*WEEKiLY :NEWSf1T CALIFORNIA STA EEF.ATION OFtJ A. F.L 810 DAVID HEWES BUILDING -995SUff0rMARKET441283STREET : . - _ -::s'A oDeember 30, 195 MZANY BLASTS NAN ON ANTUION POLITICS co

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--American labor will not be compe;lled to form a separate political party because anti-union forces "are not going to be successful in their attempt to disenfranchise"f labor, AFL-CIO President predicted last week. ian warned, however, that if the National Association of tars and like groups should make workers "second class 4: preventing unions from "expressing their views poli- alnly," labor would be obliged to start a political party. Meany's blast followed anti-labor.attacks by Cola G. Parker, newly elected.president of the NAM, and slanted national articles by Fred W., Perkins, Scripps-Howard labor writer. Parker told the United Press that he hopes President Eisenhowtt would run for re-election in 1956, and then warned that the AFLFCIO merger "has implications for very great dangers for the American people." Parker said that if Eisenhower doeansIt run, the Republican Par- ty has a number of "strong" candidates. Parker, retired chairman of the Kimberly-Clark Corporati-n of Wisconsiin sald he was a supporter of the late Senator Robert Taft at the GOP convention. in 1952. and -that he is currently a supporter of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy. Perkins, who analyzes labor -from the Big Buslness viewpoint, recently predicted -that- if restrictions on labor-poontributions to federalelections.were-removed, the public would conclude unions were 'buyingh"-public officials. The Perkins' article appeared part of a national bus ess-cam a nst union financial participa- tion in politics.a AW n ban was -written into law by the l2attr-uartaey A43MFO :*%l6V California State Federation of Labor WEEKLY NEWS LETTER, December 30, 1955

TWO NEGROES ON AFL-CIO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--The new AFL-CIO Executive Council head- ed by President George Meany and Secretary-Treasurer William F. Schnitzler, includes two Negroes among the 27 vice presidents. The Negro members are A. Philip Randolph, president, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and Willard S. Townsend, president, United Transport Service Employees. The complete list of vice presidents follows: Matthew Woll, Union Label and Service Trades Department; George M. Harrison, Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees; David Dubinskyj International Ladies' Garment Workers Union; Harry C. Bates, Bricklayers, Mason and Plasterers International Union; William C. Birthright,Journeymen Barbers, Hairdressers, Cosme- tologists, and Proprietors? International Union of America; William C. Doherty, National Association of Letter Carriers; Charles J. MacGbwan, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Build- ers, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers; Herman Winter, Bakery and Con- fectionery Workers' International Union; William L. McFetridge, Building Service Employees International Union; James C. Petrillo, American Federation of Musicians; Dave Beck, International Brother- hood of Teamsters; Maurice A. Hutcheson, United Brotherhood of Car- penters and Joiners of America; A. J. Hayes, International Associa- tion of Machinists; Joseph D. Keenan, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; A. Philip Randolph, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters; Richard E. Walsh, Theatrical Stego Employees International Union; A. S. Spradling, Street Electric Railway and Motor Coach Em- ployees; Walter P. Reuther, United Automobile Workers; James B. Carey, International Union of Electrical Workers; Emil Rieve, Textile Work- ers; Joseph Curran, ; L S. Buckmaster, United Rubber Workers; 0. A Knight, Oil Workers; Joseph A. Beirne, Communi- cations Workers; David J. McDonald, United Steelworkers; Jacob J. Potofsky, Amalgamated Clothing Workers; Willard S. Townsend, United Transport Service Employees. California State Federation of Labor WEEKIjY NEWS LETTER, December 30, 1955 Page 3

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR AND CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS

TO THE OFFICERS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL UNIONS, STATE FEDERATTONS OF LABOR, CENTRAL LABOR UNIONS, AND FEDERAL LABOR UNIONS Dear Sirs and Brothers: On January 30, 1956, those of us who believe in the great contribution of our late President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, will pay tribute to him on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of his birth. His birthday is an opportunity given to all of us to honor his memory and to keep alive those ideals in which he believed so devoutly. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Birthday Memorial Com- mittee is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of the late President, and at the same time aiding the cause he spearhead- ed -- the fight against the dread disease infantile paralysis. This year, the committee is forming the "74" Club, and will commemorate his 74th anniversary with the annual Birthday Memorial Concert held at Town Hall in . While there is tremendous jubilation over the development of the Salk vaccine, polio is not conquered yet. Many thou- sands of victims of this dread disease were born too soon to receive the benefits of the vaccine, and the prolonged expen- sive care for them must continue. Also, research efforts to perfect the vaccine need the unlimited support they deserve. In addition, there is the added burden of this yearts new polio cases, numbering close to 21,000. These burdens require substantial funds. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Birthday Memorial -- whose Honor- ary Committee I have the privilege of serving -- asks the na- tional and international unions and all affiliated unions to again support its work. We agree that organized labor's tra- ditional assistance to his fellow man continue. The "74" Clubs are being formed to honor Franklin D. Roosevelt and to yield contributions in multiples of $74 toward the goal he had set -- the ultimate eradication of polio. As it has been in the past, may we again state that this effort in memory of our late beloved President is in addition to whatever con- tributions are made to the March of Dimes. Checks should be made payable to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, and should be mailed to the Labor Service Division of the Foundation, 120 Broadway, New York 5, New York. We are glad to help this fine humanitarian cause, and feel certain that you will give substantially in the name of our late, great leader in order that we may see a complete victory over polio. Sincerely and Fraternally, /s/ GEORGE MEANY President

-0 California State Federation of Labor WEEKLY NEWS_ LETTER,9 December 30, 1955._ Page 4.

LABOR DEPARTMENT CLAIMS FACTORY TAKE-HOME PAY AT ALL-TIME HIGH

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--Take-home pay for the average American factory worker set a new record in November, for the third consecu- tive month, the U. S. Labor Department claimed last week. The Department press announcement made the following points: (1) The sharp rise carried the purchasing power of the pay check to new record levels, despite a slight increase in consumer prices. (2) Average net spendable weekly earnings totaled $72.85 for a worker with three dependents and $65.49 for a worker with no dependents -- about 80 cents higher than the previous all-time peak set a month earlier. The rise was due to a two-cent increase in average hourly pay and a lengthening of the factory workweek, according to the Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. (3) Compared with November 1954, weekly take-home pay was up $4.67 for the worker with three dependents and $4.57 for the one with no dependents -- the sharpest November-to-November gain in the last five years. Longer hours of work, more overtime prem- ium pay, and higher wage rates all contributed to the over-the- year increase. (4) The buying power of the pay check also rose to new re- cord levels as a result of the sharp rise in take-home pay. Com- pared with November 1954, the increase in purchasing power amounted to 6.1 percent for the worker with three dependents and 6.8 percent for the worker without dependents. (5) Consumer prices in U. S. cities rose 0.1 percent between October and November. A further decline in food prices failed to offset higher prices for other major categories of family spending. The largest increases were for transportation, medical care, and housing. (6) The November Consumer Price Index was 115 percent of the 1947-49 average, 0.3 percent higher than in November 1954 and 0.3 California State Federation of Labor WEEKLY NEWS LETTER, December 30, 195 Page 5.

percent below the October 1953 peak. (7) The retail food price index, which dropped 0.9 percent during the month, stood at 109.8, its lowest point since December 1950. It was 1.2 percent below the November 1954 level. Forty- four of the 46 cities surveyed reported lower food prices.

MARINE COOKS AND STEWARDS-AFL BREAK GROUND FOR NEW BUILDING

(CFLNL) SAN FRANCISCO.--The Marine Cooks and Stewards-AFL, made more maritime history last week by breaking ground for the new union headquarters building in San Francisco. The union won bargaining rights in the stewards department earlier this year following a long struggle with a dual organiza- tion expelled from the CIO because of "communist dominationi" The new structure will be located at 350 Fremont Street adjacent to the present headquarters of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific. Speakers at theceremony included Lieutenant-Governor Harold Powers; Harry Lundeberg, head of the SUP; Ed Turner, executive officer of the MCS-AFL, John Hawk, secretary-treasurer of the Sea- farers' International Union; Vince Malone, president of the Marine Firemen and Jack Goldberger, president of the San Francisco Labor Council. Turner handled the Jackhammer in the ground breaking ritual while Wm. J. McCourt, an oldtime seaman and charter member of the union, turned the first sPadefull of earth. Don Rotan, editor of the Stewardst News was chairman of the arrangements committee.

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