Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1937. AMERICAN STRIKES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1937. AMERICAN STRIKES.

Rioting, loss of life, and tlie necessity for the institution of martial law have been grave features of American industrial relations in the past year, more particularly in recent months, and there are signs that the country is passing through one of the most severe crises its major industries have ever known. A Federal Labour Department report shows that 350,000 workers were involved in 750 strikes during April alone ; for the whole of 1936 there were 2125 strikes involving 790,000 workers. Actually at one stage there were more people idle through labour disputes than the population of New Zealand. There are many conflicting reports as to causes for such continued strife, but on the broad issues it is possible to trace a marked change since, last year, the Committee of Industrial Organisation was established. Prior to that date the trades union movement had been under the control of the American Federation of Labour, whose president (Mr William Green) played an important and dignified part in industrial conditions and relations between employer and employee. The Federation had been strongly opposed to industrial unionism. The C. 1.0., formed by the United Mine Workers’ leader (Mr John L. Lewis) stands solidly for the nation-wide organisation of all workers, and particularly those in the great industrial plants, and for the replacement of the company union system by unqualified recognition of the rights of the workers to bargain collectively with the employers. Under the legislation recently approved by the Supreme Court, the employer is compelled to bargain with the trade, unions, and especially is he required to admit the right of a majority of his workers to bargain in the name ot' all of them. This latter phase, cabled messages show, is not opposed by the employers, but they do insist on it being shown that a definite majority stands behind those who frame demands upon them. The C. 1.0., it has been contended, is led by Communists who are not so much concerned about bargaining over workers’ conditions as they are about gaining absolute control of the plants. There have been many disputes, some of which have even spread over the border into Canada, and they have ranged from hotel workers to employees in the country’s greatest steel and automobile plants. It is obvious that the C.I.U. is strongly entrenched, and President Roosevelt has deemed it advisable to set up a board of mediators to attempt to bridge the differences between the employers and their operatives. Intimidatory tactics in Hie most recent disputes have reached a

point bordering on terrorism, and whereas in the earlier strikes thousands of workers were prepared to carry on—thus raising doubts as to the genuineness of the C.1.0.’s claims to power—the picketing system has become so strong now that comparatively few have dared to attempt to get to work. Blood has been shed in some cities and towns, and martial law has been invoked. Conditions have become chaotic. That it should be necessary to enlist the aid of the country’s military forces to protect life and public property—the lives and property of many persons not concerned in the disputes—indicates how grave the situation has become, and it is spreading. All who deplore such heated friction are hopeful that ere long the President’s mediators will find a way out and place industrial relations on a much improved basis, for it can be seen that not only are workers ranged against the employers and the forces of law and order, but are divided against themselves.