VOL. XVI; NO. 37
_. Do Everythin* Within Yoar Power To
AM In the Soother* A. F. L. Membership Drive
.Work in p For A Better Understanding Between
North Carolina AFL Unions and Employers of Labor
Charlotte
A Newspaper Dedicated To The Interests of Charlotte Central Labor Union and Affiliated Craft*—Endorsed By North
Carolina Federation of Labor and Approved By The America n Federation of Labor.
“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 Gi
CHARLOTTE. N. C„ THURSDAY. JANUARY 23. 1947
Subscription $2.00 Per Year
Portal Pay Suits
GUIDE ISSUED BY AFL TO
ALL ITS UNIONS ON
PORTAL QUESTION
Washington, D. C. — Collective
bargaining between labor and
management, rather than court
actions for portal-to-portal pay
or punitive legialation, is the real
key to understanding in the field
of labor relations*. the American
Federation of Labor declared in
messages to its affiliates through
out the Nation and in a formal
presentation before the special
Senate Judiciary sub-committee >
weighing bills to outlaw portal
pay suits.
Breaking a long silence on the
portal pay issue, AFL President
William Green warned that ap
peal to the courts, before exhaus
tion of “all the voluntary means
of resolving differences between
unions and employers regarding
wage^,' ’‘hours and working con
ditions> invites invasion of the
right of labor and management
to contract about their affairs.”
* “Such untimely and unwar
ranted resort .to administrative
or judicial intervention is incon
sistent with the mutual rights and
responsibilities established by em
ployers and unions through pri
vate contract in a free society”
he added.
Ur. Green, whose letter was
wesempH^ad ^ >n official Affc
... statement on travel time, to aid
national and international unions
in determining their course of ac
tion in regard to the portal pay
issue, cited that few of the por
tal pay suits had been instigated
by AFL unions and expressed
deep satisfaction that AFL affili
ates, generally, concurred in his
belief that best understandings
could be reached “over the collec
tive bargaining table.”
V Mr. Green’s declaration was
strongly supported by the Inter
national Teamsters, whose execu
tive board, meeting ip Miami,
adopted a resolution declaring
the Teamsters would not make
any claim for portal pay. The
resolution declared that the only
ones entitled to the portal pay
were the miners, who “were sus
tained in their claim by the high
est court in the land." Hie res
olution also declared that each
a demand by others “is not mor
ally justified, because It was not
agreed to in the contracts signed
by these unions «f the CIO and
their employers^
Meanwhile, Walter Mason, a
legislative representative of the
AFL, appearing before the Sen
ate subcommittee weighing this
- issue, vigorously opposed bills
for changes in the Fair Labor
Standards Act.
ne UIBCU9BCU - ipi M «■■■ l| .PPPl
Wiley and Capehart neuum
Enactment of tuch propoaale. be
declared, would “place the Ameri
can worker* back several genera
tion a to the time when they were
paid by the day, regardless of the
number of hours worked”
The Federation; he emphasised,
had pioneered for nearly .a half
century for the Fair Labor Stan
dards Act, He said:
« “It has offered to millions of
unfortunate “victims an opportun
ity to rise to industrial citisen
ship, or, in other words, a chance,
through unionisation, to attain
" ‘Collective bargaining with their
employers and thus achieve in
dustrial emancipation.
“We are proud of this achieve
‘ ment, but feel that we should be
considering today legislation that
would provide a substantial in
crease in the minimum wage stan
•, duds and to strengthen the law
by broadening the scope of it*
coverage to include millions of
workers still eseluded *r©sn it*
benefits, Who now are working
under conditions detrimental to
the maintenance of the, minimum
LABOR—U. S. A. I
NO. S |
Are We Making Progreso Toward
World Peace
. Washington, D. C.—Spokesmen
For labor, commerce, farmers, and
Government agreed in a broadcast
aver the facilities of1 the Columbia
Broadcasting System Sunday that
the world has been making defi
nite progress toward peace and
that these steps will be increas
ingly implemented as the United
States is able to further relieve
physical hunger and strengthen
its spiritual leadership.
Speaking on the “American
United” program, more commonly
known as “Cross Section—AFL,”
the participants included Nelson
Cruikshank of the AFL, Senator
Arthur Vattdenburg of Michigan,
President pro tempore of the Sen
ste, chairman of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee and
member of the U. S. delegation
to the United Nations;. Albert
Goss, master of the National
Grange, and William R. Castle of
the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.
Declaring that “we are definite
ly making progress toward world
peace, Senator Vandenburg struck
the keynote of the discussion
dihen he told the radio audience:
“The Balkan and Italian treaties
will be signed tomorrow. The
German and Austrian treaties are
on the way. Disarmment is being
seriously studied.
“While the United Nations is
only one year old, its Security
Council already has tempered sev
eral- situations which easily could
have precipitated armed conflict
under the old order, and the Gen
eral Assembly already has initi
ated powerful movements which
promise vital contribution toward
the substitution of justice for
force in our pursuit of a free
world of free men.
“I have no illusions that 'All's
well’; nor that the United Na
tions must not continue to build
its moral authority all round tbs
world, before peace and security
are successfully guaranteed.
"But neither have 1 any illu
sions that we should not already
be in serious friction and tur
moil in this restless and unhappy
world if it were not for the United
Nations. •
"So I unequivocally say: *Tas,
we are making progress.' And
we Americans must give this
great adventure every support
at our command."
Asked for labor’s views on fie
progress toward world peace, Mr.
Cruikshaak replied:
“We feel there is definite prog
ress, though we recognise that
there are very serious problems
confronting the nations of the
world today. At Paris I saw a
very hopeful sign: evidence that
the educators, scientists and judo
ists are coming out of their se
cluded little worlds. They recog
nised during the war that ideas
were weapons, and now they seem
to' be recognising that ideas also
are tools. They are tools that
can be used toward building the
defenses of peace. ,.,
“We believe we are on the way
to rectifying some of the basic
errors that were made following
the Jest World War. We believe
that the organisation of 'free
trade unions' in the economies of
the countries of Europe can make
a very definite contribution to the
development of democratic politi
cal life in these countries. We
have full-time representatives in
Europe now working along thdt
I “We want to see free trade
unions developed in Germany, the
Netherlands, Belgium, the oc
cupled'**^Sritoriesr and France.
We think that can make a real
contribution, and we want to help
all we can."
Goss said he believed the farm
ers could make an invaluable con
tribution to peace by helping to
feed Europe's hungry, and that
they ard bending every effort to
do' this.
“We are thinking in terms of
feeding the world, and h) this we
have some tremendous problems,”
he said. ?That, to-us, is our big
contribution to world peace, and
we thhik/that, instead of curtail
ing production, our remedy is in
getting the food where it is need
ed, and in helping other nations
build up." f
Castle, former Under Secretary
of State and a former U. S. Am
bassador to Japan, said the Cham
ber firmly believes in sound inter
national co-operation.
“We feel, in" the ‘Chamber,” hi
added; “that one of the strong
est arguments for pence is to feed
the hungry. Therefore, we sup
ported UNKKA completely and
we believe that when UNRRA
ceases, the United States should
take the lead in supplying the
hungr/ people of the world with
food. They are not going to be
peaceful when they are hungry."
. -a 1—■—■ ■ 1 1 "■
Women’s Clothes Prices
Expected To Drop Soon
Washington, D. C.—A welcome
aot in the situation af rising re
tail prices was sounded here by a
Government expert who predicted
that clothing for women would
soon undergo a slash of as much
as 60 per cent in some items.
He added regretfully that he
could not foresee any important
drop in the price of men’s cloth
ing. The only majqg dachne in
prices of men's supplies is indi
cated in sports shirts, said Theo
dore Gb Maynard, chief of the
elothing branch of the textile di
vision of the Office of Temporary
Controls.
He pointed out that "pro
Christmas clearance sales have
taken place in some stores" and
said that was “unprecedented.”
Womens dresses, coats, suits, fur
coats, and other articles are, or
soon will be, on the way down in
price, he prophesied.
Another Government economist
expects a general drop in prices
within the next six months—and
said it could start soon. People
do not seem to be buying as many
Christmas presents this year as
last — although the increase in
prices makes the total dollar vol
ume greater, he said.
Maynard said there has been
heavy overproduction of women's
clothing due to the fact that high
prices kept the ladies from buy
ing, plus a mild winter which dis
couraged purchases of winter
clothes.
Probable changes in styles, doe
to the lifting of fashion restric
tions, will make manufacturers
and dealers all of the more anx
ious to unload, he said.
Other merchandise will come
down, too, Maynard believes. He
said that costume jewelry already
(Please Tarn To Page, 4)
Atomic Trades Unit Signs Oak Ridge Plant
Atlanta, Ga. —»■ Announcement
waa made here by George L.
Googe, chairman of the AFL
'\ , • '
Southern Organising Campaign,
of an agreement between the
Monsanto Chemical Co., and the
AFL Atomic Trades and Labor
Council, covering the employes of
the Clinton Laboratories at Oak
Ridge, Temu, which the Monsan
to Co. operates for the Govern
ment. The Clinton Laboratories
is the world’s foremost nuclear
energy research project
The articles of agreement are
embodied in a formal collective
bargaining contract now before
the War Department and Atomic
Commission for approval.
The union won wage increases
from 6 to 20 cents an hour. The
6-cent increase affects top pay
group, hourly rates range from
an 82 1-2 cent minimum for jan
itors and unskilled laborers to
$2.02 1-2 for electronic instru
ment mechanics. The rate for
journeymen mechanics in prac
tically all other occupations is
$1.78 1-2 an hour. There are 21
job classifications. There is a
provision barring work stoppages,
lockouts and slowdowns.
The union is recognised as the
exclusive bargaining agent. There
is a maintenance of membership
provision with a voluntary dues
check-off irrevocable for the pe
riod of the contract. This clause
further provides that a 15-day
period immediately preceding the
first anniversary date of the
agreement shall constitute an “es
cape period” for union member
ship and dues deduction.
The grievance procedure is on a
four-step basis, with close time
limits at each level, with the final
decision point reached in the total
of seven days. The agreement
provides six members each and
the union is entitled to divide this
representation equally between
regular employes of the company
and the representative of the un
ion or its affiliates.
Two weeks’ vacation is allowed
employes in continuous service
for one year or longer on April 1.
The contract also covers such
matters as jurisdictional disputes,
apprenticeship, time off for vot
ing, shift pay, disability pay
(Continued on Page 3) '•
Elections Won
The following Labor Board elec
tions held recently were won by
A. F. of L. unions
West Texas Cotton Oil Co., Ab
lline, Texas.
Wilson Company, -Inc., Abilene,
Texas.
Hygeia Ice £ Fuel Plant, Spar
tanburg, S. C.
Dixie Paint and Varnish Com
pany, Brunswick, Gat
Meagel -Cnmpafir, - Elisabeth
City, N. C. ^
The election of the Kirby Lumber
Company, Silsbee, Texas, was in
determinate in results. The United
Brotherhood Carpenters and Join
ers, A.F.L., received 578 votee,
the C.I.O. 482, no union 117, and
30 challenged ballots. There will
be a run-off election in this case.
The American Federation of
Musicians has signed a contract
with traveling road showa It
was signed at Albany, Georgia.
Muscians under the contract re
eeived a raise to $60.00 a week
from $30.00 and the Band Lead
er to $35.00 a week from $45.00.
William K. Stevens of the Amer
ican Federation of Musicians
handled this matter, assisted by
Organizer Anthony of the Georgia
Federation of Labor and Organ
izer Reese of the Southern A. F.
L, staff. , ’
Organiser Bain reports from
Arkansas the filing of a petition
for a* election at the Brown
Payne Lumber Company, Little
Rock. Also the installation of a
local of the Coopers Union at
Hope, Ark. The new local has
over 100 members.
Organizer Snowden reports h
new Carpenters local set-up at.
Bogatusa, La. °T
Organizer G. D. Dunham of the
Georgia Federation of Labor ne
gotiated a contract for the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners (Millmen) with the At
lanta Oak Flooring Co., Aitanta.
SOMETHING DOIN6 M DIXIE
JL___ ;
STRIKES REPORTED SETTLED
Two (trikes at Chattanooga are
reported settled: Sarah Jane Do
Nut signed closed shop with the
Bake 17 employees. The Ameri
can Lava employees International
Brotherhood of Electrical Work
ers returned to work with 6 cents
aa hour increase.
-—
CHARTERS APPLIED FOR
Organiser Rider working in
Florida reports charter applica
tions to United Brotherhood Car
penters and Joiners to the em
ployees of Cummers A Son Saw
Hill, Lacoochee, Florida. su4-~
The Musicians at Roma, Geor
gia, through Orgaaiaer Ortwein,
FIGHT
INFANTILE
PARALYSIS
MARCH OF DIMES
JANUARY 19-30
report that they have applied for
a charter with the American Fed
eration of Musicians. An election
will be held at Rome on Decem
ber 20th among employees of Ad
vance Glove Company.
A new local union haa been
chartered by the International
Polishers, Buffers, Platers and
Helpers in Nashville. Interna
tional Representative Marvin
Farmer is working hard in that
city and has died for certification
in several shops. He is being as
sisted by Tennessee State Feder
ation Organiser James P. Morgan.
A new local of the Chemical
Workers has also been put in at
Nashville.
Organiser Warren reports that
there has been a charter installed
for the Sheet Metal Workers at
As be vide, N. C.
Organiser Walter Mitchell re
ports the signing of a very fa
vorable contract for Southern
Liquid Gas employees oganised
in the International Chemical
Workers Union at Dothan, Ala.
The contract provided union shop,
one to two weeks peidvacation,
Id days annual sick leave, straight
time pay for holidays not
worked, double time for holidays
worked, wages ranging from $28
for labor to $42 for top' skills,
< months wage re-opening clause.
Organiser Mitchell will open
contract negotiations for Home
Oil Company at Decatur, Ala., on
the 12th and for ‘ Oak Leather
on the 18th. Both ofr these con
cerns are organised in the Chem
ical Workers, that union having
recently won elections in these
plants.
Greeii Pledges Farm
Uni6n Co-Operation
Washington, D. C.—America it
on the march, and, though for the
moment the pendulum seems to
have swung backward, this ia only
a temporary trend, and the farm
workera of the United States have
a bright outlook, William Green,
President of the American Feder
ation of Labor, declared at the
annual convention of the National
Farm Labor Union here.
"Along with , the industrial
worker^ of America, the nation’s
farm workera broke all records In.
winning the battle of production
to make victory in war certain,”
Mr. Green said.
yWhen the war was ended, the
fanners’ work was not done. A i
hungry World turned to America [
for bread and sustenance. Our
own people, whose food waa se
verely rationed during the war,
looked to the fafmers for greater
abundance of supplies. The farm
workers of the nation responded j
last year with the hardest kind
of work, which produced the high
est crop totals in ^history.
“For such service to the na
tion and to the world, the farm
workers deserve " a better fate
than second-class eitisenshlp.
“In the years ahead, American
agriculture may be afflicted by
surpluses, instead of shortages.
Foreign markets will disappear
because other countries ia peace
time will bo able to grow their
own crops.
"It Will then be necessary to
develop our domestic markets to
a greater extent, or face a se
vere depression. We must not
wait until a depression starts.
We must begin to act now. Ws
must provide farm workers sad
industrial workers with a high
enough income level and purchas
ing poorer to buy end consume all
the food and clothing they need
for themselves and their families.
Once that is accomplished, Amer
ica will find itaelf on the tpsd to
lasting prosperity.”
Mr. Green declared the farm
workers in the nation today face
the same problems and also have
access to the same opportunities
as those confronting workers of
our country more than a half cen
tury ago.
“But American agriculture has j
grown up,” he said. "Machinery
has moved in ot> the farm. Vast
corporate plantations havrf crowd- {
ed out and absorbed millions of
family-type farms. From a prac
tical point of view, there is no
longer any wide disparity between !
large-scale farming operations and
s modern industrial plant.
"The great danger of this me
chanical age Is that human values
snd human rights can bq caught
ih the merciless vortex of the pro
duction machine and be ground
>ut existence. . v
"In self-protection, the indufi^
trial workers of this nation met
the impact of the industrial revo
lution 65 years ago by organising
into trade unions. By thus pool
ing their collective strength
against the ‘ forces of greed and
exploitation which control indus
try, the. factory worker* of this
country have been able to win
peagrssslvefy higher standards of
living for themselves and their
families.
“Today the farm workers of
America urgently need that same
self-protection. Because of lack
of organisation, they are being ex
ploited and oppressed and are de
nied equal protection under the
laws of our land. For these rea
sons the( American Federation of
Labor, which has always led in
the fight for the common man,
was glad to issue a charter last
August to the National Farm La
bor Union.
"We aro behind you, more than
seven million strong, and are de
termined to give you full support
in your efforts to organise the
unorganised farm workers of the
nation. ;
“Potentially, the Natioaal Farm
Labor Union can be the largest
in our country. We are ready to l
help you reach that goal, for only
through organisation and united
action can you achieve for the
millions of farm workers through
out the length and breadth of this
land the high economic.1 and social
standards aad the political free
doms which they have earned by
their hard work aad their loyalty
to American principles.”
Mr. Green emphasised that it
was no intention of the farm la
bor union to unionise the occa
sional single hired hand oh the
•mall family-type farm.
“Your organising efforts are
directed toward the large agricul
tural enterprise which virtually
run factories in the fields. These
huge plantations, with highly
mechanised facilities of their own
packing and processing plants,
are rapidly pushing the smair y
farmer out of business. They are
doing this by unfair competition
and by almost inhuman methods.
Frequently the low production
costs of the factory-farms are
wrung out of the sweat and blood
of an army of hired labor, work
long hours for low wages peak
seasons and then turned adrift
for,-months at a time. No indi
vidual farmer would ever treat
the hired hand who works beside
him in the fields with such cal
lous cruelty.
, “Everyone knows the eagerness
with which-.the Government re
sponds to the needs of those who
»wn and operate farms. It is tn
ieed surprising to find the needs
®f the millions who do the actual
work on the farms almost «
(Please Turn to Page 4)
'