The Butler County press. [volume], August 07, 1942, Image 1

About The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946

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VOL. XLII. No. 19.
Washington, D. C. (ILNS).—A lively
musical salute to the entertainment
unions of the American Federation of
Labor and their contribution to the
war effort delighted radio listeners
throughout the nation at the "Labor
fdr Victory" program presented by
the A. F. of L. on July 25.
"Labor for Victory" Musical Salute
Honors AFL Entertainment Unions
For Co-operation in Camp Shows
The program starred Lansing Hat
field, Metropolitan Opera baritone,
who sang several songs popular with
Army and Navy training camp audi
ences.
Hundreds of Stars from Stage, Screen, Radio and Concert
Fields Performing Every Day for Boys in the Armed
Forces—Unions Receive Praise for Co-operation.
Just back from a two-week tour of
Army camps and Naval stations in
Florida and Georgia, Hatfield said that
hundreds of stars from the stage,
screen, radio and concert fields are
performing every day for the boys in
tiie armed forces. "And let me tell
you, those boys appreciate, it and do
not hesitate to show their apprecia
tion," he added.
5,000 Shows Presented
Lawrence Phillips, executive vice
president of the United Service Or
ganizations Camp Shows, Inc., told
briefly of his organization's activities
and paid tribute for the help given by
members of A. F. of L. entertainment
unions.
"Since June 1, 1941," Phillips said,
"U. S. O. Camp Shows and its prede
cessor, which was known as the Citi
zens Committee for the Army and
Navy, have given more than 5,000 sep
arate performances, entertaining more
DEMOCRACY IS IN
DANGER, SAYS AFL
IN WARNING GOV'T
Washington, D. C. (ILNS). The
American Federation of Labor's recent
declaration on wages and inflation is
labor's answer to those who would set
up a fascist type of control in this
country by using war powers and war
agencies to dictate fundamental pol
icy on wages without consulting labor
or giving workers a chance to be
heard, the A. F. of L. says in its latest
monthly survey.
"In this statement," the survey says
"President Gxeen showed that organ
ized labor will be true to its respon
sibility as guardian of democracy in
America. We will be true to our coun
try's history and principle. We will
not see democracy destroyed and fas
cist controls set up."
The federation goes cm to declare
that fascist controls can be established
so subtly that the general public is
not aware of their loss of liberty.
"That is the way," it adds, "fascism
was gradually imposed on the people
of Germany. This is the danger in
this country. If collective bargaining
were set aside and wage policy die
tated by government order, we should
have taken an irretrievable step tO'
ward fascism here in America."
OPA Attitude Scored
Such a step toward fascism, the fed'
eration charges, was threatened dur
ing wage negotiations in the Pacific
Coast airplane industry on July 13. It
says this was due to the attitude of
the Office of Price Administration, led
by Leon Henderson, which has stood
against all wage increases except
where wages are sub-standard.
The federation says the issue came
to a head at the Pacific Coast confer
ence, when Henderson's represent
ative, although not a party to the con
ference and without authority "at
tempted to override collective bargain
ing and to order 'no wage increases
except to eliminate inequalities and
sub-standards of living.'"
"Henderson's representative," the
federation continues, "was not con
cerned with the main problems of the
conference: that many companies were
well able to pay a wage increase with
out raising prices, that aircraft wages
are lower than rates paid in other in
than 5,500,000 soldiers, sailors, ma
ines, coast guard men and hospital
patients."
Asked about the activities of the
A. F. of L. entertainment unions, he
said:
"I cant speak toe highly of the
great co-operation which we have re
ceived from these unions and their
members. It is an inspiring thing to
find men and women ready and eager
to devote their time and art to render
ing this important service to our men
in uniform."
How Unions Helped
Naming the specific unions, because,
he said, "they deserve honorable men
tion for what they are doing," Phillips
continued:
"Mr. Hatfield, for instance, is a
member of the American Guild of Mu
sical Artists, which has supplied us
with many top-notch singers. The
American Federation of Radio Artists
has given us the cream of radio enter
tainers.
"Actors Equity has come through
with stars of the dramatic stage. The
Screen Actors Guild has marched a
steady procession of movie stars into
our camp shows. The American Fed
eration of Musicians has permitted us
to use big 'name' bands. This union
estimates that its bands and orches
tras have given five million dollars
worth of free time for the entertain
ment of America's armed forces."
dustries for similar work, causing
high labor turnover and migration.
Usurpation of Power Charged
'His position on collective bargain
ing was clearly stated in these words:
While under ordinary circumstances
collective bargaining should determine
distribution between labor and man
agement of their joint products, these
are not normal times.'
"Through just such arbitrary usur
pation of power by government agen
cies, on the excuse of national emer
gency, people in foreign countries
have been deprived of their freedom."
The federation says the Interna
tional Association of Machinists was
quick to sense the danger and their
protest ended the conference. "Union
executives know," it concludes, "that
if collective bargaining is to be nulli
fied in this country—as indeed it will
be if labor has no say about wage
policy and if government orders are
to replace democratic conferences be
tween employers and workers—then
we are threatened with fascism at
home while we give our sons ta save
democracy abroad."
Further commenting on the OPA
policy, the federation says that "em
ployers used Mr. Henderson's attitude
as an excuse to stop all wage in
creases, even when they were well able
to pay without raising prices."
All Cannot Be In Army
Lexington, Ky.—Brig. Gen. Stephen
G. Henry, commandant of the Armored
Force School, Ft. Knox, Ky., advised
men vital in war plants not to rush
into the Army unless they could be
of more value there than in civilian
life. "Otherwise," he said, "it is like
blunting the plowshare to sharpen the
sword. Our nation has a great ma
chine, both civilian and military, and
every conveyor belt of the assembly
line cannot be on the military side of
the plant alone."
CHICAGO MARKET CO.
Labor Court Fines Shirkers
Front and High Sts. Phone 5000
SIRLOIN STEAK 32c
CHOCK ROAST 27c
BOILING BEEF 15c
U 1 u
South Bend, Ind.—Men in three de
partments of the big Bendix Corpora
tion plant have set up a kangaroo
court to try workers who shirk their
work, by unnecessary absences, tardi
ness and excessive waste. Those found
guilty are fined $1. When enough
money is obtained, a $25 war bond
is bought and given to one of the
vorkers.
V 1
0
(WNU Service)
THE BUTLER COUNTY PRESS.
HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1942.
Announcing that a "complete un
derstanding" had been reached on col
laboration, President William Green
of the A. F. of L. made public for the
first time the text of the A. F. of L.
proposal made to Sir Walter Citrine,
general secretary of the British Trades
Union Congress when he met with the
A. F. of L. executive council at Wash
ington last May 22.
Citrine proposed formation of an
alliance of the labor movements of
Britain, the United States and the
Soviet Union which would call for an
exchange of visits by trade union dele'
gates from the three nations.
Counter-Proposal Submitted
The A. F. of L. submitted a counter
proposal for creation of an Anglo
American Trade Union Committee to
meet alternately in the United States
and England. This committee, it was
suggested, could, through the British
members, "act as a liaison with the
trade unions of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics on any matter of
direct concern to the trade unions
which may arise."
Thus, direct relations with the
Soviet unions were avoided. The A. F.
of L. has frequently denounced the
Russian unions as creatures of the
Soviet dictatorship, though it has paid
high tribute to the Russian workers
for their courage and spirit in the face
of Hitler's attack.
CIO May Be Included
The A. F. of L. proposal carried the
proviso that the federation may in
elude "in the representation of Amer
ican labor the representation of any
other bona fide trade union body,"
which was understood to cover the
possible inclusion of the CIO and the
independent railroad brotherhoods.
After outlining organization of the
Anglo-American Trade Union Com
mittee, the proposal said:
"It is our firm judgment that
through the medium of the Anglo
Soviet Trade Union Committee the
British members of that committee
will keep themselves fully informed
of matters concerning the trade unions
of Soviet Russia. Thus we will be
able to further our determination to
render all practical aid to the Russian
workers in the prosecution of the
war,"
Workers' Courage Praised
The declaration recalled the as
sistance given by the A. F. of L. "to
.?».....
The TUG of War
%Ul Up THE
SUCK/
British Labor Accepts AFL Proposal
For Co-operation With Russian
Unions In Fighting Axis Nations
"Complete Understanding" is Reached on Collaboration,
A. F. of L. President Green Announces—Federation
Has Denounced Soviet Unions, Praised Workers.
Washington, D. C. (ILNS). —The
General Council of the British Trades
Union Congress has accepted a pro
posal of the American Federation of
Labor executive council for direct and
indirect collaboration between the A.
F. of L., and the British and Soviet
labor movements.
the workers of all lands fighting on
the side of democracy," and concluded:
"The whole of our program has been
based on the threat of invasion and
domination by the forces of Nazism
and Hitlerism. We express unbounded
admiration for the dauntless courage
of the working people of Great Britain
and Russia and of all the United Na
tions in their valiant resistance to the
powers of despotism and of barbarism,
and to the workers of all lands tem
porarily crushed and submerged under
the heels of Hitlerism. We express
hope for their early liberation and re
entry into the family of free nations
and free peoples."
DENY TOBIN SEEKS
TO GET J. LEWIS
INTO Ail. RANKS
Indianapolis (ILNS). Daniel J.
Tobin, president of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, is not "c
spiring with William L. Hutcheson
(president of the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters) to bring John L. Lewis
into the American Federation of La
bor," the International Teamster
monthly organ of the Teamsters, de
clares in the current issue.
The article is headed "Tobin Wants
Unity—Not Lewis." It explains that
it is made in reply to recently pub
lished statements from Washington to
the effect that the chief of the carpen
ters' union was seeking to maneuver
Lewis' return to the fold.
"So far, so good)" the article con
tinues. "But then the story states
that President Tobin is a part of the
deal because of his anxiety for labor
unity. As a matter of fact, President
Tobin is keenly desirous of labor unity
not to further the ambitions of any
labor politicians but to further the
interests of the workingman in dan
gerous days that lie ahead.
"From the beginning, President
Tobin regretted the schism in labor
He has never given up the hope of
healing that breach and effecting unity
with the CIO."
New Contract Raises Pay
Of Seattle Warehousemen
Seattle, Wash. (ILNS). Members
of Warehousemen's local No. 117, A
F. of L., will receive wage increases
of more than $1 per day as a result
of a new working agreement with the
Seattle Scrap Dealers' Association
The contract raises clerks to $1 an
hour, burners from 87% cents to $1.10
shearmen from 72% to 92% cents
:& & v v i S i
I
balers from 67% to 85 cents, and ware
housemen from 67% to 85 cents.
The contract provides a week's va
cation with pay and provides for
40-hour week.
4
ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
SEIZE MUNITIONS
PUNT AT ALTON,
UNIONS DEMAND
Alton, 111. (ILNS).—The executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor unions in the Western Cart
ridge Company plant at East Alton
has demanded that the War Depart
ment take over operation of the plant
immediately to prevent a general
strike.
In identical telegrams to President
Roosevelt, Chairman Nelson of the
War Production Board, and President
Green of the American Federation of
Labor the unions declared the govern
ment would have to seize the plant
to "prevent stoppage of work which
the company is agitating."
Patrick McCartney, A. F. of L. rep
resentative who was sent here from
Washington, asserted, however, that
"there will be no walkout."
"These men don't want to strike the
plant and they are not going to in
spite of the company agitation to
make them do it," he said.
Among anti-labor practices charged
were "compelling workers to work
around furnaces without proper ven
tilation, transferring workers from
one job to another and in general agi
tating workers to such an extent that
they are daily demanding that they
be permitted to strike against the in
tolerable conditions."
Seattle Bakery Workers
Win New Pay Increases
Seattle, Wash. (ILNS). Bakery
driver salesmen, checkers, wrappers
and office workers in all Seattle bak
eries have received wage increases as
a result of a new contract signed with
the Bakery Driver Salesmen's Union,
A. F. of L. The new contract provides
for a $1 per day increase for driver
salesmen, bringing the scale to $55
per week 15 per cent for wrappers
and checkers, or $40 per week, and a
flat 10 per cent for office workers, or
a minimum of $27.50.
Driver salesmen will continue to
work 48 hours weekly, with the sched
I ule for other employes being 40 hours.
ir
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