DISASTER AVERTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 191, 27 May 1946, Page 3

DISASTER AVERTED

STRIKE SETTLED SEQUEI* TO TRUMAN’S ULTIMATUM (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.), WASHINGTON, May 25. The railway strike was settled three minutes before the time President Truman set for the troops to take over operations. The Railways’ Brotherhood accepted the Presidential offer - of 18£ cents an hour wage increase coupled "with a year’s postponement of consideration of changes in working conditions. The raihvays are expected to be operating normally within a few hours. President Truman, addressing a joint session of Congress, demanded drastic temporary legislation to curb strikes in enterprises seized by the Government, including the drafting of strikers into the armed- forces and criminal penalties for strike leaders. His announcement that the strike was settled Avas greeted with cheers, and his suggestion for strike legislation Avas immediately acted upon. President Truman declared he would have sought' legislation designed to stop such Strikes earlier; but Avas determined to, make every human effort to avert a strike Avithout legislative action. HoAvever, the time for negotiations had noAv passed. The time for action had arrived. Misguided Acts The legislation Avas necessary for the preservation of the Government and to save the great masses of Avorking men and women, from the dangerous effects of the ill-advised- and misguided acts of some of their leaders. ' Temporary legislation Avas needed tQi curb the handful of men who had. it in their poAver to cripple ' the nation’s economy. Permanent legislation was required which would lead to the formulation of a long-range labour policy designed to prevent the recurrence of a labour crisis and generally to reduce work stoppages- in all industries.

President Truman explained that the temporary legislation which the Administration sought should be effective for six months and apply only to industries seized by the, Government. The legislation should 7 prohibit union leaders from inciting strike action, deprive striking workers of their seniority rights and make them liable to be drafted into the armed forces and also make both employers and strike leaders subject to criminal penalties for violation of the provisions of the legislation. Wages in industries taken over by the Government should be fixed by negotiation or by Presi-dentially-appointed arbitrators and. made retrospective.

Permanent legislation should be part of a comprehensive labour policy which would tend to eliminate acts injurious to employers, Avorkers and the population as a whole. “The" general right of Avorkers to strike against private employers should be preserved.

Long-term Policy ®

President Truman recommended tha creation of a joint Congressional Committee to study the whole subject of labour relations and Avithin six months to make recommendations on which permanent legislation could be based.

Within an hour of the settlement, freight and passenger. trains which had been halted for 48 hours began moving and it is expected, that by Sunday all services Avill he back to normal.

The almost complete cessation of railway transport had already brought unparalleled confusion throughout America and . put pyramiding "'effects i on the nation’s industrial, agricultural, commercial and social life, which, were becoming critically intensified with, each hour the strike was prolonged. The president of the striking engineers (Mr A. F. Whitney), gloomily;: commented; “We have lost our case. We took this course in the interests of the public, realising that the strike L could not be continued indefinitely because of the need for food and many y other provisions essential to our economy.” He said the Brotherhood .1 regarded President Truman’s broadcast condemnation as unfair to the strikers. Ninety-eight per cent of hui*dreds of telegrams the Brotherhood, had received had expressed confidence in the strikers’ leadership. y ;