Trainman News

Petrillo Says:
Union Power Is Best When Not Abused

MONTREAL-- "The economic strength of a trade union is best when it is not abused. To abuse power is to destroy a trade union. In all labor negotiation, both sides must compromise."

James C. Petrillo, president of American Federation of Musicians (AFL), had that to say as he accepted nomination at the Musicians' recent annual convention here to head the AFM for his 14th consecutive year.

Petrillo and members of the executive committee were nominated without opposition.

Different Type Needed

U. S. labor laws today, said Petrillo, require a different type of labor leader than in the early years of the trade union movement.

Henry Kaiser, Washington, D. C., legal counsel of the organization, reported on the labor policy of the present administration.

He said that while there was no question of President Eisenhower's fairness and integrity in dealing with the labor movement, spokesmen for industry were continuing to push for a tightening of the labor laws. He said he is of the opinion no new labor legislation would be adopted by the present Congress, and that the silence on the part of the White House is, in all probability, well for labor.

The location committee reported invitations for the 1954 convention have been received from Tampa, Fla., and Santa Barbara, Calif. The committee recommended that the convention be held in Milwaukee in 1954, in Cleveland in 1955 and in Atlantic City in 1956. The committee's recommendation was adopted.