The Daily Alaska Empire

NLRB Decides Issue in Favor of Communist-Headed Union

WASHINGTON. Aug. 25. - (AP)

The possibility of a quick test of the Taft-Hartley labor law's anti-Communist provisions arose today in a National Labor Relations Board decision.

The board ruled, 2 to 1, that the Geraldine Novelty Company, Inc., of Gloversville, N. Y., must reinstate eight employees who were members of the CIO Fur and Leather Workers, and to cease and desist from discriminating against them.

The decision was handed down Aug. 21 the day before the Taft-Hartley law became fully operative in its new provisions affecting the National Labor Relations Board.

The head of the Fur and Leather Workers is Ben Gold, an avowed Communist.

The Taft-Hartley law bars NLRB aid to unions, unless their officers file affidavits disavowing Communist affiliations.

The crucial question presented in this case now is whether the board will enforce its decision in the event the company refuses to put it into effect. In the absence of an affidavit declaring the union officers are not Communists, the board might take the view that the union has no standing under the Taft-Hartley act and therefore might decline to press for enforcement.

If the board decided that the union did not have standing on Aug. 21 when the decision was handed down, and prior to that when the offenses took place, then the company might appeal.