Show LABOR PROBLEMS I FACING NIXON By Babson's Baboons Reports lIne Inc Inc Wellesley Hills Mas Many labor bigwigs were dead set dead set against Nixon before the elections elec some still look upon him with undisguised suspicion Now that the White House is his most union leaders have adopted adopt adopt- ed a watchful watchful waiting waiting attitude and are ready to give the new Chief Executive the benefit of the doubt until he proves himself him him- self Campain Promises Promise Actually union officials dont expect Nixon to seek seek labor and labor anti labor legislation if only because of their confidence in the strength they hold over Congress They do however want to to see whether or not he will stick to his pre pre election election claims While campaigning Nixon made statements in support of free collective bargaining They were neither pro pro business business nor anti labor anti labor promises but many unionists responded warily The then then candidate candidate said that he did not approve of the governments government's sitting in at every bargaining table That if he were elected there would be hands hands of of a approach approach approach ap ap- toward union negotiations The The federal federal government would step in only if the health or safety of the nation were endangered endangered endangered en en- or if existing legislation legisla tion such tion-such such as the Railway L Labor bor Act Act required Governments Government's Role Neutral If If the government were forced forced forced forc forc- ed to take part in bargaining at any time he guaranteed absolutely absolutely unbiased intervention with no favoritism for either management management management man man- or labor Jabor Nixon appears appears ap ap appears pears sincere in his labor pronouncements pronouncements pronouncements pro pro- and those closest to him expect him to follow fonow through One touchy issue The need for early action on strikes of public employees Few in insiders siders alders doubt that legislative pro proposals proposals will soon be drafted for resolving d disputes affecting state and city workers Laborites are anxious to see what If anything the new Pre President President sl ent will do to checkrein wage wage wage- price inflation Both Nixon and his Labor Secretary appointee George Shultz have expressed skepticism a about bout the effectiveness effective effective- effectiveness ness of guideposts Neither labor nor employers are likely to pay much attention to the retiring i Johnson Administrations Administration's swan call can asking unions to hold the pay raise pay raise ceiling for fot 1969 1989 below 5 i per cent and management to keep profits in line with the 1967 68 1967 68 av average Breather th for New Administration There ar are are s some me factors working work ing in Nixons Nixon's favor r which could give him time to settle into his berth in Washington n for a while before having serious labor por- por forced forged upon upon him For example example ex ex- ample multi year multi year contracts are arenow arenow arenow now in effect for such key lines as steel autos trucking bituminous bituminous bituminous bit bit- coal telephones rubber rub rub- her ber and aerospace During the year year just ended close clos to 5 S million employees covered cov cov- ered by big agreements agreement were engaged iq lq negotiations many manyhi manyin In hi patte But ButIn In InI I 1969 only 27 million big cont workers workers' will be facing expiration expiration ex ex- or wage reopening reopen reopen- ing Most 1968 agreements will run until 1971 almost all at least until 1970 Walking A Tightrope There Ther will however be some situations situations' that could come to a ahead ahead ahead head this year I and reveal the stance of the new Administration tion tiO Perhaps most threatening are the deadlines for railway engineers shop workers and road foad employees Also beginning a at midyear seagoing workers in the maritime industry will have a number of expiring contracts con tracts to argue out Construction Construe tion could wen well breed trouble as contractor employers tr try to hold down labor costs that have soared so spectacularly spectacular spectacular- ly that b building has been curbed curbed curb curb- ed d and pay pay differentials with other union groups have bave been knocked entirely out of whack CIO FL-CIO President George has summoned citizens of all political persuasions to support rt responsible efforts of I Ithe the new Administration to meet the problems problem of our time Should President Nixon be placed in a position where he would feel he had to side against the unions on a fundamental labor issue a flare flare up up against him on the part of the Federation and other union groups would be Instantaneous Instant It will be an en Interesting interestIng interestIng interest- interest Ing tightrope that Nixon walks during 1969 with the eyes of oi all union and pro union pro union leaders upon him |