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Show UTAH LABOR NEWS. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, JULY 9. 1937. AGRICULTURAL WORKERS UNIONS MEET IN DENVER THIS WEEK (Continued from Fage tural workers the same rights1) now granted by law to the industrial workers. Mr. Henderson stated that this convention represents the first important attempt ever made in the United States to establish a nationwide organization for the agricultural and cannery workers similar to the industrial unions and trade unions long familiar to city workers. The call to the convention states that the convention will devote itself to four main problems: (1) The establishment of an international union of all agricultural cannery and fruit and vegetable packinghouse unions and related unions. With over 100 unions having an estimated membership of 75,000 to 100,000 in 23 states, we need and can support such an international organization. Over $3500 a month is being paid to the national office of the A. F. of L. by our local unions. This money should go to our own national organization to help us finance organizers and to improve our conditions. (2) The affiliation of our national organization with the C. I. O. or the A. F. of L. The successful policies of the Committee for Industrial Organization in aggressively organizing the millions of unorganized in steel, auto, rubber, textile, radio, etc., on 'the basis of industrial unionism makes it necessary for us to decide this ques- tion. In agriculture, we can not or- : I - above-mention- LABOR ON ITS FORWARD MARCH (Continued from page 2) Willougby Dobbs has been started to raise money for Maine specifically and for a strike fund in general. Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union has been active in Portland, Lewiston, and Boston, arranging for defense of the strikers. A meeting of labor and liberals was held in Boston to carry on the protest, and 5000 letters, including reports by the American Civil Liberties and the Chicago and Boston Chapters of the National Lawyers Guild on the Maine atrocities and denials of civil rights, have been sent to all parts of the Northeast. Prisoners Cases Pending A writ of habeas corpus, asking release of the seven organizers, including Powers llapgood and Attorney Sidney Grant, from the Androscoggin county jail, where they are now imprisoned for violation of Judge Harry Mansers injunction, is about to be presented to U. S. District Court in Portland. Nine appeals from a state district court sentence of five months, $100 fine and costs for conspiracy are also pending. Ernest Henry, an organizer, one of the seven imprisoned six months for contempt, is seriously ill In the hospital to which he was taken from jail. of MARITIME UNIONS ON WEST COAST VOTING ON JOINING C. I. O. ed ar mass-producti- on SAN FRANCISCO, (UNS)-- In C. ganize along craft lines with separate unions for each type of work. We must build a union including all workers in agricultural, cannery and related fields. The policy of the C. I. O. of successfully organunions and izing in industry-wid- e their policy of aggressively assisting the organization of the unorganized with advice, funds, and organizers makes it necessary for us to seriously consider affiliation with the C. I. O. (3) The working out of national organizing campaigns and policies for the coming year. Today, the I the A. F. of L. spoke only for a limited section of American labor gave it correspondingly limited political power. A Better Butler Than Backer opportunities for developing a nationwide organization in the agriGovernment employes do not decultural, cannery and packinghouse pend on the usual union methods fields are unlimited. With adequate to improve their conditions. The plans, finances and organizers we remedies they seek are chiefly legcan follow steel, auto, rubber and islative, and political power is esthe other industrial workers in this sential to achieve them. great movement spreading everyBut politically the A. F. of L. where, to secure for American has long occupied the status of a workers a decent living and their butler a minor, if worthy, hanger-o- n democratic rights. of the ruling powers. It has (4) The adoption of a Federal been treated as a body comparalegislative program to secure for tively low in the social roster to the agricultural workers the same be consulted, it is true, but only rights and privileges now guaran- after a whole series of other teed by law to the industrial work- groups, such as Chambers of Comers (old age pensions, unemploy- merce, employers' associations, frament insurance, hours and wages ternal societies, have received prior legislation, right to collective bar- or equal consideration. This status has been accepted by gaining, etc.) craft leaders with butler-lik- e resignot complacency. They if nation, TIIE C. I. O. AND have been content with what perquisites and favors come with such GOVERNMENT a position. EMPLOYES But the A. F. of L. leaders have not inspired in government employes any confidence that when By LEN DE CAUX The task of organizing the 800,-00- 0 they join the union they will have federal government employes, back of them the mighty political which the working millions now, begun with the launching of power should exercise in any democracy the United Federal Workers of of the name. worthy America, is a logical next step for A Horror of Progress Orthe Committee for Industrial Other reasons for A. F. of L. ganization. to organize government emfailure Haying established itself firmly in the basic industries, the C. I. O. ployes spring largely frdm the two causes. is proceeding to expand into all claims white-colland Craft to jurisdictions, other industries, organize as well as manual workers, which so effectively checked organinand to assume the stature, politi- ization of the O. dustries have in pre-I. days cally as well as industrially, of a movement representing the whole also militated to hinder unionization of government workers. American working population. Stodgy and unimaginative conof The Americal Federation a horror of the youth, servatism Labor failed to organize more than and ambition that entered vigor, a small proportion of government the service with the government employes, for a number of reasons New Deal been another has which dont apply to the C. I. O. factor. In the first place, being based of And finally, the dry-rchiefly upon craft unions, with a and that inefficiency restricted appeal to certain skilled ate A. of F. of the the vitals away trades, the federation was luke- L. also undermined its orwarm, if not sceptical, about and attempts to organize government ganizing the white-collarmiscellaneous callings represented employes. C. I. O. Has What It Takes in government service. The C. I. O., on the other hand, In the second place, the fact that is a natural for organizing the hundreds of thousands who keep the wheels of government turning. It approaches the task of organd as well as izing the all other groups of wage and salary-earners without any qualms, qualifications, or apologies whatsoever. It considers government workers fully as much entitled to union protection as anyone else and fully as capable of appreciating and profiting from union organization. The industrial form of organization espoused by the C. I. O. is particularly well adapted to government employment. It will not permit the weakening of the I whole by crafts being carved off here and there, as has happened in the A. F. of L. Political Power for Labor Then the C. I. O. is just as about its intention to achieve the maximum of political power for Americas working population. Try as you might, you could not fit a John L. Lewis into the butler's uniform that so well befits a Wil: liam Green. The C. I. 0. already speaks for American labor in the councils of the nation. It voices the aspirations of millions more than formally belonging to it as yet and it is rapidly enrolling these millions in its ranks. As spokesman for American labor, the C. I. 0. asks not for the left-ovefrom the rich mans for the full measure of but table, consideration to which labor's numbers, basic importance, and organized powers entitle it. Government employes who join the United Federal Workers of America can expect to have their legitimate aspirations backed by the unified strength of millions of union voters, mobilized by a movement formed to advance labors interests to the utmost, politically as well as industrially. As to ambition, efficiency, and why elaborate The progressivism, j A. F. of L. union has hobbled along with but two organizers for crutches or one and a half, according to some' versions. The BLACK, Chairman C. I. O. union starts off with a dozen, and with more to be added as the drive gets under way, until an Secretary effective force is built up, capable of really organizing and rendering efficient service to all government employes. 3 O. Delegates of the Pacific Coast International Longshormens ' Association held a separate caucus at the convention and voted unanimously in favor of a referendum for their union before the convention as a whoe passed the recommendation in favor of it. Decision of the I. L. A. delegates (Continued on page 4) ('IIIUHnMMtHIHMIlMIHIIIHIIHMIMilHINIHHIHMHHIIIUHIHINMHMHIMIIIMtIMttIHIMHIHHIMUIIMnMmMHMIlMimMMHMiHMHIMtIMIHtIUHII', : : 1 I 1 Congratulations ot half-heart- line with the resolution passed unanimously at the Portland convention of the Maritime Federation of the Pacific in favor of a referendum on the question of affiliation with the Committee for Industrial Organization, West Coast longshoremen have been turning in their votes. About 20,000 ballots were distributed. The Sailors' Union of the Pacific has already completed its referendum, and although the official count has not yet been announced, it is said that the vote was more than 10 to 1 in favor of affiliation. The referendum of the S. U. I, was held before the federation convention. The Marine Firemen also are voting, and the Marine Cooks and Stewards are expected to start the referendum for their members soon. The Masters, Mates and Pilots Union will follow suit if the membership votes to follow the recommendation of the convention. I. L. A. Voted at Convention The executive board 6f the Inland Seamen went on record at the convention in favor of a referendum and balloting will begin soon. The American Radio Telegraphists Association, one of the largest groups in the Maritime Federation, is already affiliated with the C. I. ed ed , white-collare- Congratulations and Best. Wishes to the UTAH LAM t : i i The Democratic State Committee of Utah extends its congratulations and most sincere wishes for continued success to The Utah Labor News on its anniversary. May it continue in the future as it has in the past to expound the cause of Labor and pro- all-inclus- ns gressive Democracy. I on j ! Its Anniversary May it continue to wave the banner of progressive Democracy for many, many years j 1 1 1 1 I I N ! j rs s Salt Lake County Democratic Committee PARNELL L. A. JOHNSON, imiiimui riiiiMlilulllllMIIIIIMiMltlUtlillHIIMUIIIIIItiatUlil : x j j We know that we can depend upon the pro- ducers of Utah Labor, Agriculture, and Business to stand by the most humane and Democratic lead- ership in our government in our nations history. We are marching forward with President Roosevelt. The Democratic party accomplishments truly mean what the party platform emphasizes, "Protection of the family and the home." Sincerely yours, j I I ! 1 Without swerving from the straight path of the New Deal program The Utah Labor News has continuously, week in and week out, supported the icies of the peerless leadership and courageous statesmanship of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the progressive Democratic cause in the State 1 ! j DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE. By Calvin W. Rawlings, Chairman. Mrs. Frank W. Penrose, Associate Chairwoman. : j j 1 1 j j Lyle B. Nicholes, Secretary. ' Heber J. Meeks, Executive Secretary. fiW,iim)HHiiiHMtininnniiiHiiiMnMiniminmiHMininnniiiiiniininiiiinHiiinniiiimniiinmuniiinnniiinnnuiiw.twiiiiintiiiMniil inllMin'IIMliiiMMtllllilltMtlilllltllMtlHIIUnmiMIIUHIIIIIIliKKIItlltMIIMtlimtltUIIIHKdlllllMtHinnUltMIIIIIIUlllUiUilMIMIKtUUtltmmtlllltlUU ; |