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Show February 7, 1964 SIGNPOST Page 5 ssa r" if" H i ill NLRB By Congressman Robert P. Griffin, Michigan A recent course of conduct on the part of the National Labor Relations Board and its agents raises new doubts about this board and its capacity to function as a quasi-judicial body. Either the present board misapprehends its functions or is determined to arrogate unto itself powers not contemplated by Congress. I am reliably informed that during the last few months the board and its agents have conducted a series of eight meetings which officials of certain AFL-CIO unions, arranged at the behest of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, held on a regional basis in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and culminating in a final meeting in Washington, D.C.; that the agenda was concerned primarily with the procedures, policies, rules and decisions of the board in election cases as well as with proposals and recommendations advanced by the participating union officials; that the final meeting in Washington, D.C., was attended by members of the NLRB as well as by national officers of the unions involved. There was no public announcement that such meetings were to be held. They were not public meetings but private, informal meetings, on an "of f-the-record" basis. It would be fair to assume that all government employees who attended meetings away from their home stations did so at government expense. . Left to right: Sarah Gunnell, Brian Florence and Dr. Lowell Bennion. Dr. Lowell Bennion, assistant Dean of Students at the University of Utah, Feb. 3 opened the Family Life Conference with a lecture on the three types of love possible in mankind. This Conference was held throughout the past week with the general theme "We Just Don't Speak the Same Language," and had the purpose of strengthening the family through improved communication.LITTLE MAN Just recently, the NLRB addressed a letter to certain business organizations, particularly the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, inviting them to participate in conferences at the national level to discuss with them, presumably on a similar basis, a list of topics ranging from subcontracting to free speech. It is my impression that the meetings now scheduled with certain national business organizations are something of an afterthought in a belated effort to impart an aura of fairness and equal treatment. Meetings with a selected few business organizations, conducted on a similar basis, will be subject to the same criticism which may be leveled at the private meetings already held witn seiecteu un... officials. In the very nature of things-basic improprieties aside it won! be impossible for the board, througl such procedures, to accord fair an- V ' fin The final session will be a joint session held tomorrow, February 8, at the WSC Union Building, beginning at 8:30. Dr. Jay Skidmore of Utah State University will lecture on the "Values of Communication" at 9:00, and programs are planned until 11:30 when Dr. Don Carter, Utah State University Head of Child Development and Family Relationships will speak on "Our Challenge." ON CAMPUS impartial treatment to all affected parties. What about the small independent businessmen who are not affiliated with the NAM or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? And who, at such a private meeting, speaks for the public? What about the nearly 50 million workers in America who do not belong to labor organizations? Who speaks for them in such private meetings ? What about those workers who choose to belong to independent or other unions not affiliated with the AFL-CIO ? Within recent weeks, the board's bias in favor of big-league AFL-CIO unions and against smaller, independent unions has become increasingly apparent. For example, on September 12, 1963, the board dealt a severe blow to an independent union while it continued on its way toward complete repeal of section 8(b) (7) of the Landrum-Griffin Act, adopted by Congress to control blackmail picketing. In Alton-Wood River Bldg. Trades Council 144 NLRB No. 59 the board reversed its own trial examiner and held that certain picketing and boycott activities by AFL-CIO unions in Jerseyville, 111., were legal and did not violate section 8(b) (7). The employees affected in that case were already organized and lawfully represented by Local 50 of the Congress of Independent Unions. However, despite the clear restrictions in the Landrum-Griffin law against picketing in such situations, the board held that the picketing there may continue presumably until the employers are forced to recognize the picketing AFL-CIO unions and thereby deprive the employees of their preference for a union which does not happen to be affiliated with the AFL-CIO. In another recent case, a bargaining contract between the Aerojet General Corp., of California, and the International Association of Machinists, AFL-CIO, had expired and an independent union the United Missile and Aerospace Technicians filed evidence of sufficient employee support and petitioned for an election. Shortly thereafter, the International Association of Machinists, AFL-CIO, and the company entered into a new contract. After sitting on the case for eight months hopeful perhaps that the independent union would lose its impetus the board, in precedent shattering decision, overruled its own regional director and refused to hold an election. This means that the employees there are locked into the AFL-CIO union at least until the contract expires again and are thereby deprived of any semblance of free choice as to who shall represent them. See Aerojet-General Corp, 144 NLRB No. 42, issue September 3, 1963. These very recent cases serve to illustrate and emphasize that there are others in the ranks of labor besides the AFL-CIO who have important rights at stake when the NLRB holds private meetings. And it is time that someone should speak up in their behalf. The National Labor Relations Board is an administrative tribunal with judicial functions. The board was created by Congress to hear and decide cases- by applying the laws as written and intended by Congress. In any circumstances, it would be somewhat irregular for a judicial academic y :mmm 4 iTGH - STATE YOUR STAND THE LATE BEAN By Sue Nickerson Weber State Arena Theatre presented a boisterous opening night production of "THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN Tuesday, February 4. Under the direction of Benjamin M. Noid, the cast slammed their way through 3 acts of Sidney Howard'scomedy-drama about a family involved in a mystery concerning some valuable lost paintings by Sidney Howard. Audience attention was well-kept, and enjoyment soared to a high point with each new turn, partly because of the moods and efforts of the performers, but mostly with the elements of mystery contained in the play itself. As Dr. Haggett, Dean E. Wall filled his part almost to overflowing, but showed skill as a versatile comedy and serious actor. Kerry Cramer, always apt, and always adequate to her roles, played Mrs. Haggett, a nagging wife. The part of Abby, the Haggett maid, had good possibilities, and Vilate Dennison accomplished some of these with almost transparent feeling. More type-casting than acting, James (Ev) Miller portrayed a sluggish painter, in love with the youngest Haggett daughter, Susan. Joyce Eldredge played Ada, the oldest daughter, effectively and convincingly. Mayvon Wiser, a freshman actress, was appearing in her first arena groups for advice and guidance as to the administration and interpretation of laws passed by Congress. But if the board feels the need of such assistance, then such meetings should be open to all, public notice should be given in advance and all arguments or recommendations should be made on the record. No arm of government with judicial functions should encourage or participate in much less schedule and direct private "of-the-record" meetings with any special interest group over whose activities it is required to pass judgment. From time to time since the passage of the Landrum-Griffin Act in 1959, 1 have called attention to some of the more disturbing aspects of the performance of the National Labor Relations Board in the administration of those portions of ST. GEORGE WHIZ KIDS The St. George Whiz Kids 12 and 13-year-old youngsters who do a take-off on the Harlem Globetrotters will perform the half-time show for Saturday's game with Southern Colorado. This past week the Whiz Kids performed in Las Vegas, Nevada, and have appeared at the University of Utah, Dixie College, Nevada Southern University, College of Southern Utah, and numerous high schools in southern Utah and Nevada and northern Arizona. A popular show, the Weber State engagement will take the Whiz Kids on their longest tour from Utah's Dixieland. The Whiz Kids will do three routines, all of them to music. production, and showed lack of strength and adaptation to her part. Max R. Lewis gave wooden feeling to his role of Rosen, a painting forger, and Davenport and Talant, played respectively by George Coulam and Richard Jensen, gave creditable performances.The play was well-attended and quite impressive, as well as a good contribution to the Weber State Theatre arena season. 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