Newspapers / The Charlotte labor journal … / Jan. 26, 1950, edition 1 / Page 1
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v Derated to the Iitinef of the A.P. of L. «od the VOL. XIX; NO. 38 State-wide Labor Weekly, Presenting Labor News and Views Without Fear and Without Favor >AY, JANUARY 26. 1950 Subscription Price $2.00 Yi . I San Francisco Unions Fete Teen-Age Groups (Speejal Correspondence.) San Francisco. — The Joyous laughter and excitement of happy children is still ringing through the halls of San Francisco’s Labor ‘Temple. Just as there yet lingers .in the hearts of the members affiliated with the San Francisco Labor Council of the AFL that deep feel ing of satisfaction which comes from an act of charity and broth erly lore. But let’s start from the begin ning—and this beginning was 2 pears ago when Jim Symes, secre tary-treasurer of the Union Label section, brought up the disturbing thought that in the rush of Christ mas parties for the kiddies one segment of Our younger people was being etterdy overlooked — oujr teenagers—the “neither too young nor too old” group to enjoy a party. Jim’s idek caught on immediate ly and there was born right then and there an annual Christmas party for the Golden Gate City’s teenager orphans, sponsored by the Union Label Section. Describing the sue ess of that first party would tax the prolific vocabulary of a Hollywood press agent—the second, even more so! Organising is a keyword to ev ery union man and is essential to the success of every undertaking. And so, this year, as last, the SJutm.^^^^mit€S formed. Their job was an easy one be cause everywhere they went they met with an eager, splendid co operation. The same 3 orphanages as in 1948 were again contacted—one Jewish, one Protestant, and the third, Catholic. Each teenager was asked to list one present he’d like to receive from Santa, naming 2 alternate gifts to give Mr. Claus a little leeway. Business agent for Santa Claus was Ted White, secretary-treasur er of Local 880, Warehousemen’s Union, whose assignment it was to go about making certain that Jimmie got that pair of baseball spikes; Mary, a pair of honeybug slippers, and, yes, the one that al most stumped Ted—a 5-gallon aquarium for 12-year-old Billie. Then came the day of the party —and whatta day and whatta par ty—and what cooperation! A fleet of buses manned by the Chauffeurs Union called at the orphanages for the 154 thrilled teenagers and es corted them to the Labor Temple . . . there was a movie and enter tainment ... a band and orchestra from the Musicians Union ... a soft-drink bar operated by the Bar Union . . . complete with mings, compliments and Catering Unions came the distribution of the pres ents, including dresies, skirts and blouses supplied bj a turkey din all the trim of the Cooks . . . and then the Ladies Garment Interne Workers tional Union. And finally when day’s end had come, the very excited group of young men and women were again escorted in buses back from whence they came, their eyes reflecting the happiness they surely felt. The party proved one thing— union folks are a bunch of softies, for at evening’s end there were to be found many a misty eye—but then happiness does that, doesn't it? " * Truman Favors Taka-Home Rise Washington.—President Truman sad his council of economic advis ers favor increased family incomes and take-home pay for workers in their annual economic reports. The APL Monthly Survey re ports that buying power of the average, factory workers’ weekly pay envelope, after tax deduction, was higher in 1949 than 1948, due partly to wage increases won by unions and partly to the slight decline irf prices. This is the first time since the war that Vlft increases have not been cancelled by price rises. The increase shown on the accompany ing chart for 194SJ was due to the a j£j^en£~'-€Ut tn taxes, for wage increases were cancelled by price rises in 1948 as in previous post war years. A study of 4,003 wage negotia tions from January through No vember, 1949, shows that the Amer ican Federation of Labor was chief ly responsible for wage inoreases won this year. These negotiations covered at least 0,500,000 workers including those in AFL and other unions. Wage increases were won in 2,882 negotiations, of which 1,934, or 67 percent, were conduct ed by AFL unions. That is, our af filiated unions won twice as many wage increases as all unaffiliated unions together, AFL unions took Won wage increases in 82 percent, other gains in 9 percent; that is, gains were won in 91 percent- of our negotiations. This is our record for 1949; as we all know, these wage gains were won without forcing general price rises, for living costs desclined during 1949. We intend to go for ward in 1950 to win further wage gains, cooperating with employ ers to cut costs wherever they are willing to. make this possible- By cooperation we mean genuine joint effort based on submission of cost records; we do not mean acquies cence in employer dominate^ speed up schemes. Zaritsky Tails Plan To Ratira New York.—Max Zaritsky, pres ident of the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers of the AFL, has announced that he will not stand for re-election at the union’s biennial convention, May 1. Mr. Zaritsky, who will be 65 next April 15, has headed the 40,000 member union since 1936. Under the union constitution retirement is mandatory at 65 years. Mr. Zaritsky has headed the union since 1936, but his leader ship actually began in ^1919, when he was elected president of the Goth Hat, Cap and Millinery Workers Union. This organisation merged with the United Hatters in 1934 to form the present organisa tion. Mr. Zaritsky served as gen eral secretary-treasurer and then became president of the merged union. A special meeting of the interna tional executive board will be held in March to discuss possible suc cessors to Mr. Zaritsky. The final choice will be up to the conven tion. Among those who are expected to receive consideration for the post are 3 vice presidents—Abra ham Mendelowitx, L H. Goldberg and Nathaniel Spector. Edwards On 8 Labor Stations Washington.—Eight labor-owned radio stations are carrying the news commentary of Frank Ed wards, sponsored by the American Federation of Labor, Monday through Friday. The call letters of < Mutual sta tions were incorrectly listed in the news service of Doc. 23. Their correct listing is: WIDE, Biddleford, Maine, 10 p. m., M-W-F; WILH, Lowell-Law rence, Mass, M) p. m., M-W-F; WBEZ, Duluth, Minn., 9 p. bl, M W-F; WEBR, Buffalo, N. Y., 10 p. m., M-Th-F; WBPZ, Lock Har en, P»,10p.m, M-W-F; KPDN, Pam pa, Texas, 9 p. m., M-W-F. Labor paper editors are again urged to run the Hat of stations and time for Mr. Edvards’ broad cast as a standing feature to M«t AFL Says Workers Need Substantial Raise In1950 To Maintain Full Employment Levels BMKPOKt&f/knmyMHtxt&rmmreniy/ii/cgfASts SAMUEL GOMPER % yyr^gjljlljgton PofltWIIStfr GilttMTAl j|f|> tKBOHBCtd that tha mi commemorative post as* stamp ip buhar af Samuel Goal pan, founder and ft rat president of the American Federation af Labor, will be in throe-cants denomination, purple, will carry a like aeaa of Mr. Gempers and will be one af the “Famous Americans” series. Plana are to put the new stamp on sale bora an tbe ltfttb anniversary of Mr. Gompera' birth. Jan. 27. 195ft. Issuance af tbe stamp la one of the events marking the centenary af Mr. Gompera' birth to be carried - mi by the AFL throughout 195ft. - Bay a year’s supply of Samuel Gompera stamps! That is the suggestion to AFL local unions and members made by AFL Vice President W. C. Doherty, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers. * His proposal is endorsed by AFL Secretary-Treasurer George Meany and other AFL officials. ’ "By buying a year’s supply of stamps and using them on all mail, AFL members and unions can keep the centennial celebration of Samuel Gompera’ birth alive throughout 1960,” Mr. Doherty said. "There is a good chance that such ea move will exhaust the first printing and require re-issues.” The Post Office Department said that 112,000,000 of the stamps will be printed in the first run. They will be sold for the first time on Jan. 27, the 100th anniversary of Mr. Gompers’ birth, in Washington only. Later they will be sold by all of the more than 40,000 post offices across the country. More than 400,000 requests for first-day covers have been received by postal authorities. Appropriate first-day cere monies with AFL President William Green and government officials participating are being planned. President Truman Honors Gompers Chicagoans Salact Cltary for Koonon (Special Correspondence.) Chicago.-— William F. Cleary, business representative of the AFL electricians' union, Local % 134. IBEW, was elected secretary <f the Chicago Federation of Labor, tuc W*ng Joseph O. Keenan. as director of Labor’s League for Political Education. Keenan and Cleary rose to leadership in the same local union, of which Keenan is still secretary. Cleary was elected by 470 votes to 64 for Sidney Garfield, financial secretary of the Chemical Work ers, Local 241. The federation rep resents 460 local unions claiming a total membership of about 400, 000. Its secretaryship is a key po sition in the Chicago labor move ment. Cleary was born in Chicago on March 3. 1896. He began his ap prenticeship in the electricians local when he was 17. His training was interrupted by World War I. He enlisted in the army the day the United States entered the con flict After 22 months’ service ov-' erseas he returned to complete his apprenticeship in Chicago in 1921. He has been business represen tative of Local 134 since 1945. His work eras an important factor in the enormous expansion of the elec trical unions since the enactment of the Wagner labor relations law. Puerto Rico Sands Gompors Greetings Washington.—The Puerto Rico Federation of Workingmen sent greetings to AFL President Wil liam Green on the occasion of the Samuel Gompers Memorial Dinner on Jan. 5. The message, signed by Vice President F. Pas Granela of the Puerto Rican Federation, said: “On the occasion of the celebra tion of the centennial anniversary of the birth of our beloved found er and first president of the AFL, tfee Free Federation of Working men of Puerto Rico Joins with great pleasure in such act of grati tude to the memory of the great labor leader. “It is altogether , proper and fitting for organised labor through America to render a tribute of re spect to the memory of the man whose great work, and sincere and unfailing devotion to the cause of labor, has meant so much, not only for the continental United States and Puerto Rico, but for the whole world as well. "Organised labor honors itself by honoring the memory of our never-to-be-forgotten Samuel Gom pers. Puerto Rico will never for get him, as it was he who helped Santiago Iglesias in the great task of organising the laborers of Puer to Iko.” BT DAN SMITH Chicago Correspondent of AFL Newt Service. Chicago.—After conference with AFL union leaders, Mayor Martin H. Kennelly of Chicago ordered special police measures to atop a wave of crime against deliverymen. During the last year, two milk drivers, a taxi driver and a laun dry driver have been murdered at their work, and there have been several hundred robberies and beat-* tags. Latest victim was Henry Tatum, 38, a member of the Laundry and Dye House Drivers and Chauffeurs Union, Local 712, of the IBT. He was shot to death Christmas Eve between deliveries. - * The shots which killed him were heard by members of a family to whom he had delivered a laundry bundle only a moment before. The man of the house ran outside to find the dead driver in a passage way between buildings. His pock ets had been emptied of his mon ey, his wallet and his driver's license. A reward of f1,000 was posted by the laundry drivers' union for information leading to solution of the murder. A delegation of AFL Form Union It Exempt From T-H Washington.—The AFL Nation al Farm Labor Union is exempt from the Taft-Hartley law. The National Labor Relations Board ruled unanimously that the union cannot be prosecuted under the Taft-Hartley Act harness It fiasd by the law. or ot AFL unions in critical areas of snforcement of tho Inw which the AFL wants repealed. These decision* upholding struck work clause* unfair lists and the farm union’s right to strike made a more devastating argu ment against the wasteful bureau cracy and red tape created by the unwieldy Taft-Hartley law and its unwarranted interference in in ternal union affairs than many of the speeches against the act. The National Farm Labor Union denied the right of certification under the Taft-Hartley Act, was nevertheless being jnoq^cutedun der the law by General Counsel Robert N. Denham for fui alleged illegal boycott The board's first ruling on this question was made in a case that grew out of the strike at the Di Giorgio Fruit Corporation ranch, Bakersfield, Calif., in progress since 1947. A local of the Notional Farm Union, seeking recognition, picket ed the ranoh and business places where ranch products were deliv ered. The farm union was charged with violating the secondary boy cott baa and with restraint and coercion of employes. A court injunction in this case has restrained the farm union and 3 other unions since July, 1948. The board found that two of the unions had violated the law. leaders, headed by Preaidant Wil liam A. Lea, of the Chicago Fed eration of Labor, interviewed the mayor to demand better police pro tection. George Knott, president, said Jean R. Frank, secretary treasur er of the laundrymen's local, re ported ISO drivers have beta rob bed and slugged in the last two years. Lee said there were M holdups of deliverymen in the last M days. In addition, mors than 80 driv ers are on disability leave, slugged by bandits because they didn’t have enough money to satisfy the crim Mayor Kennedy ordered his po lios commissioner, James C. Pen dergast, to assign special squada to concentrate exclusively on guarding delivery trucks, especial ly in known trouble spots. To develop the protection pro gram, monthly meetings will be held between labor leaders and top police officers. The city building commissioner was directed to stiffen enforce ment of n city ordinance which re quires owners of apartment build ings to keep hallways and stair ways lighted at night. Spokesmen for the delivery: infnrrsmsnt of the nritinamn is lax In the areas where It la the law itself for illumination during daytime bourn, they In are black as pitch at high In addition to Lao and the _'if the milk drivers’ load, end Dan McNamara, secretary of the street ear man’s union. Loo also la presi dent of the bakery drivers’ union. Los Aitgolos ILGWU Solocts Dr. Igloo Los Angeles.—Dr. Max C. Igloe, chief district health officer of the Chicago Department of Health, has been appointed medical director for the new health center pf tho International Ladies Garment Workers Union of the AFL. Appointment of Dr. Igloe for the big Southern California center was announced by Louis Levy, tho un ion’s international vice president and Pacific Coast director: The Union health center, which will safeguard the health of South ern California union garment work ers, will occupy the ground floor of 1189 8. Maple Are., recently purchased, by the union. The sun of 8200,000 has been deposited in an operating fund to begin remod eling the building. MASKS FIFTH YEAS Washington,—The Textile Chal lenger, published by the AFL United Textile Workers, celebrat ed its fifth anniversary in January 1980. Edited by Ban Basket, The Challenger has won many prises for editorial excellence. GREEN ASKS SUPPORT FOR MARCH OF DIMES AFL President William Green called upon the AFL mem bership to support the annual March of Dimes drive of tho National foundation for Infantile Paralysis beginning Jan. 16. In a letter sent to all AFL affiliates, Mr. Green urged members “to voluntarily contribute as generously as possible to the financial appeal of the National Foundation for In fantile Paralysis.” He pointed out that polio had afflicted “many of the children of working people.” Noting that the number of polio victims had skyrocketed during the past year, the AFL chief called for ‘increasing financial help.” He said the “need is very great” to help the victims of this disease and pointed out that in many instances polio victims had been saved by expert medical care supplied by the National Foundation. Mr. Green’s appeal'came on the heels of an announcement by Basil O’Connor which revealed that some 131,000,000 had been expended by the National Foundation for medical care alone in 1949 which saw a record polio epidemic sweep the nation. This unprecedented outbreak virtually depleted the National Foundation’s resources. In order to carry on its relentless war against infantil paralysis, the National ✓ Foundation, whose burden has be come more acute bemuse of the rising tide of polio, has asked everyone to double his contribution to the forthcoming March of Dimes drive. ( M James J. Herkenham, Jr., Director of Labor Services for the National Foundation, has requested labor unions and ui»f<w> members to make their contributions directly to the local National Foundation chapter in their vicinity.
Jan. 26, 1950, edition 1
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