1
CHARLOTTE
LABOR JOURNAL
T CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY. DECEMBER 30, I»48
Subscription $2.00 Per Year
VQL. XVIH; NO. 33
If'
New Year’s
Message
B|y WILLIAM GREEN
The year 1949 brings to all citizens of the United States
grounds for deep gratitude for democratic institutions and
the Bill of Rights which our forefathers provided for them
selves and their children and which were transmitted to
future generations.
The richness of this heritage stands as a priceless pos
session as we daily witness the slavery which marks the
new invasions of the barbarians from Asia, who darken
the churches, regiment the press, institute forced labor
camps through the espionage of secret police, and impose
one pattern for the whole of life. Against Communist re
\ version to the Dark Ages, the American way of life stands
out even more glowingly—freedom of decision with re
sponsibility for using that freedom with due regard for
the rights of others.
Last year, those hostile to unions prevailed upon Con
gress to modify the law assuring workers the right to col
lective bargaining with regulations and restrictions that
would nullify freedom of contract, and hedged thip regu
lation 4|i»ut by granting the government the right to in
jtwctiom'foeSfcTfta Jbbaf$*put*si hy facilitating hr£fc»it*,
snd by imposing "class" requirements on workers.
American workers did not resort to violence or Illegal
resistance, but like democratic citizens sought to establish
the meaning of the law by legal machinery. All this led
up to our action in carrying the issue to Anal decision by
the voting citizens of this country in a presidential election.
That decision was unmistakable in the vote given to the
presidential candidate of the party which pledged repeal
of the Taft-Hartley Act in its platform and whose presi
dential candidate pledged himself to that end. The election
of President Truman and the vote giving Democratic Party
control of Congress, was the reply to the reactionary ad
vocates of anti-union legislation which echoed round the
world as evidence of the effectiveness of democratic prin
The American Federation of Labor is deeply gratified by
this victory which vindicated constructive methods and we
are confident that campaign promises will be kept. When
freedom of contract is restored to labor, the American Fed
eration -of Labor is ready to assume the accompanying re
sponsibility for wise use of rights.
Not only do we want rights and opportunities for work
ers in the United States of America, but for the workers
of all countries. With the growing interdependence of the
economies of all countries we find that un-freedom in one
country menaces the freedom of workers in other countries,
so we believe in international organization of the workers
of all countries for mutual progress and protection. We
fought the second World War to rid ourselves of the men
ace which totalitarian states became to human freedom
only to find that the most cruel dictatorial state had used
the years of war to scheme for new opportunities for ag
gression in order to impose communism on other peoples.
During the war we carried on relief for victims of op
pression by dictators and since the war we have tried to
aid and restore free trade unions as the bulwark of human
freedom throughout the world.
Since we as trade unionists have rights and responsi
bilities in keeping with our democratic institutions, we, in
turn, should work for the advancement of democratic ideals
nationally and internationally and support our government
in promotion of these same ideals.
The USSR has declared war on all free govrenments and
free societies and plans to impose a controlled press and
controlled education upon such people, together with sup
pression of church and family life as we know it. The
Communist regime recognizes no personal rights and no
law—only the will of dictators designed by party officers.
Party members seek to infiltrate all our institutions to con
trol them in the interests of Moscow.
As members of the world’s strongest, most militant
trade union organization, let us arm ourselves in this world
crisis with a determination to maintain freedom that will
make us invincible. By uniting with free trade unions in
ether countries, we can form a global chain for defense and
maintenance of human freedom. We must be on guard
against the enemy in our unions, our press, our community,
and in all world relationships.
Atlanta, Ga. — Prmidont Wil
liam Gram has announced Ik* ap
pointment of J. L. Hla4w of
Jacksonville, Florida, a member
of the United Brotkorhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of Amer
ica, Local No. 627, Jacksonville,
as Sonthern Director of Organi
zation.
Mr. Rhodes has been on the
organising staff of the Aamricaa
Federation of Labor since 193*.
For the last two and one-half
years he has been attacked to
the Southern office as assistant
Southern Director of Organisation
under the direction of Director
Googe, who has recently resigned
, to accept Vice Presidency of his
Internet iona I' U nion.
Atlanta, Ga. — Upon the an*
nouncement of the retirement
from the directorship of the
Southern Organising staff at a
recent conference of the Organ*
izers of the American Federation
of Labor and State Federation of
Labor officials in Atlanta, assem*
bled delegates expressed the gen
eral consensus of opinion in or
ganized labor throughout the
South by expressing to Vice
President George L. Geooge their
regrets at losing him and inviting
his continued participation in the
general organzad* labor |«fc<viti«a
in the South.
Vice
Mr. Googe
President of the Inb£aational
Printing Pressmen’s ami Assist
ants’ Union of North America,
^foIVo
~8» B#tT» Projigaytf the'
and Assislant.' Union of North
America.
HU new duties will call for all
of hU individual tfme, save for
his activities in the general move- j
ment, he wll devote his entire
time to the Interests of the Press
men’s International Union.
As a small token of expression
and in full recognition of the
fine and constructive services
given to the labor movement dur
ing a period of over twenty years
work directing the forces of the
Southern Organising staff, the
unionists attending the confer
ence, the State Federation of La
bor officers and the organizing1
staff presented to Mr. and Mrs.I
Googe a silver service set.
Mr. Googe announced to the
conference that as Vice President j
of the International Printing
Pressmen’s and Assistants’ Un
ion he would, in the future have,
the same interest In the preser
vation of the American Federa
tion of Labor’s position in the
South and extend all his organi-1
zational work as though he was i
on the organising staff of the j
American Federation of Labor, I
RESIGNS FROM AFL
George L. Googe
TAKES GOOGE’S PLACE
' J. L. Rhodes
Much Work Remains To Be
Done Aiding Handicapped
Speaking for all labor, A. J. Hayes, General Vice Presi
dent of the International Association of Machinists, has
urged continuation of the President’s Committee on Na
tional Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.
Aa labor chairman for NEPH, Mr. Hayes reported to the
Preaident’s Committee at its meeting last week in Wash
ington that “neither we nor representatives of other seg
ments of society accomplished all we should have.”
“We have made some progress
in helping the physically handi
capped find jobs for which they
MC sotted” Mr. Hayes declared.
Ifeut ere have only made a he
nnaing in the tremendous task
W jlhJiHiat the apathy and in
difference in the V»Wie mind
which has been the principal
stumbling block in rehabilitating
our handicapped citiiens."
As an example of the effective
participation of local labor groups
in NEPH week this year, Mr.
Hayes cited the activities of the
NEPH labor committee of Marion,
Ohio.
This group, in addition to us
ing the proaa and' radio to call
the community’s attention to the
physically handicapped problem,
sponsored an essay and poster
contest, with prizes to the best
three entries in each category
and set up and ran a placement
bureau.
As a result of this program in
one community sixty handicapped
workers were placed in jobs dur
ing the week out of 86 applicants
who registered for employment.
In order to assure an even more
effective program in 1949, the
NEPH labor committee in Marion
agreed to start pfenning next
year’s program eariy Tn April,
Mr. Hayes reported.
During the two weeks preced
ing NEPH week last October, the
Al Hayes
labor committee distributed more
than 40,000 copies of its pamphlet
“Brothers," explaining the pur*
poses of NEPH week and enlist
ing the active co-operation of na
tional and local trade unions.
Mr. Hayes explained that dis
tribution of this (tamphlet is con
tinuing as a reminder that this
job is not limited to one week, in
the year.
“We look forward,” the labor
committee chairman concuded, "to
a steadily increasing Interest by
labor unions throughout the coun
American Labor In 19^
A New Year's Day Statement by Secretary of Laoor
Maurice J. Tobin
/ ■
The year 1949 finds the American wage earner better
•IT than any other wage earner in the world, and assured
that his freedom will be pro
tected and bis economic ad
vantages improved.
Our standard of living has
Wen mounting steadily for
a century. Today an ordi
nary worker’s hourly wage
buys four times what his
great grandfather’s hourly
wage bought in 1847.
His weekly wages repre
sents three-fold gain in pur
chasing power over 100
vears ago, for a workweek
that has shrunk by one
third.
The quantity and quality
if goods and services avail
able to him beyond the basic
reqiurements of living have
contributed substantially to
MAURICE J. TOBIN
Secretory, U. S. Dryirtonl of Labor
v« in-Menitjiu wijuynuru oi me. mey are me meanure
'»f the high standard of living which he enjoys.
There have been marked improvements also in his health
and life expectancy, education, recreation and travel, civil
and political rights.
The growth of the labor movement has given him a
greater participation in group economic and political de
cisions, and a more direct voice in his Government.
Two factors have contributed to the constant improve
ment of the purchasing power of his hourly and weekly
wages: increased productivity and greater bargaining
power.
Increases in real wages, or purchasing power, have more
nearly approximated increases in productivity in recent years
policy.
The labor movement is 16 million strong today, and
showing signs of continued vigorous growth.
American wage-earners and their unions have contrib
uted to the strength and welfare of the Nation.
Productivity is again on the upswing as technological
developments made during the war are adapted to peace
time production.
This will provide for further improvements in our stan
dard of living if the workers are given their just share of
the productivity increases.
The future welfare of labor and the Nation depends on
a free, democratic union movement that can bargain wisely
and well with free management for a just balance be
tween productivity, wages and prices.
Government has its part to do, to improve the health
and insurance facilities available to all the people, especially
the unfortunate and weak, and to keep the economy strong.
Those programs add up to a policy of programs and evo
lution attained through a democratic Government and a
democratic free people.
We are going forward, the way we always have, under a
system of justice and freedom to all our citizens.
try, and to the development of a
continuing program which will be
reflected not only in more wide
spread labor participation in
NEPH week next year, but also
in a widespread determination by
unions in every plant and com
munity to make justice and op
portunity for the handicapped
worker a year-round objective.”
READY — AIM!
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