Toledo Union Journal

AFL-CIO Maps Plans To End Stagnation

The trade union movement will throw its full resources into an all-out campaign against chronic unemployment and economic stagnation.

That was the major theme that emerged from the mid-winter meeting of the federation's Executive Council. The campaign will be based on:

A major, large-scale conference to be held in Washington this spring to 'dramatize the desperate plight of millions of unemployed workers.'

A sweeping legislative program with top priorities given to establishment of a 35-hour week, 7-hour day; an increase in the minimum wage and extension of its coverage; improved unemployment compensation benefits; and a score of other measures designed to provide economic growth.

A collective bargaining program by AFL-CIO affiliates geared to substantial wage increases to expand badly-needed consumer purchasing power.

Meeting 'One of Best'

AFL-CIO Pres. George Meany, in announcing the Washington conference keyed to the theme 'End Unemployment - Meet America's Human Needs,' summarized the council meeting as 'one of the best we've had in a long time.'

He told reporters that the council had given more thorough study to economic problems facing the nation than ever before because 'we're in trouble, the country's in trouble.'

The federation president had warned during the meeting that the Administration's economic policies may lead to 'permanent unemployment' of 5 to 6 million people. Told that Labor Sec. James P. Mitchell had predicted unemployment of below 3 million by the end of the year, Meany replied that Mitchell was 'talking through his hat.'

Meany told reporters the conference would be as large as possible, depending on the facilities available. Tentative plans are to use the National Guard Armory in the capital.

The council statement setting up the conference declared it was designed to dramatize the plight of the jobless and 'to petition the President and Congress to take immediate, effective steps to get America back to work.'