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Show UTAH LABOR NEWS, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, JANUARY SECRETARY OF LABOR REPORTS (Continued from page 2) good feeling both of employers and workers. Eighty-fivper cent of all the agreements negotiated by this De- artment carry a clause to provide for the adjustment of any dispute during life of contract by some agreed method without stoppage of work. Forty-fiv- e per cent of them provide for arbitration through the Department of Labor. The Conciliation Service of the Department is called upon by employers as well as workers, and the procedure is so informal as to make it helpful in a wide variety of problems. The most difficult and troublesome disputes in the past year have been those that involved both A. F. L. and C. I. 0. unions in introducing their standing differences into a dispute. In cases of this sort the employer is placed in a most unjustifiable position, and the good-wi- ll of the public toward labor is impaired. Desire to Cooperate If the two groups canot presently make a general peace between them they will at least have to make a truce with regard to precipitating ' and aggravating disputes among themselves when sound relations to an employer is imperiled. There is overwhelming evidence that the vast majority of union members of both factions want peace and desire to cooperate .with each other. In fact, it is a striking observation that in many areas, cities, States, and so forth; the two groups do act as though there were no breach, cooperating m a multitude of ways for the improvement of labor conditions. When this behavior in the field is so. well established, peace between the officers and at the top cannot be far behind. A careful canvass of the situation leads me to the conclusion that there are no' very difficult intellectual problems and no Insurmountable organization problems in the labor peace situation. Only the will to peace needs to be deeply and personally felt by leaders to realize reunion and the strength and f progress that go with it. Phillips Brooks once gave some e. ; advice to a couple newly-marrie- d as follows: Practice unity in in small large things, liberty things, charity in all things. Perhaps this maxim is needed in the field of labor as well as in most American life today. , Show Improvement The last five years have shown great improvement in the understanding of the wisdom of definite and clearly stated agreements between organized workers and their employees. This increase in understanding has included many of our most successful American employers. The early period of recovery from the depression was marked, quite naturally, by a larger number of industrial disputes over hours, wages, and the rights of organization than had marked the years of depression or even the years of peak prosperity. This increase, however, was in no way proportionate to the increase in the number of workers who were employed in industry for wages, nor was the seriousness or length of these strikes comparable to those of earlier years. The number of strikes in the United States in the calendar year 1937 was 4700. In the year 1903, when we first began to keep figures on these matters, there were 3600 strikes, about a thousand fewer. The number of persons em- -' ployed in 1937 for wages, however, was 38 million, exclusive of agriculture, while in 1903 the number so employed was 19,900,000. In other words there was an increase of 90 per cent of the gainfully employed in industry since 1903 and an increase in strikes of only 30 per cent. The number of strikes has not kept pace with the increase in the industrial population, which reflects better labor relationships and better working conditions and greater intelligence applied to this factor of our common life. Records have been kept, since 1907, of the man-day- s lost in strikes, that is, the number of men on strike multiplied by the number of days they were out of work. These records show tha$ in 1927 there were 707 strikes but- - the man-day- s lost were only 8 per cent less than the man-dalost in 1937, when the number of strikes was 4700. In other words, the strikes of 1937, though numerous, were short and involved relatively few people. Forty per cent of the strikes in 1937 lasted less than a week and more than half the strikes of that year involved less than 100 workers. I cite these as indicating that this type of social strain and tension is today more responsive to reason, justice, and fair play. Balanced Progress In order to achieve a goal of balanced progress, we need to continue in our American system a set of economic and social principles which are in accord with our traditional and national purposes and adjusted to changing conditions. Common social purpose combined and corrected by varied types of can and will give us a practical and desirable democratic cooperation. Included in these objectives as seen from the vantage point of the Department created Jto promote the welfare of the wage earners of the United ys self-intere- st States are: 1. High wages ' a national , on basis. Continuity of income. Stability of employment. 4. Reasonable profits. 5.- ' Opportunity for investment of savings in expanding industries and in new industries; and 6. The conservation and adequate utilization of natural resources, including human life and happiness. Organized Labor Organized labor, which has had such a remarkable growth in membership and public significance in recent years, has every incentive to assist in bringing about a realization of this program. Labor now has a certain security against unfair interference and coercion by employers and has in turn a desire to develop responsibility for informed participation with employers and the country generally to achieve and stabilize an expanding national prosperity. Labor unions can build up 2. 3. self-disciplin- self-educat- organiza- ed tions for this purpose. It is part of a labor unions job to develop a broad understanding on the part of all workers of the problems and pattern of the industry. The capacity of productive American wage earners is high and they are proud of their skill and stamina. Status in our society derives from this skill for the wellbeing of the Nation. This status now largely recognized will inevitably develop statesmanship in rethe field of employer-employe- e to the This is a challenge lations. labor movement and to employer groups and it will be met realistically. We cannot arrive at a perfect way of life over night, but the signs are clear in American life that intelligent, patriotic, and farsighted employers and informed, forward-lookin- g labor patriotic, are already building the structure of an American way of labor relations of which we will be proud, because it will be effective, productive, and democratic. . f I MEN ' Page 3 Labor, Welfare and Tax Measure To Head Proposals in 44 State Legislatures Meeting in 1939 CHICAGO (ILNS) Changes in social security and welfare laws including bills to liberalize old age pensions and unemployment compensation will lead the list of proposed legislation to come before the legislatures of 44 states scheduled for regular sessions in 1939, a survey by the Council of State Governments shows. The states will also consider measures to finance these new welfare proposals as well as methods of supporting direct relief needs. The legislatures of 43 states will convene during the first half of January, and the lawmakers of Florida are scheduled to meet in April. Among the other proposals which many of the states will consider are those on labor, civil service, marriage law revision, and increased state support for schools. Liberalized old age pensions will be proposed in California, Minnesota, Nevada. Vermont, Washington, Maine and Indiana, and possibly several other states, the survey showed. Massachusetts will consider reducing eligibility for pensions from 65 to CO years, - while Colorado and North Dakota, where $45 and $40 a month pensions have been voted respectively, will ponder methods of financing these Wide Variety of Proposals Bills to extend the coverage of unemployment compensation laws, the survey indicates, will be proposed in at least the states of New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Vermont. The legislatures of Connecticut, Colorado and Vermont will consider improvement of welfare facilities. The survey shows that the legislators are likely to consider a wide variety of tax proposals. Sales tax bills are indicated for Texas and Massachusetts and possibly Nevada' and Oregon. Missouri legislators will consider an increase in the state sales tax from two to three per cent. Among the other tax proposals are state income taxes in Maine and Connecticut; a business and occupation tax in Colorado; a one-mi- ll corporation tax in New Jersey. The Colorado legislature will consider proposals to put income tax revenues into the general fund and to revise income tax rates. Wage-Hou- r Bills Planned Bills to reduce gasoline tax levies are indicated for, Oklahoma. Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Most of the labor legislation will consist of wage-hoproposals to the Federal wage and complement hour law, according to the survey. Wage and hour bills are scheduled for consideration in Connecticut, California, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah and Vermont. Wisconsin will probably consider revision of its collective bargaining law and Vermont the establishment of a state labor department. State civil service laws will be , tive proposals are those to repeal the port of entry laws in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Nevada will consider a drivers license law. The Wyoming and New Mexico legislatures may work on proposals for unicameral legislatures. Low-rehousing legislation of various kinds is scheduled for consideration in Connecticut, Missouri, Michigan, New York, Utah and a number of other states. proposed in Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Iowa, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, the survey shows. Connecticut and Michigan, which adopted the merit system two years ago, will study revisions. Bills to strengthen existing civil service laws are indicated for Massachusetts and Colorado. School Bills in 10 States Bills requiring physical examinations are scheluled for consideration in seven states Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and Vermont. Ten states now have such laws. Proposals for state support of public schools will come before the legislatures of Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington. In most states where state support of schools will be considered, the object will be to equalize educational opportunities in all localities. Illinois legislators will consider measures for consolidation of some of its smaller school districts. State Reorganization Up State reorganization will come before the Coloralo legislature, following a survey of its state government. A state busines manager may be proposed for Minnesota. Delaware legislators will consider for the second time the establishment of a state supreme court. The Iowa legislature will consider a bill to establish a department of public safety, and Vermont a state police system. Among'the miscellaneous legisla pre-marit- grants. nt Welcome, Labor. Wishing You Prosperity in 1939 New James Lunch J. J. PIEROS, Prop. E. 9th So. 25 Was. 10095 Wish You Prosperity in 1939 Cleve Thompson Manager Sinclair Service Station 701 So. Main Was. 9876 Labor, May a Prosperous Year Be Yours al MEL HILL Sinclair Service Station 902 So. State Hy. 8589 A Wishing Our Old and New Friends of Labor Prosperity in 1939 Broadway Furniture Repair Co. Complete Furniture Refinish- ing, Repairing Re-Canin- g, NEW LOCATION 141 E. 2nd So. 7 We Wish You Prosperity in 1939 Radio Service and Refrigeration Shop T 60 E. 4th So. Was. 1534 2145 Highland Dr. Hy. 1534 357 W. Center St. Provo, U. 7 , Its LABOR SURE! Our Wish to You For a Happy, Prosperous New Year, 1939 WHITMORE OXYGEN CO. 430 East South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah i American Smelting & Ming Co, Salt Lake City, Utah Purchasers of Gold, Silver, Lead and Copper Ore, and Smelter Products ORE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT Seventh Floor, McComick Bldg. CONSIGN ALL ORE SHIPMENTS TO: American Smelting & Refining Company , SHIP LEAD ORES TO: t Murray Plant, Murray, Utah SHIP COPPER AND SILICEOUS ORES TO: Wishing All Our Friends and Customers a Prosperous , New Year Garfield Plant, Garfield, Utah INTERNATIONAL ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO Business Machine Corp. E. L. Bell, Mgr. Tabulating Machine Div. W. W. Nicholson, Agent Division. 16 So. W. Temple. Was. 3295 American Smelting & Refining Co. Time-Recordi- ng v Was. 2404 Complete Radio Service for Home and Automobile ur THE DlRMAGEo 6, 1939 700 McCORNICK BUILDING SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH |