✓
VOL. XVIII; NO. 12
CHARLOTTE, N. C.. THURSDAY, AUGUST 5. 1948
Subscription $2.00 Per Year
AFL CALLS FOR PROBE BY
UR OF THE SLAVE LABOR
H RUSSIAN - RULED STATES
New York.—The American Fed
eration of Labor asked the United
Nations to investigate slave labor
condition in satellite nations of
Soviet Russia, and charged that
In fear such countries “laborers
jtre literally worked to death.”
The AFL position was stated
im a memorandum to Trygve Lie,
Secretary General of the UN,
from Matthew WoU, chairman of
the federation's international re
lations committee. Mr. Woll and
David Dubinsky, president of the
International Ladies Garment.
Workers Union, are official AFL;
consultants to the United Nations.
The memorandum urged nations |
“behind the iron curtain” to give;
their consent to an investigation;
of conditions by the International j
Labor Organisation.
X survey by tne leaermuun,
memorandum said, disclosed that
im Cx^hoslovakia. Yugoslavia and
rnleWj~—*~— *** BOt ,rte t0
join dons of their choosing and
and tlLt in each country there
1«. single unitary trade
__ft»ody which has monopo
listic powers and ia under the
domination of the Communist
party and the yevemment.*
In Roland, the AFL memoran
dum charted, prewar trade un
ionist had been jailed, deported
and hilled. Freedom of workers’
movements has been restricted
aad “while no antistrike laws ex
ist, those who foment labor un
twt. or strikes, are liable to ar
rest and criminal prosecution un
economic sabotage.
A Polish mine worker, the re
port charted, had died from over
work and exhaustion. The feder
ation urged that all workers
“must have the right to freely
form, join or belong .to trade
unions without interference, and
that these trade unions must be
free to act, in accordance with:
the decisions of their members.”
All countries with an indus
trialized economy and a trade un
ion movement should be studied,
the federation recommened.
Official Soviet publications, the j
federation noted, showed that un
ions in Russia are dominated by
the Communist party and the gov
ernment. Collective bargaining,
discontinued from 1934 to 1947,:
the survey declared, and the new ;
system of collective agreements,
based on a piecework scale, with,
increases in the norms of output,
has led to a consequent decrease
in workers’ pay. Workers, unable
to change jobs at will, function
under a “forced labor system,”
the report continued.
Ifr. Woll said that the federa
tion’s report would likely come
before the seventh session of the
Economic and Social Council,
which opens in Geneva July 19.
NUMBER OF FEDERAL JOBS
JUMPS 12.854 IN MONTH
Washington, — Federal employ
ment showed an increase of 12,
854 during the month of May,
according to a report issued by
the Civil Service Commission,
bringing the grand totol of gov
ernment jobs to 2,961,342.
Biy Union Label goods
and put more money
in your pay envelope/
buy goods *
THAT BEAR THE
UNION LABEL
Union Labti TraJmt D&t.AFL
The Right to
VOTE
Is Your
f--/. tii-tt
Hautef
Don t Fail io Use It
DR TELEGRAPHERS
RIP WESTERN UNION
Washington.—The AFL’s Com*
mercial Telegraphers Union
charged that inefficient operations
on the part of the Western Un
ion Company has impaired tele
graph service “to the point
where the future of the industry
is in danger.”
The union's charge was con
tained in • inquest filed with the
Federal Communications Commis
sion for an investigation of mass
violations of the Federal Com
munications Act by the telegraph
company. «, .,mimm j
The union accused the company1
of delaying “rush” msseages and
of having insufficient telephone
operators in such cities as Chi
cago, Cleveland, New York and
Washington in June and July.
This forces the public to wait
for from I to M minutes to file
telegrams, the union charged.
“In many instances important
and rush^ message * *re delayed
trrf so WSf'V rtme that imWwi
the sender nor the addressee re
ceives and benefit therefrom,” it
added. “To the contrary, they
frequently are subjected to seri
ous financial and other loss.”
The union said it had been in
formed by “many patrons” that
they would discontinue telegraph
service unless it improved.
“The telegraph service being
rendered in many communities
throughout the country has de
teriorated to the point where the
very future of the telegraph in
dustry is in danger,” it stated.
BLS REPORTS STRIKES
CONTINUE AT HIGH LEVEL
Washington. — The number of
strikes taking place in May
equaled the 275 recorded for
April, the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics reported.
Time lost from these stoppages,
however, was about half of that
recorded for April, the BLS said.
The largest factors in the reduc
tion were the termination of the
bituminous coal stoppage in mid
April, and to a lesser extent, the
cessation of the meat packing
FREE MEDICM. CURE FOR
ILL PROVIDED IH REW BRIT
ISH SOCIAL SECURITY PUR
London, England—A “cradle-to
the-grave” social security system
featuring free medical and dental
care for all Britans became ef
fective throughout Great Britain
recently.
Cornerstone of tlje new system
is the National Health Act which
in effect lifts the burden of worry
over the payment for high-cost
medical care from the shoulders
of all residents regardless of their
economic or social station. The
benefits of the act will be financed
from payroll taxes and direct
government contributions.
Simultaneously with the health
system, a greatly improved na
tional insurance program, which
consolidates and expands previous
piecemeal legislation, also went
into effect. It carries far broader
social security than exists in the
United * States.
The system provides liberalized
disability benefits, death grants;
cash payments during sickness,
injury or unemployment; mater
nity payments and various other
forms of assistance.
Under the health program,
doctors fees, hospital bills, and
drug costs will be borne by the
government and paid out of the
payrolh taxes and government
contributions t« the insurance
system fund. British citizens
may continue to pay private fees
to phyicians, if they so desire,
but adequate care is assured
everyone without the necessity
of paying premium fees.
In addition to the medical serv
ices rendered by physicians, the
l program will meet the cost of
spectacles. hearWg aids, artificial
limbs, and other surgical devices
required in the treatment of an
illness.
Under the program, the govern
ment has taken control and own*
ership of some 3,500 hospitals,
practically all in Great Britain
; except for about 200 run by re
ligious orders.
1 To take advantage of all this
, free service, the British citizens
, need not give up their freedom
I to choose their own doctor. The
i plan specifically provides that
patients will have their free
choice of physicians or dentist.
Over 85 per cent of the nation’s
doctors have agreed to partici
pate under the health program,
and so far about half the dentists
have done likewise.
GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS
BELOW RECORD FOR 1947
Washington. — Average groos
weekly earnings for the nearly
13,000,000 production workers ia
the nation totaled 051.89 in May,
a figure somewhat below the rec
ord average reached at the end
of 1947, according to estimates
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
KEEP ‘EM ROUINC. BUD-VOTE THIS YEM
aicnoa mo
ILO COIFERBCE ADOPTS
PROPOSED TREATY 60ARAH
TEEIRG FREEDOM OF ASS1
San Francisco.—The 31st Inter
national Labor Conference in ses
•ion here adopted a proposed
treaty guaranteeing the freedom
of association and the right of
workers and employers to organ
tive without interference on the
part of government. %
Approval of Dp declaration
was nearly unanimous, with the
only negative votes cast by the
[ two government delegates from
Portugal. Polish, Csechoslovak,
and South African delegates ab
| stained from voting.
The proposed treaty specified
that workers and employers,
j “without distinction whatsoever,”
shall have the right to “estab
lish and join organizations of
their own choosing.” without any
(Continued on Page 8)
BUY YOUR
EXTRA
SAVINGS
BONDS
NOW
t
PROTECT YOUR FUTURE
BENEFITS PAH) VETERANS
TOP $8 BILLION MARK
Washington.—The Veterans Ad
ministration said it has handed
out 14.300,000 “benefits” totaling
$8,223,000,000 during the first
four years of the GI Bill of
Rights.
More than 7,900,000 veterans
received readjustment allowances,
which included $2,584,000,000 for
unemployment and $493,000,000
in self-employment allowances.
More than 5,000,000 received edu
cation and training benefits total
ing $5,000,000,000. And 1,353,000
bought homes, farms and busi
nesses with the aid of government
guaranteed and insured loans.
Interest on these loans cost the
government $140,000,000 and de
faults cost another $(>,000,000.
Of the nation’s 14.800,000
World War II veterans, many
have received more than one type
of assistance. Other thousands
j have applied for no benefits.
At the end of May, 503,276
i veterans were receiving readjust
i ment allowances and 2,333,766
! were in training under the GI
Bill.
2.704 EMPLOYEES RECEIVE
$55,494 IN BACK PAY
New York. — Inspections made
by the Department of Labor here
last month resulted in agreements
by 121 emplbyers to pay back
wages in the amount of $56,494
to 2,704 employes who had not
been compensated properly for
overtime work, or in accord with
minimum wage rates, it was re
ported by the department’s wage
and hour and public contracts
division.
REGISTERED?
NEXT PRICES HU NEW HI6H
CONSUMER R00KIN6 ON
Washington.—The nation's con
sumers, already groggy from
large overdoses of high prices, j
were hit hard again when whole
sale meat and livestock prices
soared to new highs:
The United States Department
of Agriculture reported that
prices were at their highest point
in history and that only a “stiff”
consumer boycott could stop them \
from going even higher.
Wholesale meat prices in Chi
cago jumped as much as 5 cents I
a pound. In the livestock cen
ters, hogs climbed to new all-time
highs at some markets and choice
beef hit new highs during the
week ended July 10.
Cause for the price jumps ac
cording to a market analyst, is
the fact that the nation's supply
of meat in relation to demand
is one of the_ shortest on record.
Offering no cause for optimism,
H. M. Conway, of the publication
National Livestock Producer, said
the 'Situation would ramain
“acute” throughout the summer.
Conway did not supply compara
tive figures but said his estimate
of a short supply was made in
relation to a big increase inf con
sumer demand.
“Considering population growth
in the past decade and prevailing
full employment, the current
prospective meat aupply is very
inadequate,” Conway said.
He blamed the short corn cron
last fall and the recent packing
house workers’ strike for the re
stricted supply of meat. * Conway
said lack of corn discouraged pro
duction of beef in feed lots and
slowed up hog production.
Conway said livestock prices
would remain high during the
summer and that meat might be
short for another year.
Although the Agriculture De
partment forecast an all-time
record corn crop for 1948. Con
w'ay said it would be "some time”
before the increased supply of
feed could be converted into meat.
Other experts said it might take
a year before bumper 1948 feed
crops could be reflected in more
JULY 31 IS DEADLINE
Washington.—Carl R. Gray, Jr.,
Veterans Administrator, reminded
veterans that July 31 is the last
day on which they may reinstate
national service life insurance
policies without taking physical
examinations. Veterans may re
instate their policies before Aug
ust 1 by filling out an application
form stating that their health is
as good as when the policy was
issued. Premiums must be paid
for two months.
By NATSGHAOMER
Inside the smith
OFFICE THE THREE
OOMOOH THUGS.
ARMED WITH
BLACKJACKS.
ATTEMPT TO BEAT
UP THE UNION MEN.
PLANT WORKERS,
RUSHING TO THE
RESCUE .THROW
OPEN THE
NATKMA1 UMR SBVKI
DOOR,
■ HOLY SMOKE?
WILL YA JUST
LOOK'T
OH, HELLO, BOYS f
YOU’RE JUST IN
TIME Ta CART
THESE-AH
OIRECTORS
AWAY.
YEAHf DIRECT
’EM TO THE
NEAREST GARBAGE
OUMP
A COUPLE O* 6000
UNION FIST?r
I,MY HEAD?
WM-WHAT HIT
ME?
YEAH,DOUBLED
AND REDOUBLED',
BE CAREFUL
YOU DON'T HIT
ANY VALUABLE
MACHINERY
WITH THEM?
WELL,MR. ALOEN.
DO JIM ANO 1
GET HIREO?
WHY, OF
COURSEf WE
CAN USE A
COUPLE OF
GOOD MEN
LIKE YOUf
WELL,BOYS. SMITHS MAS BEEN
AN OPEN SHOP LONG ENOUGH.
WHO WANTS TO STEP UP ANO
RETAIL FOOD STORES
GET THE MOST FROM
CONSUMERS' SPENDM6
Washington.—The lion's share
of each dollar spent by American
consumers in retail establishments
goes to food stores, according to
a report released by the Depart
men of Commerce.
Moreover, analysis of he de
partment reported that food stores
are taking in a much larger part
of the consumer's dollar than be
fore the war. They now take ir
27.6 cents of each dollar spent
in retail channels while before
the war their share was 23.5.
cents.
Automobile dealers and filling
stations rank next to food stores
with their 15.9-cent “take” out
of each dollar, but are still not
up to their prewar share of 21.2
cents, the department reported.
Gating and drinking places
rank next to food stores in en
larging their prewar share of the
retail dollar. They get 10.1 cents
of it now against 8.4 cents in
1940. But they’ve lost ground
from midwar 1944, when their
share was 13.5.
I Liquor sellers are doing the
same now as in 1940—getting 1.4
cents of the retail dollar, but
that’s a comedown, too, from the
2.1 cents they took in during
1944.
Men’s clothinjr store*, having
caught up with the immediate
need* of the millions of re
turning veterans, now get 1.8
cents of the retail dollar, or just
slightly less than their 1.9-cont
share in 1940.
Women’s clothing and acces
sories stores get a bigger share
now than they did prewar—3.2
cents against an even 3 ***** 4a
i 1940, but they’ve slipped a lot
from 4.8 cent* in wartime 1944.
I Shoe stores now take in 1.2
cents of each retail dollar against
j 1.4 cents in 1940, while general
j merchandise stores, including mail
order houses, get 12.5 cents
! against 14.8 cents prewar.
I Others getting major outlets
; of the retail dollar include home
furnishings, home appliance and
I radio stores, now getting 6.5 cents
I against 4.4 cents prewar; building
materials and hardware places,
| now 7.6 cents against 6.7 cents
prewar; and drug stores, 2.9
against 3.6 cents.
Retail sales account for per
haps two-thirds of oil consumer
spending, analysts estimate. They
don’t include rent money, or what
is spent on amusements, doctor’s
bills, lawyer’s fees and so on.
NEW AFGE LOCAL SET UP
AT GEORGIA AIR BASE
Macon. Ga.—Civil Service Em
ployes at Warner-Robbins Field,
a large government operated air
feld near here, organized into the
American Federation of Govern
ment Employes as Local No. 987.
Organizer L. T. Gourley, Ameri
ican Federation of Laobr, reports
that a large local has been set
Ip representing several hundred
members working under Civil
Service employment at the large
air base.
"
I The Golden Rule of Trade Un
ionism is to buy Union Label
fools from others as you would
have them pay Union wages unto
you!
s Ef folks demand
1 all things union
Then all things
j will be union!;
^_^
BUY GOODS
FHAT BEAR THE
UNION LABEL
Union Label Trad** Department
* r