Lumbermen Ask W.gner Labor Act Revision

Washington, May 16.-Ame.ndments to the Wagner National Labor Relations Act, designed to relieve the employer from factional disputes and boycotting by rival unions, were presented by representatives of the lumber industry to the Senate Committee on Education and Labor in Washington last week. These amendments were proposed by the West Coast Forest Industries Committee and approved by the National Lumber Industry Committee' No other lumber industry groups have been scheduled to appear but the Industrial Employees lJnion, an independent union of lumber rvorkers, is appearing today before the House Committee.

,tppearing before the Committee were: Morris H. Jones, president, Jones Lumber Co., Portland, Oregon; John J' Long, president, Harbor Plywood Corp., Hoquiam, Washington; E. G. Griggs, II, president, St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., Tacoma, Washington, and Robert Maxwell, attorney for the West Coast Forest Industries. Their testimony was the first presented by any industry group and marked the initial hearing given industry in which to present its side of the Wagner Act controversy.

Asking only amendments to more completely accomplish the desirable objectives of the Act, the witnesses avoided criticism of the Board itself, but pointed out numerous weaknesses in the NLRA and cited specific cases of union jurisdictional disputes and other actions tending to discourage the lumber industrY.

Mr. Jones told of labor difficulties in the Portland mills dating from August, 1937, including boycotting, picketing, and refusal by one union to handle logs and lumber cut and manufactured by another resulting in the closure of the mills.

"Even after October, 1937, when by means of a payroll audit compared with C.I.O. membership cards and not a bona fide election, the NLRB certified the C.I.O. union as the bargaining agent for sawmill employees, boycotts and rivalry increased and the problem of keeping the mills orpen became more serious," said Mr. Jones. "So-called 'goon' activities of destruction of property by rival groups were carried on and threats and rumors of further boycotting are still current."

Mr. Long testified to labor troubles prevailing at his mill for more than two years. He emphatically stated that his ,company believed in the right of employees to bargain collectively a,nd had lived up to the letter and spirit of the NLRA.

Jurisdictional disputes were general, he stated, and an election held in the plywood plant favoring the C.I.O. 3 to 1 started a boycott of Harbor products by A. F. of L. locals throughout the country. This was followed by withdrawal of the A. F. of L. of an agreement between the union, embracing the door mill employees, and the company and the making of impossible demands by the C.I.O. local- finally ending in charges being filed by the union that the company failed to bargain.

"similar conditions plague the sawmills and logging camps of Grays Harbor," testified Mr. Long, "and have reduced this once prosperous industry to almost complete stagnation. By the end of 1938 every sawmill and logging camp on the Harbor was closed down and onlv a few have yet opened."

The third to appear, E. G. Griggs II, told the Committee of a boycott placed on St. Paul and Tacoma products in August 1937 and still in effect. It resulted from company use of other than A. F. of L. union men in a reconstruction program, he said, although the majority of the men later joined the union. This was followed by several strikes and an electio.n in which the C.I.O. was given jurisdiction. This action resulted in an extended boycott of St. Paul and Tacoma lumber throughout the middle-western territory by A. F. of L. locals. "situations like this," Mr. Griggs told the Committee, "are, I believe, evidence that the Act was not designed to take care of such instances a.nd should be amended to do so."

Mr. Max'uvell brought several cases of labor disturbances to the attention of the Committee. Of particular interest was his statement that an NLRB representative had said before a group of employers: "The C.I.O. is a good union to bargain with" and had generally solicited C.I.Q.representation. He cited experiences on the West Coast and the inadequacy of the Act to take care of jurisdictional disputes and unwarranted boycotts, as proof of the need for amendment of the Act.

That the spokesmen for the West Coast Industry Committee made an impressive showing in support of their appeal for amendments is indicated by the response of groups opposed to as well as those favoring amendment of the Act.

Redwood Testimonial Contest---M.y 1939

The Redwood industry awarded ten prizes to California Redwood salesmen for the best testimonials on Redwood use turned in during the month of May in the second monthly contest.

First prize of $10.00 went to Max E. Cook of The Pacific Lumber Company.

Second prize of. $5.00 rvent to Forest K. Peil of the Ham-., mond Lumber Company.

Third prize ol $3.00 to R. E. Seward, Dolbeer & Carson Lumber Company.

Seven good work prizes of $1.0O each went to: J. M. Spidell, Hammond Lumber Company; R. J. Bryson, Hammond Lumber Company, Harvey M. Isenhower, Holmes Eureka Lumber Co.; B. Schaefer, Holmes Eureka Lumber Co.; W. G. Hamilton, Holmes Eureka Lumber Co.; Max E. Cook, The Pacific Lumber Company (Two).

Maritime Commission Holds Hearings at S. F. on Coastwise Lumber Rates

The following cases have been assigned for hearing before Examiner C. O. Arthur of the U. S. Maritime Commission at San Francisco on June 13:

Pacific Coastwise Carrier Investigation (Docket 525), Robert C. Parker vs. W. R. Chamberlin & Co. et al. (Docket 5D), and Pacific Coast Lumber Rates-McCormick Steamship Company (Docket 530).

The first docket covers the Maritime Commission's general investigation into the entire coastal trade. The second docket co.ncerns a complaint by Robert C. Parker, chairman of the Pacific Lumber Carriers Association, against member lines of the conference he heads. The third docket regards the Commission's suspension of the McCormick Steamship Company's proposed reduction of lumber rates in the coastal trade.

The issues cover the chartering of ships at tariffs alleged to be below the conference levels, and the subsequent application of the McCormick Steamship Company in an independent action to reduce coastwise lumber rates as a means to meet competition.

Many Exhibitors at So. Calif. Home Show

The Southern California Home Show which was held at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Los Angeles, from May lZ-21, attracted large crowds every afternoon and evening.

There were two complete homes on display. One, a $2500 home of five rooms with a two-car garage which can be duplicated under the FHA, while farther up the budget scale was the six-room home of electric wizardry.

The exhibitors included the following: West Coast Screen Company, Los Angeles; Acme Spring Sash Balance Co., Los Angeles; Cadwallader-Gibson Co., Los Angeles; San Pedro Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Heatilator Company, Los Angeles; J. H. Baxter & Co., Los Angeles; pacific Cabinet Co., Los Angeles; Superior Fireplace Co., Los Angeles; American Lumber & Treating Co., Los Angeles; E. K. Wood Lumber Co., Los Angeles; West Coast Lumberman's Association, Seattle; Red Cedar Shingle Bureau, Seattle; Sylvester Sash Operators, fnc., Los Angeles; Hull Bros. Lumber Co., Los Angeles, (Cross section of a Redwood 1og, 1140 years old-diameter 6 feet); Concrete Industries, Los Angeles; Cal-West Lumber Co., El Monte; Bassett-Teachout Co., Los Angeles; Johns-Manville; LongBell Lumber Co., Los Angeles; E. J. Stanton & Son, Los Angeles; Colotyle Distributing Co., Los Angeles; pioneer Division, Flintkote Co., Los Angeles; Tyre Bros. Glass & Paint Co., Los Angeles; Smith Booth-Usher Co., Los Angeles; M. N. Thackaberry, Los Angeles; Dura Steel Products Co., Los Angeles; Creo-Dipt Zephyr Shingles (E'. K. Wood Lumber Co. exhibit); U. S. Gypsum Company products (San Pedro Lumber Co. exhibit) ; Curtis Silentite Windows (San Pedro Lumber Co. exhibit); Insulux Glass Blocks (San Pedro Lumber Co. exhibit).