Show DIne loam fi R in WASHINGTON By Walter Wolter Shead J f Correspondent Labor Invades Agriculture Bureau Burull Union Trust Building LABOR L T ABOR organizations which have inched their way into the field of agriculture over vigorous protest of agricultural organizations are arc arenow arenow now planning enlargements of these labor beachheads already gained according to indications here So alarmed has the Farm Bureau federation become over latest reports of labor en en- encroachment encroachment encroachment into the farm field that they are preparing to go before congress and ask for preventive legislation proba proba- probably probably probably bly similar to the Hobbs Dobbs bill which passed the house in 1942 but which died in the senate This measure brought labor organizations within the terms of the federal racketeering anti act This latest point of conflict is an an- another another other othe outbreak between farmers on the eastern seaboard particularly in the Philadelphia area and the Teamsters Union which is seeking to bring farm workers driving driving driving ing farmers' farmers trucks into the team team- teamsters teamsters teamsters union In some instances farm farm- farmers farmers' farmers farmers' farmers farmers' ers' ers trucks have been stopped and the unions have charged an unload unloading unloading ing fee where the drivers have been non The house agricultural agricultural agricultural tural committee is expected within a afew afew afew few weeks to start hearings on complaints com com- complaints complaints plaints of farmers and revive the hot cargo investigation of 1942 which exposed union practices in inthe inthe inthe the food industry It is reported that some of the to market truckers have been required to pay union fees as high as 56 to unload perishable foods The farm bureau contends that this practice is an interference with the movement of food to market will wUl be ruinous to crops and trade and will diminish supplies to con con- consumers consumers consumers sumers in a period in which food supplies are critically needed Farm Leaders Apprehensive Farm leaders are apprehensive of what may happen when and if John L. L Lewis head of the miners union makes his peace and is received back into the American Federation of Labor When that happens and predictions are that it will happen soon the labor organizations are ex ex- expected expected d to expend real money to finance union expansion Milk drivers in the dairy indus industry try workers in canneries and proc proc- processors processors processors in fruit and other perish perish- perishables perishables perishables ables fruit pickers hop workers and some others already unionized constitute the beachheads or spring spring- springboards springboards springboards boards from which further attempts to 10 organize agricultural workers and farmers may proceed It will willbe willbe willbe be recalled that the indefatigable Mr Lewis boasted that he would organize the agricultural workers of the nation into unions and farm leaders here do not believe that his boast was all bluff The contention is made here that if the labor unions can force farm workers who drive to market trucks to join the teamsters union why cannot carmot they force drivers of tractors or combines or any other farm machinery to join a ma ma- machinists machinists machinists union or some other labor union Teamsters Very Active The teamsters union has been particularly active since the 1942 de de- decision decision de- de decision of the Supreme court which set aside convictions of mem mem- members members members bers of a New York local who had forced state out-of-state trucks to hire a union member as a guest driver at 8 18 8 to 9 per truck As a result of this decision Representative Mike Dem Okla intro intro- introduced introduced introduced a bill to amend the Clayton trust anti law to repeal the exemptions e exemptions mp- mp labor unions enjoy under the law He didn't get very far with the bill But he has now reintroduced the bill aimed primarily at collusive practices and it is before the house judiciary committee Representative tive Hobbs Dem Ala has also reintroduced his measure which Has received approval of the house judiciary committee and the meas meas- measure measure measure ure is now pending before the house Not only have the unions at at- attempted attempted attempted tempted to force farmers to join them but they have threatened th to boycott boyc tt processors and distributors who handle the farmers' farmers products one farm leader said We intend he continued to use every resource we have to pro pro- protect protect protect the farmers against this inva inva- invasion invasion invasion sion of our rights and to obtain legis legis- legislation legislation legislation lation which will outlaw such union practices Every fiber of the traditional Independence of farmers rebels at the thought of being forced into unions or of being forced to pay union fees for the purpose pur pur- purpose purpose pose of trucking their produce to market according to farm leaders here and they will fight every attempt of the unions to organize the farm workers They do not believe unionism will work on the farms and that the unions will defeat the very purpose of the farm organizations organizations themselves which have been built up t. t |