‘ ‘ % : . Action on anti-labor laws sought By GLADYS CARTER LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.—Anti-labor laws in the U.S. or in any other member country will be a matter of concern for the United Nations, if a resolution proposed March 1 by the World Federation of Trade Unions is accepted by the UN economic and social council. The WFTU has called on the council to establish a permanent committee on union rights, which would go into action any time that a member nation violates the fundamental liberties for all peoples Greeks protest US intervention ATHENS — If the Ameri- can government proceeds with its plan to pour $350 million into financing the British oc- cupation of Greece, the Na- tional Liberation Movement (the EAM), which led wartime resist- ance against the Nazis, has an- nounced it will bring charges against the U.S. before the United Nations. According to EAM and labor leaders, the American money will serve as a continuing prop for the present dictatorship. There has been no suggestion that the money will be used for food for the impoverished people. It is admittedly to be used to maintain British troops in Greece until the Monarchist government has had time to build its own army. Union leaders, forcibly ejected from their posts and replaced by government stooges, point to the revival of laws passed by prewar fascist dictator Metaxas as proof of the government’s fear of the people. No union is allowed to elect its leaders, collective bar- gaining is outlawed, mass meet- ings are prohibited anq strikes are illegal. The government is waging all-out war against anti- monarchists who in _ increasing numbers are forced to take to the hills, (The spotlight was turned or the aims of U.S. big business in Greece March 4 by Walter Lippmann, world affairs colum- nist generally considered spokes- man for America’s top financial interests. Greece, he says, is an “outpost” of U.S. “military commitments argund the world.” He questions whether we should pour funds into Greece, not be- cause the Greek people want freedom, but because Greece May not be the most strategic point for waging war. against Russia.) guaranteed in the UN charter. Among the principles which the 71-million-strong world labor body has asked the council to acknowl- edge formally are: e@ “Trade union rights are re- cognized as an inviolable preroga- tive enjoyed by salaried workers | for the protection of their profes- ‘sional and social interests, @ “Trade union organizations should be able to administer their /own affairs, to deliberate and tied decide on all questions fall- ing within their competence, in ‘We are not plone Tired of unfulfilled promises of jobs and homes, these vet- erans march on Columbus, Ohio, to demand payment of an immediate bonus, adequate housing and the passage of a Fair Employment Practices Act. The march is under the leadership of Local 728, United Electric Radio and Machine Workers Union (CIO)—a fine demonstration of veteran-labor unity lobbying to get things done. conformity with the law and with their constitution, without inter- ference in their duties from gov- ernmental. or administrative bodies. @ “There should be mo obstacle to the federation of trade union organizations on the occupational or inter-occupational level, wheth- er locally, regionally or inter-na- tionally, @ “All legislation which places restrictions or the above-mention- ed principles is contrary to the economic and social collaboration laid down by the charter of the United Nations,” The general assembly recom- mended that the WFTU be allow- ed to submit items for the eco- nomic and social council agenda. When this recommendation was discussed by the council March 1, the British delegate opposed it on «the grounds that the Interna- tional Chamber of Commerce and AFL have the same privileges and that this would overload the council agenda. As the discussion developed, all the delegates got wound .up in technical red tape until finally .an 1i-man commission was appointed to decide whether the general as- sembly meant that the council must accept agenda items from the WFTU and other agencies, or whether it has the right to reject such items. ' The WFETU resolution pointea out that in many nations today unions take part in directing in- dustrial enterprises and in pre paring and administering social legislation. Where urions have not got these rights and where re- strictions are placed on their col- lective bargaining rights, it said the workers “have no other means of redressing the wrongs inflicted on them than by the collective stoppage of work and by agita- tion.” US Supreme Court ruling opens — way for wholesale strikebreaking NEW YORK—The USS. Supreme court decision against John L. Lewis and the Unit- ed Mine Workers (AFL) carries implications that will strike as hard a blow against the American labor movement as AFL uuions score raids on CIO steel locals TORONTO ~— Both the General Steel Wares local and the Continental Can local of the United Steelworkers voted unanimously here to stay in the ranks of the CIO union. In London, Ontario, both locals of the General Steel Wares switched from the CIO to the AFL after a raiding move- ment that was led by Russel Har- vey, AFL organizer in the prov- ince. Officials of the CIO steel- workers are in the process of at- tempting to meet with the mem- bership of the London locals with a view to “explaining our side of the story.” In the meantime the first offi- cial AFL criticism of Russell Har- vey was voiced here by the Tor- onto Typographical Union. In Hamilton more criticism was voic- ed when the Trades and Labor Council of that city met. The question of the Russell Harvey anti-unity raiding movement was raised under “good and welfare” and found ‘several members of AFL unions expressing their dis- gust of Mr. Harvey’s policies. The Toronto Typographical union made its protest in an official letter to AFL President William Green. While Har vey’s name was not mentioned it was very clear to whom the FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1947 letter referred wher it spoke of the AFL chartering former “strikebreakers.” Mr. Harvey re- cently announced that he had issued an AFL charter to the Stelco company union whose membership is mainly made up of workers who played a strike- breaking role during last sum- mer’s steel] strike. While Mr. Harvey’s name was not mentioned in the letter to William Green it came up fre- quently at the meeting of the typographical local where the de- cision was reached to _ protest raiding. The Green letter stressed that such tactics could only lead to a disruption of the Canadian trade-union movement and would hinder the progress toward unity of action by, and eventual unifi- cation of the AFL and CIO in the United States. Indications are that more AFL Officials will soon publicly indi- cate their sentiment in much the asme way. any of the pending labor-shackling bills now before Congress. In a 7 to 2 decision the court found UMW Pres. Lewis guilty of contempt in refusing last No- vember to abide by the injunction which, at the government’s_ be- hest,. ordered him to call off the miners’ strike for higher pay. also ruled that when the govern- ment is the employer, the Norris- LaGuardia act, outlawing use of injunctions in labor disputes, does not apply. The court decision, announced March 6, reduced the fine against the UMW from $3 million to $700,000.. However, its other ma- jor rulings are designed to turn back the clock to the days be- fore the Norris-LaGuardia act Was passed in 1982. employer whose plant was struck could simply go to the nearest court, get the judge to write out an order that the strikers had to return to their jobs, and rally the police force to see that the order was carried out. The supreme court decision does not say that the Norris-LaGuardia act no longer applies to private industry but its implications were pointed up by Justice Frank R. Murphy, one of the four mem- bers of the court who dissented from the majority opinion. To the “clearly enunciated policy of making government by injunction illegal,” Murphy said, “Congress has made no exception where the public interest is at stake. or 'where the government has seized the private properties involved. “If seizure alone justifies an in- In a 5 to 4 opinion the court | Then an JOHN L, LEWIS *...+ government by injunction’ junction contrary ‘to the expres: sed will of Congress, some gov- ernment coulq easily utilize seiz- ure as a subterfuge for breaking any or all strikes in private in- dustries.” Murphy described as “specious” the theory that, because the gov- ernment hag seized an industry, the workers are public employees. In the case of the coal mines, for example, although the govern- ment is acting as operator, the profits are going to the private owners, Union puts end to provocation | Clothing workers at Lounge Fashion Limited, Vancouver, are deeply aroused over the discriminatory and anti-union practices of one of the three own- ers, S. Julius. Since signing an. agreement recently with the Jour- neymen Tailors’ Local of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers (CIO), there has been several cases of unjustified intimidation against the union shop chairman, in direct violation of the agree ment. Two weeks ago, workers at the plant ceased work in protest over the transfer of the shop chair- man to a different classification of work in the plant, without cor sulting the union or the individ- ual affected. The other two own- ers are trying to dissolve the © partnership with Julius, realizing the seriousness of the latter’s ac tions, It is pointed out that the case is made even more. disagree able because Julius, before assum- ing ownership in the firm, was 2 member of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers. The Journeymen Tailors’ Local also reports the signing of aD agreement} with Harrison Clothes, with provisions for paid vaca- tions and’ statutory holidays, ix addition to substantial wage in- | creases for many of the workers at the plant. Stockholders’ strike plant Workers at Industria] En- gineering Limited here, have taken strike action, following the arbitrary firing of 31 em- ployees, mostly union mem- bers, without any regard to sen- jority, two weeks ago. Nearly 125 workers at the plant refused to return to work last Monday morn- ing, demanding reinstatement of the dismisseq men and the sign- | ing of a union agreement. with the United Steelworkers) (CIO) and the management. Although an estimated 20 pro- duction workers entered the plant on the first day of the strike, Most of these are expected to join. the picketers, due to the ef- fectiveness of the walkout. Tom Baxter, plant chairman, and one of the dismissed men is leading the strike. Baxter, who has been with the firm for two-and-a-half years, told the Pacifie Tribune that “the strike is progressing satisfactorily and the men are confident they wil! win a union agreement and reinstatement of all those fireq by the company.” Industrial Engineers, which pro- duces power saws for the lumber- ing industry, has encourageq its employees to purchase stock in the company, giving ‘the workers the illusion they had a deciding voice in the firm. The discrimin- atory dismissal of the 31 workers. - many of whom hold stock in the firm, quickly dispelled the work- ers’ illusions regarding ‘a voice iD the company’s affairs’. One of ~ the men-fired, purchased stock in the fitm valued at $2000, Full support to the strikers has been pledged by the Inter- national Woodworkers of Am- erica (CIO), here, who have threatened to instruct their membership not to handle pow- er saws produced by Industrial Engineers, unless the company reinstates the dismissed men. Retain Price Control | NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — A resolution demanding restora tion of price controls “ag an e& sential factor in maintaining thé living standards of the Canadia® people,” was unanimously adop- ted by a public meeting held if Tatra Hall, Queensborough, last Sunday. | The meeting, sponsored by New Westminster City Committeee of the Labor-Progressive Party, wa% addressed by Minerva Miller, with Hugh Clark as chairman. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 2 RS