The Potters Herald

Thursday, February 2, 1950

Labor, Management Form Nat'l Group To Fight Destructive Tariff Slashes

Washington, D. C. (ILNS). - Representatives of labor and management in 17 industries, meeting at the Mayflower Hotel here, launched a nation-wide mobilization against destructive tariff cuts on products competing with some American industries. The meeting also decided to conduct a study of the effects of the ECA import program and reciprocal trade agreements on U. S. industry, with the aim of obtaining facts on which a fair and just foreign trade policy can be based. At the same time, the conference emphasized that it supported the Marshall Plan and ECA program.

To put its decisions into effect, the delegates formed the National Labor-Management Committee on Foreign Trade Policy. Sixteen trade unions were represented. They were brought together by America's Wage Earners' Protective Conference, of which Matthew Woll is president. The conference is composed of AFL unions.

All Sections Represented

Among the industries and labor groups at the meeting were representatives from the fisheries, glassware, glove, aluminum, pottery, wallpaper, match, photoengraving, kaolin, hats and millinery, glass container, scientific apparatus, book manufacturers, cedar shingle, hothouse vegetable, and fish canning industries. Among the labor representatives attending were presidents of national and international unions speaking for well over 1,000 local unions throughout the country.

A large number of representatives of companies and industrial associations in the above industries were also present. Delegates came from all sections of the country including the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.

Following the meeting, O. R. Strackbein, executive secretary of the protective conference, issued a statement in which he said:

"The meeting was sponsored and called by labor and management interests who are adversely affected by the rising tide of imports from foreign countries in Europe and other parts of the world. It was pointed out that such threats would be increased as a result of the contemplated further decrease in import duties.

"A steering committee was to be designated consisting of representatives of management and labor in all participating industries. It was announced that invitations to participate would be extended to all labor and management groups in all of the various industries adversely affected by the mounting competition from foreign importations."

Aid Programs Supported

"It was stressed that the conference supported the basic purposes of the Marshall Plan and the Administration's ECA program as a vital weapon in the war against Communism in the world today.

"However, it was further stressed that factual surveys and searching investigations should be conducted in all affected industries so that the President and the State Department would have the pertinent and relevant data on the basis of which foreign trade policy provisions could be equitably determined.

"It was further stated that substantial alleviation of many current crises in domestic industries could and must be accomplished within the framework of the existing American foreign trade policy designed to destroy the threat of encroaching Communism in Europe and elsewhere."