio lating these provisions. He also criticised possible permanent ex clusion from provisions of the Na tional Labor Relations Act of in dividuals found guilty of violating the provisions. He attacked Section 4 of the bill, which would forbid strikes and lockout fox 30 days in disputes where the proposed labor-manage ment mediation board assumed jurisdiction, and said he wondered vhy there was repeated emphasis on “cooling-off” periods. “I should have thought,” he as serted, “that the farcial experi ence of the Smith-Connally Act was enough. The implication that unions usually strike in heated moments and in total disregard of the welfare of both their own members and the public is gratui tously insulting and wholly un founded.” Concerning Section 10 of the bill to authorise damage suits in either federal or state courts for violations of collective bargaining agreements, Mr. Green said. “One of the important objectives of the Nerris-LaG uardia act was isdiction that, under our federal system of government, properly This belonged to state courts, provision would eliminate that salutary effect Guardia act.” of the Norris-La Section 11, which maintains a prohibition against injunctions af fecting the right to strike, peace lul assembly or peaceful picket ing, but authorizes federal district outts to enjoin force or violence n a labor dispute, he character ized as apparently a violation of otate rights. He added: “But even more important is the wholesale abuse this provision will inevitably create. Ex parte re straining oraers will issue indis criminately upon the mere un proved allegations that unions are threatening violence. “Many federal courts will, as has been aptly stated, ‘see threats in a picket’s frowns and incite ments to violence in a union rally.’ ‘Government by injunction’ will no longer refer to a by-gone era—it will become the ugly, living actu ality it once was. Mr. Green pointed out that a (Please Turn to Page 4) Miners Seeking Pay Hike Call Wage Policy Parley Washington, D. C.—The district presidents of the United Mine Workers of America issued a call far a meeting here on March 11 of the union’s Policy Committee to consider wage demands on the bituminous coal operators. Presi dent John L. Lewis of the United Miners presided at the meeting of the district presidents, which had lasted two days. The present contract may be ends* *7 a 30-day notice or upon: a change in government policy. The contract calls for gdvarice no tice of JO days for a.joint meet ing, provides for IS days of nego tiations, after which either side may end the contract in five days. The announcement of the con vening of the Policy Committee of 250 members was authorised by Mr. Lewis in the following state ment: “The sessiop of the District Presidents of the United Mine Workers of America unanimously voted to convene the Policy Com mittee of the UMWA, which nukes all decisions affecting wage mat ters, to meet in Washington March 11 at 10 a. m. "An official circular will be sent immediately to all local unions and affiliates of the UMWA noti fying them of the reaffiliation of the mine workers with the AFL.” The union’s wage policy will be affected by the new wage-price formula announced by President :T»uman on Fsfcnuurp .£4. _: _> r According to the mw Cannula employes' ifany be palt^k rates cor responding to change*: in h'ving costa since January 1, 1941. The Itase now set up under the formu la is the hourly rate paid in Jan uary, 1941, rather than the straight-time hourly earnings, the later a higher figure for it includes several components beyond the ba sic rate. If the basic rate of pay for miners is calculated in this way, the miners would be entitled to substantial increases above » the present scales, observers say. THREE FILE FOR CONGRESS llanley R. Dunaway, Charlotte real estate man, threw his hat into the Tenth Congressional district arena today, by announcing him* self for Congress. He is the third Charlotte man to announce during the past few days. Last week Hamilton C. Jones, local attorney, filed for the primary, and the Re publicans also selected P. C. Burk holder of Charlotte as their can didate for the Congressional post. Mr. Dunaway’s name has been mentioned several times during the past several weeks, but he stated in an interview with a Labor Jour nal representative that not until to day did he definitely make up his mind to run. ‘'Many of my frignds for some time have insisted that I run for Congress, but not until today did the pressure become so great I felt compelled to yield to their de sires," Mr. Dunaway said. “I am going to announce my platform soon. It will be one Which I hope to make representa tive of all of the constituents of the Tenth district,” Mr. Dunaway •tated. Mr. Jones has been a practicing attorney in Charlotte for many jjsars and during the last Com ihSaiionaTrace was a runnofr-up "to BEN S. WHITING the late Joe Ervin in the primary 1 and slated to; make the run-off with Mr. Elljbn. He withdrew, however, in ffcror of Mr. Ervin. Mr. Duna4kv Is well known here, having* lived in Charlotte since 1923. Me is a World War I veteran' and j£a* been associated with the aotipiobile business, in vestment and feal estate business. Mr. Burkhekier. the Republican resident of the a Mecklen- ' burg residehtlfor several years. Ben S. Whiling, former judge of the City Rd$4rdor‘s Court, and World War II veteran, today an nounced his feavuHdacy for solici tor of the Fourteenth District in opposition to}Basil Whitener, of Gastonia, a Gregg Cherry ap pointee. Tikis promises to be i lively race. candidate. Is I ... County and Mp* been MANLEY R. DUNAWAY HAMILTON C. JONES Prices Due To Jump As Result Of New Policy TRIBUTE TO SERVICE WOMEN _ Of idol Army Photo won LEGION or ME KIT. Vic toy Bondi help supply necessities (or woqien In service like Staff Set. Ella C. Wright, Kalama. Washington, commanded for tireless work In European theater. U. S. Treasury Dogrutmut Washington, D. C.—Authorita tive warnings that the cost of liv iny may skyrocket another 10 pe cent as the result of the admini station’s new wage-price polic; were issued by Marriner S. Ec cles, chairman of the Federal Re serve Board in testimony befon the House Banking and Currency Commitee. Thus, the inflation bulge ad' mittedly caused by President Tru man’s new economic program takei on the aspecta of a major retreal from the previous hold-the-lun policy. The effect on the nation’s work ers will be to wipe out a large part of the gains achieved through recent wage increases, because more will have to be spent for the necessities of life. If prices continue to go up as predicted, labor probably will also find it necessary to seek addiional wage adjustments next year t? maintain the living standards of workers. Labor economists charge that the anticipated sharp price rise is dne to the new policy ot permitting ■ business to obtain higher price ■ ceilings for products to compen r: sate for higher labor costs. The r government should have insisted (Please Tara to Page 4) I MRS. GEORGE MARSHALL Strikes Encouraged And Bargaining Frozen By New Policy Washington, D. C.—The Amcr- | ican Federation of Labor chal lenged the administration’s new wage-price policy as offering in ducements to workers to strike rather than seek justified wage in creases through peaceful collective hnrgaftiing. The main target of the AFL at tack is the requirement contained in the President’s executive order for obtaining prior governmet ap proval of wage rate increases — even those voluntarily agreed upon by labor and managment— before j they can go into effect, I No such requirement was im j posed on striking steiworkers of the CIO in the settlement made in that case. The government agency desig nated by the Prsajdeni to pass up on proposed wagfhooijpisthe Na tional Wage Stabilization Board which has a tiny staff unequipped to handle a vast flow of cases ex peditiously. Th* expected delays may cmvm ssriods industrial un rest a/si lead werkera to believe that tie only way to get actien promptly ia bjr striking. * - Roben" T. Wa^. *ArE mmm or uie isational Wage Stabiliza tion Board, has pressed vigorously for amendment or clarification of the wage-price policy to permit automatic approval of wage in creases not exceeding 18 or 20 cents an hour. However, Chester Bowles, the new economic stabilization direc tor, has taken the position that the government will not'recognize any set pattern for wage increases and will consider each case on its merits. Apparently, the administration fears that any blanket upproval of wage adjustments in cases where employers intend to ask for j higher price ceilings to cover add ed labor eostg would blow the lirt off price control. Because of this situation. Sena tor Bridges of New Hampshire charged in an open letter to Bowles that the government has shown “favoritism” to the CIO. However .other CIO unions than the Steelworkers will find them selves in the same boat with the API, and will be forced to get NWSB approval of wage changes under the new program. Another explosive development in the wage situation came witn the disclosure by the AFL Month ly Survey of Business that Com munist-dominated CIO unions have cracked the price line and deprived all American workers of real gains in living standards. The survey said: “The President has retreated from his policy of Aug. 18. Right after V-J Day, when he freed col lective bargaining, his sole restric tion was that wage increases should not break price ceilings. “The federation heartily en dorsed this policy and our unions won outstanding wage gains through collective bargaining. None of our gains caused any in creases in prices. Even during the strike period we kept right on peacefully negotiating agreements for substantial wage increases. To date we have won wage increases averaging from 10 to 20 cents an hour and up for about 3 million workers. Early in February when a total of 1,400,000 workers were on strike, only 00,000 of these strikers were AFL members. “Unions outside the AFL, how ever, had other methods. Simul taneous strikes in basic industries, with uncompromising demands, ■pwrv designs* te feces government intervention with fact - finding uoarus anu wage romulas. To meet their demands, the President broke the steel price ceiling, then issued his dastic wage-price order of Feb ruary 14 to deal with the conse quences of this break. “So the government again in j u rvones between workers and management, collective bargaining is again frozen and ail workers, arc put under rigid wage controls, ill workers will be robbed of pare of their wage gains, for the broken price line will 'bulge' upward and living costs will rise. This is the end result of forcing government to intervene. “It is estimated that the rise in living costs this year will be from K to 10 cents on the dollar. So workers pay back part of their wage increase. The real gain from the government wage form-* ulas thus far announced will be from 8 to 1.3 cents—or less than this if living costs rise more than 8 per cent. “The workers of America know that the August 18 wage-price pol icy did not break down in AFL unions.. It was an outstanding success because AFL unions took responsibility, bargained in good (Please Turn to Page 4) Mrs. Marshall Renamed To Cancer Field Work New York — Mrs. George E. Marshall, of Mount Airy, N. C., has been reappointed state Com mander of the North Carolina Di vision of the Field Army of the American Cancer Society, accord ing to an announcement made here ; today by Mrs. Lucy R. Milligan, national commander. t Mrs. Marshall waa first appoint ed state commander in 1941. Under her leadership the North Carolina Division has grown from a small organisation with few members in scattered parts of the State into one which reaches into every county. It has been instrumental in getting several diagnostic clin ics set up in the larger cities and gives substantial financial aid to such centers. It is conducting an educational program designed to reduce the present cancer death toll by at least one-third in the coming decade. Last year it added support of a program of cancer research on a national scale to ita activities. Other officers who will serve with Mrs. Marshall are the fol lowing: Honorary state commander. Dean Harriet W. Elliott, of Wo man’s College of the University of North Carolina; educational di rector. Dr. Robert P. Morehead, of the staff of Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem; pub licity director. Miss Myrtle Ellen LaBarr, Greensboro; treasurer, Donald C. Rector, recently pro moted to the presidency of First National Bank in Mount Airy'-,'and chairman of surgical dressings, Mrs. Grady R. Kirkman, of Greens boro. Dr. Ivan M. Procter, Raleigh, is hairman and Dr. Thomas Leslie Lee, Kinston, vice-chairman of the itate executive committee.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 14, 1946, edition 1
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