Show Leader Says Civil Service Issue Behind City Union Salt Lake City water department department department depart- depart ment who are seeking recognition from city commissioners commission commission- ers on their organization with the Congress of Industrial Organizations Organizations Organizations asked the union for aid because because because be be- cause they have been unable to receive ivil service status Richard Richard Richard Rich Rich- ard N. N Moore president of the local union of State County and Municipal Workers of America told commissioners Thursday We are not dissatisfied with our jobs he declared but we feel that our jobs should not become become become be be- come a political issue every elec elec- tion Clarence L. L Palmer president Utah State Industrial Union council council council coun coun- cil attacking City Attorney E E. R Ray y C Christensen's opinion that the city cannot legally sign an agreement agreement agreement agree agree- ment with the labor union declared that the signing of a contract in itself is not illegal but conceded that each clause of such a contract should be examined for tor possible conflict with statutes I feel that city employ s have as much right as any other American American American Amer Amer- ican worker to organize and receive receive receive re re- re- re the benefits of collective bargaining bargaining bar bar- gaining said Mr Palmer He cited cases of other agreements agreements agreements agree agree- ments signed by government em em- including that of the state road commission with in Carbon county in 1940 Mr Christensen said it would require further study before he could express an opinion on the legality le- le of off check-off or deduction by bythe bythe the he city to cover union initiation fees ees and dues Ques from checks Frank Bonacci regional C CIO I 0 director asked the city to consider I the proposed contract further adding adding adding add add- ing that he does not want to hurry hurry hurry hur hur- ry commissioners in their decision He mentioned that the C CIO I 0 had sig signed ed up a majority of workers in the Salt Lake City streets and engineering departments Both he and Mr Palmer allayed fears of the Utah Federation of Labor that members of the A F L craft unions may be forced to resign resign resign re re- re- re sign from their unions or leave city employ We Ve are not seeking a closed shop Mr Bonacci declared The city has only express powers powers powers pow pow- ers authorized by state laws declared declared declared de de- Mr Christensen adding that there is no statute to cover signature of contracts between government departments and em em- Streets Commissioner John B B. Matheson said that some measure should be taken to eliminate the possibility of an incoming commissioner commissioner commissioner com com- missioner cleaning out a department department department depart depart- ment to fill positions with political political cal friends although such actions have not been the rule in Salt Lake City |