INTO THE FOLD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17158, 7 October 1926, Page 7

INTO THE FOLD

AMERICAN LABOR'S AIM TO CATCH MOTOR WORKERS MANUFACTURERS' OPPOSITION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.' NEW YORK, October 5. The American Federation -of Labor in conference at Detroit, announced an ambitious programme for unionising the automobile industry in America, which hitherto lias been virtually completely an open shop. Automobile manufacturer* announce they.are bitterly opposed to any interference in their relationship with workers, which they claim has been particularly beneficial. Tlte Federation of Rabor, however. being jealous of having members of such an important and extensive industry outside its ranks, has declared it wilj take all possible steps to induce them to join the fold, asserting that this step is essential for the maintenance of the strength of organised labor as a whole. It is; intimated that the reason that the Federation's convention is held at Detroit, which is the centre of the automobile trade, is to impress the workers therein. A representative of the Employers' Association stated: "Our workers are bettor paid, enjoy better home conditions, and generally are more contented than workers anywhere else. Organised labor contributed nothing to our prosperity. We assert our standards were set Here, and were not dictated by the American Federation of Labor."