CALIFORNIA STATE Lio Ofio A.F L 810 DAVID HEWES BUILDING SAN

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CALIFORNIA STATE lIO OFiO A.F L 810 DAVID HEWES BUILDING SAN. FRANCISCO 995 MARKET STREET CALIFORNIA SUtter 1-2838

September 30, 195S

TAISENOWEtILLNB ISPS T}YEAT O)F NIXON; wP I"P OITCAI PAN=

(CFlNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--The phad w of Vice President Riohard Nixon fell across the Wt4te House this week in wake of the hlSart ~ attak Which cut down Preul4ent Sisenhower in Denver. [ Mflitantly opposed to laborts economic and social objectives, presented the gravest national threat to American union se- ourity since the days of Harding-Coolidge-Hoover. As leaders of every segment of U. S. life wished President Eisenhower a quick and full recovery, the Vice President became in effect the nationtsadministrative chief. Meanwhile, political panic gripped the Republican Party. Al- though the 64 year-old President was seriously ill, GOP papers ran hopeful headaMes about his 1956 Intentions. Republican national Chairman Leonard Hall said Eisenhower's heart attack would not interfere with GOP "plans for his re-elec- tion." Other maJor reactions to the Presidentts illness were: (1) WestenEuropean sources expresed fear the present di- rection of "world peace" efforts would be upset. (e) The U. S. stock market suffered its greatest drop oinoe 1929. 4(Slection of President Truman in if"8 caused thi biggest dip in the 1929-1955 era) (3) Democrats, ourrmntlky in.oarge. of ongroas planned to recapture the White house

¶.- tAst& I California State Federation of Labor WEEKLY NEWS LETTER, September 30, 1955 Page 2.

MRS. GALARZA TAKES TEACHER DISMISSAL CASE TO ASSEMBLY INTERIM COMMITTEE

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--The long fight of the wife of an AFL union organizer to regain her teaching Job in Los Gatos entered another phase this month when Mrs. Mae Galarza appeared before the Assembly Interim Committee on Education to protest her dismissal on secret charges. Mrs. Galarza is the wife of Ernesto Galarza, vice president and educational director of the AFL National Agricultural Workers Union. Since her dismissal she has been denied a hearing by the school board of the Los Gatos Union Elementary School. The case centers about alleged charges by School Superintendent Kenneth A. McDonnell that the Galarzas planned to introduce "union propaganda" into the classroom. Mrs. Galarza had taught at the Union Elementary School of Los Gatos for three years, Just short of the required time for "tenure" protection of employment rights. Probationary teachers in Santa Clara County are not entitled to explanatory school board hearings in dismissal cases. Under present state law only San Francisco and Los Angeles give such protection. The Assembly Interim Committee is currently studying the ques- tion of probationary teacher rights.

LABOR DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES UNION HEALTH PLAN STUDY

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--The U. S. Labor Department this month announced publication of a digest of 100 selected health and insurance plans negotiated under collective bargaining contracts during 1954. Prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the study is the first done by the Labor Department on the subject since 1951. For each plan reviewed,, the digest includes eligibility require- irients, types of insurance, hospital, surgical and medical coverage for health plans, and financing. Officially published as Bulletin 1180, the digest sells for $1.00, and may be obtained through the San Fran- P,iseo office of the BLS, 630 Sansome Street, Room 802. California State Federation of Labor WEEXLY NEWS LETTER September 30 1955Pae 3.

SANTA CLARA CENTRAL COUNCIL ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--Creation of a high school scholarship awards contest was announced last week by the Santa Clara County Central Labor Council. The contest will be sponsored directly by the AFL central council and will be open to all high school seniors attending public and private schools in the county. Three awards will be given, one of $200 and two of $100. Contestants will be judged primarily on essays on selected labor subjects. Essays must be mailed by midnight, December 1,1955. Finalists will be notified to appear for an oral interview and quiz set for Saturday, January 7, 1956. Scholarship awards bulletins have been sent to all high schools and sufficient copies made available for distribution to all senior students. Additional entry blanks may be obtained from headquarters of the Santa Clara Central Labor Council, Labor Temple, 45 Santa Teresa Street, San Jose.

JEWISH LABOR COMMITTEE PRINTS MEANY SPEECH ON CIVIL RIGHTS (CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--Copies of a George Meany speech on labor's responsibility for civil rights and civil liberties are now available free of charge through the Jewish Labor Committee. The AFL president's recent address to the National Trade Union Conference on Civil Rights outlines labor's stake in the fight for human rights and touches specifically on such issues as the Supreme Court ruling on segregation and the abuse of "fair play" by such Conzressional investigators as Senator McCarthy. Copies may be obtained from Jewish Labor Committee headquarters, 25 East 78th Street, New York.

* * * California State Federation of Labor WEEYKY NEWS LETTER, September 30, 1955 Page 4.

NATIONAL AFL PEGS ECONOMIC TRENDS

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--Here's how the economy looked in August according to the American Federation of Labor's RESEARCH REPORT re- leased this week from national headquarters: (1) Business activity continued strong in August. (2) Unemployment declined during August to 2.2 million, but the downturn was less than the usual seasonal decrease. (3) Employment rose seasonally to reach 65.5 million, an all- time high. Manuifacturing employment rose by almost 300,000 to 16.8 mil.lion. Seasonal employment peaks were reached in the food and tobacco processing, apparel, and textile industries, although there was ar wugust decline in the auto industry with the start of a model chanrgeover- period. (4) Hourly earnings of factory workcers in August averaged $1.89, the sainme as the revised figure for July. (5) Weekly earnings rose to $77.11 because of a seasonal in- crease of four--4nts of an hour in the aw-rw;workweek. (6) InGuz.ial production expanded. ir.AL1-1 to 140 percent of the 1947-49 ave2-t?e, an advance of 1 percenta.ge point over the level of the preced.D.;g two mrLonths. (7) Hcuzir., ,-;tarts d.r:.c11ned more than sea.sonally in Ju-ly to 115,000 units. The., dedli>e took place before the government tighten- ing 0). bornefon-f ir credt'r regulations. (8) Con,:- '1vrt ion ex;n1ndit+res in August rose to. a monthly high -of $4 'nill - n, bult the gain fell short of the usua%, seasonal advanne, la?rgely- because of a downturn in private resi.3dential con- structtion. (9) Cons-urmer prices rose in July by 0.3 percent to reach the highest level t1i.rear, but are still less than a year ago. The July rise was a rmi:1l ain].y of seasonal increases in food prices, although 'there were increIases as well in the costs of various services.

* * X California State Federation of Labor WEEKLY NEWS LETTER, Stember 30,1955P

AFL TEACHERS APPOINT CLARKE STATE ORGANIZER

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--Henry L. Clarke has been appointed national organizer for the American Federation of Teachiers in Cali- fornia, it was announced last week by Carl J. Megel, president of the AFL Teachers organization. Clarke represented the California State Federation of Teachers in Sacramento during the recent 1955 general session of the state legislature. Megel said the appointment of Clarke is part of an American Federation of Teachers' effort to step up organizing activities in the state. Clarke will make headquarters in Los Angeles.

OWL-REXALL AND THRIFTY DRUG DISPUTE SETTLED

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--Both the Owl-Rexall Drug Company and the Thrirty Drug Stores Inc. have settled their dispute with the Sign, Scene, Pictorial Painters, Display and Decorators Local 831, Los Angeles, it has been announced by Julius L. Bence, recording secretary of Local 831. The local had requested the California State Federation of Labor to place the companies on the state AFL "We Don't Patronize" list.

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