Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Sept. 5, 1946, edition 1 / Page 1
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AFFILIATE WITH YOU* CENTRAL LABOR UNION AND THE N. C. FEDERATION NOW! CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL Unionists, Do Aid la the "Within Your Power To A. F. L> Membership Drive AND CAROUNA Working For A Better Understanding Between North Carolina AFL Unions and Employers of Labor JOURNAL “/LABOR A Newspaper Dedicated To The Interests of Charlotte Central Labor Union and Affiliated Crafts—Endorsed By North Carolina Federation of Labor and Approved By The America n Federation of Labor. * VOL. XVI; NO. 17 "Were it not for the labor press, the labor movement would not be what it is to day. and any man who tries to injure a labor pa per is a traitor to the cause."—Samuel Gompers. CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 5, 1946 Subscription Price $2.Q0 Per Year AMERICA WITHIN SIGHT OF 30-HOUR WEEK, SAYS GREEN Hannah Asks For Unity Of Labor In World Crisis Urges Firmness In Dealing With Russia Tulsa, Okla.—AFL President William Green keynoted the nation’s celebration of Labor Day with a notable address here demanding stern measures to end Soviet Russia’s threat to world peace and elimination of Communist influence in the American labor movement. Once world peace is secure and America can harness mod ern inventions for the benefit of the people, Mr. Green fore saw the coming of the 30-hour week, jobs for all and the banishment of poverty. Mr. Green spoke from the pavilion of the /State Fair Grounds to a vast audience which had flocked to Tulsa for the greatest Labor Day celebration the Southwest has ever seen. Accorded a tremendous ovation when introduced by President O. A. Vinal of the Tulsa Labor Council, the AFL chief spoke not only to his visible audience but to the Nation as a whole over the network of the National Broadcasting Company. With reference to the domestic situation, r. Green said: "The 40-hour week, once labor’s proudest boast, is doomed to the discard. Within the foreseeable fu ture, the 30-hour week is bound to come, opening up new opportuni ties for employment and for a full, or life for the working nueass. Millions of American families, now in economic bondage, will be given a chance to share in greater op portunities. ” ^ Mr. Green was sharply critical of the recent Congress for what he regarded as » “do-nothing” policy on long-range housing, refusal to continue a strict clamp of OPA controls, indifference towards so cial security improvement or to increase the minimum wage level to 65 cents per hour. Mr. Green once more held out the olive branch to labor organisations which left the AFL and which since have indicated a desire to return. “I say to them now, as I have said so often in years past,, ‘the door is open.’ We will welcome our returning brothers, willing to forgive and forget their mender ings in oder ito consolidate the (Please Turn to Page 4) President Creen JOURNAL RECEIVES CONGRATULATORY WORDS The Charlotte Labor Journal and Carolina Journal of Labor has received many compliment* from members in labor circles and also from outside the movement on its Labor Day issue. To all of these we say thank you very very much. Schwellenbach Backs Labor As Insurance Of U. S. Prosperity * Washington, D. C.—Basic objec tives of American organised labor were strongly defended in a Labor Day nationwide broadcast by Sec retary of Labor Lewis B. Schwel lenbach, who declared that labor’s aims are “the things all of us want.” Highlighting the administration’s messages to the country’s army of toilers, Schwellenbach said that "as kbor achieves its basic objectives, the whole Nation cannot fail to prosper.” “They are simple aims, familiar and approved by all of us,” he said. “They are useful and remunerative jobs for all, sufficient income for proper food, clothing and recrea tion, freedom from oppression by monopoly, adequate protection of health, broader social security pro visions and an opportunity for ed ucation for ail. “With the attainment of these things, the benefit of them will flow through our whole democratic system, profiting all in our so ciety.” Mr. Schwellenbach said that la bor had grown strong in its fight for these goals. “The rights to organize and to \ fcorgain collectively have become basic concepts in our democracy— hard-won rights that are here to stay,” he said. “And yet there are those who say that labor’s motives are selfish, that the common good n not labor's aim. I know that is not true. I know that as labor achieves its basic objeo.ives the whole nation cannot fail to pros per.” He reviewed the highlights of .he year since last Labor Day and ple*vied for an end of discrimina tion against workers for sex, creed, race, religion or physical condition. He asked particularly for an end to discrimination on the basis of a physical handioatp, whether it re sulted from war service, industrial accident or other cause. He said that physically handicapped work ers are as efficient and steady as others. Mr. Schwellenbach said his de partment is now stronger than ever so it can improve its services “to all our working people.” He I said that practically all funotions , of the national government affect ing labor are now vested m his de partment. (Please Tan to Page 4) ■ \ \ ‘ . ' GEORGE IS RE-ELECTED HEAD OF P. O. CLERKS Milwaukee, Wis.—Leo E. George, veteran president of the National Federation of Post Office Clerks, was re-elected at the annual con vention of the organisation here. E. C. Hallbeck was elected legisla tive representative, a post he has filled since the death in Masch of William I. Horner. Other officers elected included William Otte, secretary-treasurer; John M. Torka, assistant secre tary-treasuer. Vice presidents, Herman Gold stein, New York City; J. Cline House, Oklahoma City; John T. Driscoll, Pawtucket, R. I.; John F. Bowen, New Orleans; John F. O’Connor, Oakland; Cyril T. Blakeslee, Portland, Ore.; Don M. Dunn, Sioux City, Iowa; Oscar T. Whitesell, Greensboro, N. C.; Chan Harbour, Cleveland; Robert J, Rog ers, Milwaukee, and W'illiam Mc Grath, Scranton. Previously, the union had only nine vice presidents, but this num ber was raised to 11. Goldstein, formerly second vice president, was advanced to succeed Warren W. Harvey of Omaha, who retired. Whitesell defeated William H. Gun ther for a place in the vice presi dential group. The delegates selected Miami for their next convention, approved a retirement plan for national offi cers, condemned Communist infil tration in the American labor movement and adopted a legislative program embracing a 30-hour week tnd a wide range of other issues. AFL GROUP IS VICTOR IN CANNERY ELECTION San Fiysiciseo.—AFL Cannery Worker* chalked up a plurality over CIO contestants in a National Labor Relations Board election to determine collective bargaining representation for some 50,000 can nery employes in northern Califor nia. It will be several weeks, the NLRB said, before 2,056 challenged ballots can be checked. A run-off election will be held, officials said, if it is found that neither union has obtained a clear-cut majority of all the workers in the 63 plants of the California Processors & Grower*, Inc. AFL organisers expressed confi desice that the run-off, if held, will show an overwhelming majority of the challenged votes were cast for the AFL union. CHARLOTTE PRINTERS HOLD REGULAR MEETING The regular monthly meeting of Charlotte Typographical Union was held Sunday afternoon at the Labor Temple and reports of the scale committee members were heard. Also reports of the return ing Miami convention delegates were heard. Bros. John P. White and W. M. Bostick represented the Charlotte Union at the Florida meeting and they report having taken part in a most successful convention. CENTRAL LABOR UNION HOLDS WEEKLY SESSION The regular weekly meeting of Charlotte Central Labor Union was held Thursday night in Labor Temple with a nice delegation of representatives from local crafts present. Besides the regular rou tine businesa transacted other in teresting and constructive mat ters having to do with organisa tion were discussed. After yen have rend The Journal it on to your neighbor. Big smtles nd toiinlilitfeu follow the aweariag*l« ®r Ike line ■cw Aasistaat Secretaries ef Labor. Joiniag beads, from left te right, are PUNp Hsaaah, Secretary ef Labor L. B. SchweBeabach. David A. Morse, aad Jeha W. Gibsea. Haaaah. farmer Secretary-Treaearer ef the Okie Federatiea of Labor, Morse, formerly Geaeral Coaaael of the Natl seal Labor Belatiaos Board, aad Gibsea. a former Presideat of the Micklgaa State Coaadl of the Coagresa of Iadastrial Orgaaltatioaa, wore aggetated by Presideat Tramaa aad iadacted late oSm Jaly I. * Revived Of*A Plans Vigorous Drive On Black Marketeers Washington, D. C.—Plans for a vigorous campaign to stamp out black market* under the revived OPA program were being drafted by OPA offWgls for application throughout the^Nation. Price Administrator Paul Porter pledged “the toughest program yet” to prevent black marketeers from nullifying the rolled-back meat ceilings slated to become ef-j fective September 9. As new regulations were being drawn to tighten the control ma chinery, it became apparent to ob-. servers here that no great flood of price increases would be permit ted under the hotly-debated Bark ley-Taft amendment' to the OPA Extension Act. Agency heads indicated they ex pected to issue soon the OPa in terpretation to this amendment which requires it to grant 1940 profits on manufactured items in stead of using the lower 1936-39 earnings yardstick, which applied previously. Some clothing and textile firms, after a study of the proposed show ings of proof and eligibility re quired to get a price increase, are reported ito have decided they would not attmpt to qualify. The OPA Extension Act states that no price increase need be granted if a “reasonable” profit already is being earned and if the increase would not bring about in creased production. Under the OP A interpretation, such a produc tion increase must amount to IS per cent within six months. Publication of the new meat ceil ings was reported delayed by a con troversy between OPA Chief Por ter and Agricwttvrs Secretary An derson. Porter had planned to roll back meat ceilings to the June 30 level, but Anderson is said to have insisted that livestck prices should be increased $2 per hundredweight above the June 30 point. Meanwhile, OPA removed ceil ings on canned and frozen soups, explaining this was required by the new Control Act because current and future supplies appear ade quate to meet needs of domestic consumers. In another move, described as one of its greatest strokes against black marketing. OPA agents raid ed an automobile market in Lees ville, S. C., which they said was the center of an organization spread over 14 states which cheat ed buyers out of some $50,000,000. Six men were arrested after the OPA agents bought five cars. This market, the agents said, was the “fountain head” for dealers i from North Carolina, Virginia, the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Geor gia. Alabama, Michigan, Kentucky, | Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida, and Pennsylvania. The raid follow ed complaints of ex-GI's, some of whom reported prices were $3,200 abve OPA ceilings. Action Taken On Veterans* Housing South Bend, Ind.—The veterans’ housing program has been “se riously crippled” by the failure of the recent Congress to pass the Wagner-Ellender-Taft bill, Hous ing Expediter Wilson W. Wyatt de clared in an address before the Na tional Conftrence of Catholic Char-1 ■ties in session here. Discussing the bill, which would have provided a long-range hous ing program, Wyatt told the dele gates : “I wish we could tell the veter ans that we are doing everything 1 possible to get them places to live in, yet this bill was a vital part of! the veterans' program, a tool that we relied upon to get the volume of rental 'housing that veterans need.” The long-term housing bill, Wy att told a press conference, would tjave permitted a start on 2,700,000 new dwelling units by the end of next year. This legislation was strongly supported by the AFL. Wyatt’s sharp condemnation of Congress came as the National Association of Real Estate Boards made public a survey among real tor-builders which, the organiza tion said, showed the Nation’s hous ing program had “bogged down.” The report of the realtors, issued in Washington, D. C., painted a dis mal picture of the present housing program and the outlook for the future. It declared that, comple tions of private homes by private builders in the first six months of this year represented only 15.9 per cent of the units started. The report was based on 888 replies from 360 cities and towns scattered throughout 44 States. Workers ^X4rned Of Critical Days 17 MILLION WOMEN HAVE JOBS IN U. S. SURVEY REVEALS Washing-ton. D. C.—Nearly 17, 000,000 American women are work ing, and only 600,000 are seeking jobs, Frieda S. Miller, director of the Labor Department’s Women’s Division, reported in a Labor Day statement, in which she declared that these figures should give no ground for complacency. The hard impact of factory cut backs in heavy industry, the “sub standard wages, poor working en vironment and extremely long hours of work,” in the service in dustries, together with the “low wages and irregular hours” of the consumer-goods field, were cited particularly in the report. ' Miss Miller recommended this 3 | point program to help some wage earning women find more Satisfac tory places in the country’s eco nomic life: L Upward revision wage rates and extension of covef age of minimum wage taws. 2. Wide application of “aa^aifor the job” to equalise jny between men and women workqi^,, r,. 3. Community action in behalf of better working conditions for women. Of the almost one and one-third million women who lost war jobs during the readjustment period im mediately before V-E Day and up to April of this year, Miss Miller said: “Many of these women would have liked to remain in heavy in dustry. Relatively few, from all in dications, will have that wish grati fied.” Clevetemd.—American organized labor will rise t« the ‘'challenge of 'tomorrow” in a responsible and patriotic spirit. Philip J. Hannah, assistant Secretary of Labor, told the Cleveland Federation of Labor at a Labor Day picnic. Mr. Hannah, secretary of the Ohio Federation, at present on leave, told his colleagues he be lieves that within another year the American worker will be confront ed with what may prove “the most critical situation this world has known.” “The things we seek are simple and attainable,” he said. “We aak for peace—an opportunity to live in harmony and independence with our neighbors. We ask an oppor tunity 'to work, to be self-support ing, to give our children the bene fits of education and ourselves en joy a share of leisure and recrea tion. • v,^ “These are simple desires, but there is only one way by which we can "attain them. That is by the voice of a united America, deter mined to defeat the forces of greed and selfish exploitive power. We can attain them with the leader ship of a united labor movement.” He told his audience of 3,000 to disregard the fact that he was as sistant Secretary of Labor and to look on him as a member of the Teamsters union. “At home we are faced with the threat of disastrous inflation which has pdready nullified many hard won wage increases.” Mr. Hannah declared that “"there is no single group in this country today which can speak with the power and influence af labor,” and called on labor to fight intolerance, bigotry and greed. {Patterson Says Most Of War Contractors Dealt Above Table San Francisco. —- Conceding that “mistakes were made—many of them,” Secretary of War Robert Patterson, addressing the conven tion of (the International Brother hood of Electrical Workers (AFL), stoutly defended the War Depart ment's record in handling 800,000 contracts in a program covering $120,000,000,000. “In an undertaking as tremen dous as that, there are bound to be cases of incompetence and cases of dishonesty,” he said. "To date we have referred more than 100 cases to the Department of Jus tice, but the vast majority of peo ple we have dealt with have been competent, loyal and honest. “In 1940, business was good. We were at peace. It was not easy to persuade industry to accept order for munitions. Manufacturers wer« reluctant to turn from the profit able peacetime pursuits in which they were engaged, to the less pre dictable field of munitions. “Congress desired, and the ex igencies of war demanded, that we bring into the production'picture, quickly, the small manufacturers, the marginal producers. “Many of these small firms, as S' wet! as large ones, lacked financial standing sufficient to acquire the necessary bank credits^ It was im perative thait the War Department advance money on these contracts, so that the manufacurers could hire labor, buy machinery and ob tain raw materials. “More than $7,000,000,000 was advanced, yet today less than $1, 000,000 is uncollectible. This is a loss of approximately 1 cent on every $100 invested in the good faith land patriotism of American business. I do not know of any bank that can show a better record. “So far, the total partial pay ments far contract determination by the War Department are about $2,000,000,000. Only four cases of overpayment, which may be diffi cult to recover, are known. They total $1,500,000, or less than one tenth of 1 per cent of the total partial payments made. “It is the style these days to crit icise everything that wee done dur. ing the war. But the fact is that the world has never seen such a production performance like that at war production in those five yean. The job had to be done, and it was done.”
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 5, 1946, edition 1
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