Labor Sunday Messages from
National Churches of Christ, U.S.A.
(Continued from face •)
By the same token, individual
members of unions are called upon
to assume their full share of re
sponsibility for union policies and
programs and, particularly, for the
maintenance of union democracy.
Regular attendance at union meet
ings is the very minimum to be
expected of every worker who holds
a union card.
Management, in turn, is re
minded of its responsibility to be
honest in appraising its own finan
cial situation. Too often in collee
> tive bargaining negotiations the
language of management would
seem to indicate "proximate finan
cial collapse, even though their
official records reveal that they are
earning fair profits after generous
provision has been made for de
preciation and future expansion.
Such misleading statements, made
for the purpose of bargaining, nat
urally tend to develop a spirit of
distrust among employees and
union leaders.
Finally, labor and management
have a joint responsibility to fore
stall the harmful effects of infla
tion. In negotiating collective
agreements, they may not legiti
mately use their economic strength
to advance their own interests at
the expense of less-favored groups
who are dependent on a fixed in
come and lack the necessary bar
gaining power to keep up with the
rising cost of living.
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In concluding this annual state
ment, in which we have counseled
an attitude of guarded and real
istic optimism, we ask you to join
. with the Vicar of Christ, His Holi
ness Pope Pius XII, in reflecting
prayerfully on the spiritual mean
ing of Labor Day:
"Who better than the true Chris
tian can give to Labor Day a pro
found significance! For him it is
a day on which he venerates and
adores all the more intensely the.
Man-God, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who, that He might be our model,
our consolation and sanctification
tmssed the greater part of His life,
in the exercise of a manual trade,
as a humble worker (Cfr. Matt.
13, Mark b. 3); it is the day of
' thanksgiving to God on the part of
all those who provide assurance,
through their labor, of a tranquil
and peaceful life for themselves
and their families; it is the day
on which is affirmed the will to
overcome class warfare and hatred
with the strength deriving from
the realisation of social justice,
from mutual respect and fraternal
charity for the love of Christ; it
is the day, in fine, on which be
lieving humanity solemnly prom
ises to create by the labor of men's
minds and hands a culture that
gives glory to God, a culture that,
far from alienating man from God,
brings man ever closer to Him."
(His Holiness Pope Pius XII,
Address, May 1, 1953.)
May these beautiful words of the
Holy Father inspire the working
people of the United States and
their fellow-citizens from other
walks of life to renew then dedica
tion to the cause of social justice
and social charity. And may they
be accepted as an expression of the
continuing interest cf the Catholic
Church in the material as well as
the spiritual and supernatural
welfare of all cf God’s children
regardless of their occupation, na
tionality, race, or social status.
Goals of Unions
Hove Definite
Spiritual Implications
By Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath
President, Union of American
Hebrew Congregation*
Co-Chairman, Commission on
Religions Organisations
National Conference of Christians
and Jews
It is a privilege to salute the
forces of organized labor on this
day set aside for special tribute
to those who toil with hand and
mind.
The Hebrew word for labor ia
Avodah. Interestingly, the same
word means, in the Sacred Tongue,
“religious service.” I believe that
the twin meanings of this word are
magnificently demonstrated in the
growing awareness on the part of
unions that their goals have defi
nite spiritual implications.
To do one g allotted work with
conscientiousness, and to espouse
the cause of social advance, con
stitute genuine religious functions.
I pray that all laborers, at' desks
and in the ranks, will ever be
mindful of the fact that they are
engaged in enterprises tinged with
spirituality. And let us remember
the words of the Psalms: “Who
shall ascend into the mountain of
the Lord and who shall stand in
His holy place? He that hath clean
hands and a pure heart.”
May a spirit of zeal plus purity
of hands and heart also continue
to characterise your struggle
against illiberalism and reaction,
against bigotry and injustice,
against greed and Btrife. May you
in humility recognize your own
shortcomings and seek to eliminate
them. May you who have pioneered
in so many ways also strive to
wards the heightened unification
of all groups who live in our be
loved land. And may that land be
blessed with peace.
We of the Jewish faith now ap
proach our High Holy Day season.
Perhaps a prayer from our Rosh
Hashanah liturgy is the most fit
ting greeting of all for Labor Day:
“Our Father, our King, keep far
from our country pestilence, war
and famine.
“Our Father, our King, cause all
hate and oppression to vanish from
the earth.
“Our Father, our King, inscribe
us for blessing in the book of life.
“Our Father, our King, • grant
unto us a year of happiness. Amen.”
LABOR DAY G|iiTINGS
8 * W*
CAKTHMS
Charlotte Raleigh Knoxville
Asheville Chattanooga Atlanta
COMPLIMENTS
Peerless
Spuming
Corporation
LOWBLL, NORTH CAROLINA
r UNION
HIM IMilS
SIM CMOS &
HIM BiniNS
L.P.A.Poses Questions to
Nation’s Labor Leaders
(Coatiaaod from Pag* f)
unity among the working people
of America, for only when that is
accomplished can we have oppres
sive laws repealed and progressive
measures enacted.
There must be unity all the way
down the line—among those new
members of unions and those still
outside. While the present situation
prevails the anti-union forces make
holiday.
The United Textile Workers of
America stands ready to ratify the
no-raiding agreement submitted by
the unity committee of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor and the
Congress of Industrial Organisa
tions. The 1952 convention of our
union authorised! this stand, which
is our historic position. We are
ready to make such a bargain, and
if our word is given it will be
scrupulously honored.
If unity among organised work
ers is thus attained, we shall be
able to remove the chief bar to
substantial progress. Our union
will be free to use its resources to
complete the organisation of the
textile industry, where now there
are hundreds of thousands of work
ers who are members of no union
and who are used by the greedy to
check the legitimate aspirations of
trade unionists and to punish the
decent employers with whom they
bargain.
The present situation is bad not
only for unionism but for the coun
try. Now it is possible for the
greedy to keep standards down by
playing section against section
through the fostering of racial and
geographical fears and hates.
It is only when that organisation
is substantially completed that we
can move forward. As of now, it is
often safe for Northern reaction
aries to join with their Southern
counterparts in the enactment of
anti-labor measures. We imow that
the great bulk of the unorganised
'in our industry want to join hands
with us, and once they are able to
speak and to act as free American
workers, they will so make their
power felt that the corrupt alli
ance of Northern and Southern
anti-unionists will be smashed.
In summary, the United Textile
Workers of America see as the task
before them the completion of the
organisation of our industry. When
that is brought about it will be
possible to repeal the repressive
features of the Thft-Hartley Act.
Given an organised textile indus
try, we shall prevail in our light
for the National Textile Bill »«d
end the ruinous throat-cutting
which menaces the security and the
advancement of our people.
print words of praise for past vic
tories and more important, the calls
to arms for impending battles.
Labor has a two-fold to do
in the year ahead. We have coupled
with ending the tragedy of the
American boys in Korea, the obli
gation to elfin house in Congress
next November of those who are
the avowed enemies sf labor.
flsacthni at boms cannot defeat
If we allow the shortsighted
who scuttle the nation's prepared
ness with one hand while they fast
en the chain of Taft-Hartley around
ns with the other, to return to of
fice, tiie ererld that permits the
free association of the workingmen
selves is eery likely doomed.
The Job of the labor union get*
tougher each succeeding year be
cause the laws of today require
different procedures. We compro
mise when we must because the
laws give us no chance to fight and
win.
The Taft-Hartley law has been
in effect since 1947. It has cost
one union |24 millions to fight this
law.
Powerful unions have tried
through strikes to win a few cents
an hour. In days gone by it was
possible to call strikes and win
them. Now, the only smart course,
in the face of impossible laws is
to compromise.
As I have said before, and must
of necessity repeat again, the
moral of the bitter lessons of the
Taft-Hartley era is that every day
must be a day of labor for the
restoration of those rights that
were usurped by the passage in our
own country of legislation that has
shackled progress in our own
American labor movement.
Those In Congress who voted for
restrictive labor legislation also
voted against espenditures for for
eign affairs and for defense. The
same broom will clean up both
menaces at the polls. That is the
simple task for os to dedicate our
selves to on this Labor Day, 1963.
POLITICAL ACTION
TO KLECT LIBERALS
STILL NO. 1 JOB
Bjr Riehaad F. W*kh, President
International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employe* ail Moring Pk
tare Machine Operator* of the
Unites State* and Canada—AFL.
I regard the election of liberal*
minded men and women—to Con
crete, to state legislatures and to
local governing bodies—as the la
bor movement’s most pressing task
in the year ahead.
It would be nke to come up with
some novel, or at least fresher, ob
jective, but I think the facts of our
problem leave political activity still
the No. I “must”. We have made
fair progress during recent years
past, keeping a close balance be
tween liberals and reactionaries at
Washington and stemming the tide
of anti-labor legislation in the
states. But balance and tide-stem
ming are not enough. We must
keep up the fight relentlessly until
the crippling laws already passed
are replaced or amended so that
the unions can get a decent break
in organising and collective bar
gaining. •
I have referred to "liberal”
rather than mere “friendly,” leg
Waters because experience has
shewn that for a candidate to as
pens* the cause of the Vtnions is
net enough. He—and we—must
never forget the non-union work
ing people who vote. I am con
vinced that tax relief, price relief,
geed housing, health and welfare
measures and all the ether aims in
the liberal program are important
to those people—and that laws de
nying us a fair chance to bring
them union protection are not. And,
by and large, the candidate who
stands for things that are liberal
includes our cans* in his philos
ophy.
Most recent experience also has
shown that party labels ate becom
ing less and leea important to the
growing body of voters who swing
tisstinas. This augurs well for the
ultimate success of our policy of
ignoring such labels. 8ooner or
later, by helping enlighten these
independent ei tissue, wo can
achieve an unfettered labor move
ment in this free land.
Of course, to avoid the hostility
houses in order, conduct our affair*
responsibly, prove.beyond ques
tion—that our aims are always in
line with the welfare of America
•a a whole. Thia ia an essential
part of labor’s political task in all
the years ahead.
With Polar McGuire As Patron
Labor Most Continue
Organising the Unorganised
By M. A. Hutcheson. President
United Brotherhood of Crapentera
and Joiners of America ^FL
As a member of the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America it is impossible
for me to think of Labor Day with
out simultaneously thinking of
Peter J. McGuire, that heroic figure
of the past century, who was the
Father of Labor Day as well as the
founder of the United Brotherhood.
In my mind’s eye I see that
humble yet proud figure standing
before the New York Central La
bor Union nearly three quarters
of a century ago, to advocate that
one day be set aside to pay homage
to those who toil with their hands
for their daily bread. I also see
him roaming the highways and by
ways carrying the message of
unionism to the carpenters of
America. #
As long as I live, Labor Day
will be to me a living monument
to Peter J. McGuire fully al much
as it is-a holiday honoring work
ing people, for it was McGuire who
laid the foundation not only for
LaboV Day, but also for the free,
responsible and unencumbered la
bor movement which has been able
to do so much to elevate the eco
nomic and cultural standards of
American working people.
In May of 1881, issuing a call to
all carpenters to lend their efforts
toward the establishment of a na
tional carpenters’ union, McGuire
wrote:
“The learned professions have
their unions for the avowed pur
pose of elevating their calling.
Manufacturers have also discov
ered the benefits of united, in place
of, divided action and they have
numberless unions, local and na
tional. In various cities we find
mechanics’ exchanges composed of
boss builders.
"They look to each other’s com
mon interests. Shall we not profit
by these lessons? IF THE
STRONG COMBINE, SHOULD
NOT THE WEAK?”
Since McGuire wrote these words,
millions of articles, pamphlets, and
books have been written on the
need of working people to organise.
Yet all of them combined do not
tell the story more vividly than da
these few words by McGuire.
On the eve of Labor Day, 196S,
this nation is facing a paradoxical
situation. For the first time in sev
eral years, the prospects appear
bright for a peaceful settlement
of the Korean conflict. But the
prospect of peace seems to alarm
many people in many walks of life.
The specter of depression disturbs
their slumber and waking hours
with a haunting fear.
These pople, I believe, are alarm
ists needlessly. I am sure McGuire
would consider them so wave be
able to return to earth by some
supernatural circumstance. Mc
Guire never doubted the ability of
our economic system to provide a
continuing era of prosperity for all
citisens once the labor movement
achieved sufficient strength to win
for its members a fair share of
the wealth they produced.
Lake McUuire, 1 am inclined to
believe that nothing very damag
ing can occur so long as the work
ing people are qble to keep their
purchasing power high through
their union*.
This, of course, is not the only
factor involved in the maintenance
of prosperity, but it is the moat
important one. It is one through
which we can make our biggest
contribution toward lasting pros
perity.
Therefore, on this Labor Day,
IMS, I think the major goal of all
union member* should be to
strengthen and build the labor
possible. The 20 million workers
who are still contributing little or
nothing to American prosperity
poorer are a challenge to American
unions. Ones these people can be
brought Into full participation in
the economic life of the nation,
they offer a groat potential market
for peacetime goods that can offset
any decline in defease spending.
The only way that they can be
integrated into the normal eco
nomic scheme is through union
membership. That is the challenge
that faces all of us as union people.
This Labor Day wo should bo look
ing toward Peter J. McGuire for
inspiration, so that we can meet the
challenge quickly and adeq^tely.
AFL-CIO Unity WnM Free
America CIO
Of all the problems facing organ
ised labor, perhaps the most im
portant is for the AFL and CIO
: ii rfiritirii^lihrilii^iiilMiii .1 i
to get together, to merge their
identity into one organically united
organisation. Once that is accomp
lished, many of the other problems,
now especially difficult to solve,
will become easier to crack.
Labor can do a better and more
complete organising job. Legisla
tive and political action work will
be more effective. With one com
mon pool of resources and material,
research and education work can
be carried on more successfully.
> Public relations work can be geared
! to a common objective.
And the rank-and-file member
j will benefit.
Our union, the CIO Communica
I tions Workers of America, has fa
) vored an AFL-CIO merger for
1 years. We have worked for it. We
I shall continue to work in that di
j rection.
Ultimate success may take some
j time, but already there are encour
! aging signs that the two federa
tions can work together.
Important among these were the
meetings and accomplishments of
the United Labor Policy Commit
tee. AFL and CIO leaders found
this committee a way to work to
gether in solving problems related
to wage stabilization.
A less well-known example of
broad-scale labor cooperation is
found in the operations of Labor
Press Associated. Governed by a
board coming from AFL, CIO and
independent unions, LPA does an
important job of furnishing news,
featores, photos and other mate
rial te some 250 labor papers hav
ing a combined circulation well
over ten million.
But perhaps most important of
all are the joint AFL-CIO meetings
where preliminary steps leading
toward organic unity have been,
taken.
Quite properly this joint commit
tee has concentrated first on the
problem of raiding:, and mechanics
of a program to eliminate it. Once
that problem is settled, work can
begin on other problems of merging
the two groups.
Not until this is accomplished,
when there are no longer two big
labor federations but only one, will
labor be able to show the greatest
progress on some of its really big
jobs.
Success in many other fields of
union work depends on the success
of the move to bring the AFL and
CIO together.
Not until then can labor show
really significant progress in get
ting non-union workers to join
unions. Once the two federations
•re merged. better results at the
bargaining table will follow. Mote
succesful political action work will
come with a united membership.
With AFL and CIO unions in one
group, all functions of organised
labor will prove more productive,
more beneficial to the member.
r^j t j ,
Labor Defense Against GOP
Attacks On Gains
By James A. Brewnfew, President
Metal Trades Departaseat—AFL
Organisation of the unorganised
workers is essential. There will be
continuing less support of economic
programs by the government in the
year ahead, which will mean that
employes will have to depend for
any economic advantages which
they may obtain, on their unions
rather than on the Federal Gov
ernment. Thsre will be attacks upon
every phase of social legislation,
meaning housing; minimum wage
laws; social security; unemploy
ment compensation; aid to educa
tion and such other advancements
as Working people have made dur
ing the last decade and a half.
It is proper that the dependence
for the economic welfare of work
ing people be placed in strong
unions without relying on govern
i.
ment. We all recognize that in
■ome programs of benefit to the
people of the nation as a whole,
only the enactment of legislation
by the government can accomplish
them. However, neither this year
nor any year must we ever lose
sight of the fact that the power
of government to give is the power
of government to take away.
Therefore, the greatest task,
which I can envisage for the trade
union movement in the coming
year is the protecting and retain- •
ing of those gains which have been
made, and to use every effort to
continue to progress. This progress
can best result from strong unions,
increased organizational activities,
lessening of internal differences
between unions, and closer coopera
tion between all organizations rep-,
resentative of the trade union
movement.
Unity of CIO, AFL And
Independents Would Demend
Respect From Employers
By D. W. Tracy, PreaUeet
International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, AFL.
“What do you regard pa the most
pressing task for the Labor Move
ment in the year ahead?”
That is a most serious and
thought-provoking question. Labor
has many tasks for the year ahead
—most conditions for its members,
safeguarding their rights, fighting
bitter anti-labor campaigns in
state legislatures, resisting a
weakening of social security and a
hacking away of other bene
fits that years of effort and sac
rifice have attained. But these are
all subordinate to Labor’s No. 1
job for the year ahead—organic
unity.
We of organized labor are neyer
going to realize oar full strength
and make our wants and needs
truly felt and respected, until we
have achieved real solidarity.
There have been some serious
and most encouraging efforts put
forth in recent months on the part
of both the CIO and the AFL to
achieve unity. The proposed **no
raiding" pact is a tremendous step
in the right direction. Ws of the
Electrical Workers are going to try
with all our strength to cooperate
in this enterprise toward peace,
and we hope that our rival groups
in the CIO and those unions within
the AFL with whom there has
been some jurisdictional conflict,
will do the saase. We believe that
they will.
But this step is not enough. Wir
of the CIO and the AFL must not
only stop hindering one another,
we’ve got to work toother for th*
good of organised labor and our
country as a whole. And the inde
pendent labor groups must be en
couraged to join with us as welL
There is nothing that would de
mand more respect from business
people and corporations,, and anti
labor forces at home and abroad,
than a united -labor movement in’
the United States and Canada.
I think that organised labor is
going to prove itself capable of
accomplishing just that. The job
can be done, but the sooner the
better.
Our nation, in its position of
world leadership, has been hand#
the tremendous task «* fighting
Communist domination and trying
to lead that world to peace.
I believe that organised labor is'
the greatest force in this nation
which is trying to lead the world
to peace. Therefore, we of organ- -
ised labor must create peace and
unity in our own ranks before we '
can lead the way for anyone rise.
With God’s help we can do the ^
job!
(Continued an Pago 8)
«
LABOR DAY GREETINGS
Barger
Construction Co.
Inc.
MoorosvilU, North Corolino