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Show "END STRIKES OR UNIONS DIE" Recently we called attention to the fact that public opinion is definitely def-initely against strikes in war-con-r.ected industries for any cause and that while the record of labor, as a whole, is good, the permanent interest of the laboring class is being injured by irresponsible and headstrong action on the part of a relatively few workers. It is interesting to note that R. J. - Thomas, International President Presi-dent of the United Automobile Workers, CIO, has issued an appeal to the members of his union to maintan its good name, by obedience obedi-ence to the "no-strike" pledge and by seeing that "isolated handfuls" of men are not permitted to continue con-tinue acts to the detriment of all. Mr. Thomas warns the members of his union that "there have been too mapy wildcat strikes", that public opinion "has become inflamed in-flamed against our unions," and that "word of these strikes is going go-ing to our millions of men in uniform." uni-form." He makes it plain that the union un-ion cannot survive if the nation and its soldiers believe that it has obstructed the war effort. With our armed forces poised for attacks, at-tacks, the union, president warns that the union cannot "tolerate wild-cat strikes in war plants and still survive." He asserts that "any person who sets up picket lines is acting like an anarchist and that "such picket lines should be ignored." This statement, which was somewhat some-what of a surprise, represents an intelligent appraisal of the situation situa-tion facing organized labor. Mr. Thomas warns the members Of his own union: "Either we put our own house in order at once, cease all wild-cat strikes, or we will face an attack such as no union can withstand." Citing the fact that "Govern- ment agencies are too slow, and that management "in many cases are trying to provoke strikes," the labor leader insists "that if management man-agement will not sincerely work toward that end (winning the war) then labor must do so." "Hot-headed brothers," must be restrained so that labor can present pre-sent "a clean labor record" to returning re-turning soldiers, or "there will be no union after the war." Otherwise, Other-wise, Mr. Thomas warns, "restrictive "restric-tive legislation, worse than anything any-thing now on the books, will be enacted before the war ends." |