2 THE SEARCHLIGHT A. F. of L. Abandons-(Continued from preceding page) tioned the Utah Labor Relations Board certification as the bargaining agency for for their craft at Geneva. 'They won. In announcing the decision, the chairman of the Board, Eldred M. Royle, pointed out that Utah law gave the employees the the right to choose their own bargaining representative—that otherwise collective bargaining was a ‘‘grandiose farce’’. The business agents, led by one, A. H. Petersen of Los Angeles—better known as ‘‘Pedro Pete’’—raised a great hue and cry. The decision upset their apple cart. Poor Pedro was wild with rage. He had hoped to induce Doug Moffat to enter into a collusive agreement at Magna and Arthur, tying those plants up with the A. F. of L. The welders’ decision nipped that scheme in the bud and made certain that in due time Copper workers would name their own bargaining agency. No longer could the A. F. of L. enter into collusive agreements with Utah employers that would force employees into the craft system regardless of their wishes, and without even an opportunity to vote on a question of affiliation. The business agent combine was fighting mad. It swore vengeance. It set out to oust Royle. The blast of Pedro Pete was the opening gun in the fight. Pedro Pete with a desire charged Commissioner Royle ‘‘to take a smack at the A. F. of agency, after an election, then Geneva Steel will bargain with the ageney chosen by its employees in true democratic fashion. P. P. knew all that, and yet chose to come into this State and publicly malign one of its ablest and most forthright officials. Why? Because Commissioner Royle would not stoop to connive with the A. F. of L. to smother the legitimate demand of construction welders at Geneva that they be permitted to exercise the rights of free American workers. The A. F. of L. devised the off-color technique of back-door or collusive agreements with employers as the only means of meeting CIO competition in the organization of new industries and construction projects. For instance, in late 1940 the A. F.. (Hod Carriers International) entered pre-construction agreement with the Construction Company giving the A. F. of L. into a Utah of L. a closed shop agreement on the Duchesne tunnel. But when actual construction of the tunnel began the CIO workers refused to work under A. F. of L. bargaining. They demanded and were granted an election. Out of a possible 71 votes the ClO won 61. One man voted ‘‘nounion’’, and nine failed to vote at all. Of the nine, three men were known to be CIO adherents. At no time did the A. F.. of L. have any fair or honest right to speak for Duchesne tunnel workers. L.’’? and open the gate at Geneva so ‘‘it would At Geneva the A. F. of L. entered into a be ready for the CIO’’ when production begins. pre-construction closed shop agreement with But informed people know that Pedro Pete eontractors covering construction work. Bewasn’t telling the truth when he made those eause of the acute war situation the ClO Pedro Pete false charges against Mr. Royle. waived its right to share in the construction knew that regardless of the Board’s decision in work. the welders’ case, the A. F. of L. could not Now, with construction nearing completion sneak into steel via a back-door agreement the A. F. of L. is attempting to have tts Geneva with the Geneva Steel Corporation. construction workers carry over into production P. P. knew that Geneva Steel—and all other —a normal CIO industry. The entire steel indussubsidiaries of United States Steel—will not The A. F. of L. is a rank outsider. try is CIO. enter into a collective bargaining agreement However, it is trying to gain a toehold in the inwith any organization—either CIO or A. F. of dustry by sliding its construction craftsmen into L.—until its employees have chosen their barproduction work. vaining agency by secret ballot under the ausAs an inducement the unscrupulous A. F. of L. pices of the National Labor Relations Board. And when that Board certifies the bargaining (Continued on following page)