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Full Text of Executive Board Resolutions:CIOondmnsRa/UrgPolitical ActiontoWinThe last three of eight important resolutions adopted by the CIO Executive Board last week are printed in this week's CIO NEWS. The resolutions, which follow, outline in detail CIO's policy condemning racial discrimination, CIO's recommendation that affiliated unions intensify their legislative work to help win the war, and CIO's proposals for postwar planning, calling for an income for everyone . . . adequate forhealth and happiness.* * *Let Congress Hear from YouWHEREAS, (I) During the pa*t few months events in Congress and out have sharpened the issues before the nation and before the labor move-meat and have made clear the kind of light which the CIO faces during the coming months.Opponents of the Administration in Con-gress have made clearer than ever the motivation behind their program of sniping and general attack on the Administration’s war activities and organized labor.(2) These forces have opposed effective action to bring about real economic stabilization and to assure full protection against inflation.They have harried end attacked the price control and rent control policies. They have impeded where possible the institution of grade labeling so necessary to real price control. They have impeded and seek to prevent the adoption of aneffective subsidy program so necessary tothe complete roll back of prices to the September 15. 1942, level.They have slashed appropriations of lm|K»rtant war agencies carrying on Important functions on the home front. Their special targets of attacks have been such agencies as the OHT, the Office of Civilian Defense, the OPA, the National Youth Administration, the National l^abor Relations Board, and the United States Kmployment Service.They have also, as part of this entire drive, enacted vicious anti-labor legislation such as the Smith-Connally Act, and the emasculating amendment to the National Labor Relations Act.(3) There are progressive forees in Congress, anxious to furnish their support to President Roosevelt's policies directed against Inflation and for economic stabilization as indicated by the coalition of 50 Congressmen, which decently convened a conference of representatives of organized labor, consumer groups, and other interested organizations in Washington in the effort to stem the tide of opposition against the program of our Commander-In-Chief.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:f 11 The CIO must recognize the need of directing its attention to ever more effective action on the legislative front.Great progres* ha* been made during the past year toward the awakening of the full membership and strength of the CIO to the Importance of these legislative issues. Legislative committees In local unions throughout the country have begun to function with great activity because of the growing awareness that labor must act as effectively In the sphere of congressional action as It has heretofore In the sphere of collective bargaining.(2) It I* extremely important that during the coming rcce** period of Congress that the Senator* and Congressmen be fully acquainted with the needs and demands of their constituents and to make sure that on and after their return to Washington in September Congress will be more attuned to the needs of the nation.Toward this end the CIO pledge* Itself that during tills Congressional recess it will seek to have organised In every community or Congreaaional district Inwhich there Is CIO membership a conference of representatives of organised labor, consumer groups, public and civic officials, and all other Interested organizations to which the Congressional representatives will be Invited and at which there will be a full discussion and formulation of the Important policies covering our domestic front consistent with the CTO program.In addition, such conferences should designate special committees to visit and attend their Congressional representatives for the purpose of obtaining assurances that their future legislative actions will be in support of this basic program.Plan for Peace: Jobs for AllConstructive plans must be made Immediately for the months after the war ends or the nation may suffer economic dislocation even more disastrous than that of the early 1930**. Preparation for an orderly and speedy transition to full consumption and employment is nearly a* important a* victory itself. Yet Congres* has killed the National Resource* Planning Board without holding any committee hearing* on it* own on post-war problem*.A new agency should immediately be established to plan for peace at home. War pioblems. cannot be permitted to interfere with the essential minimum of preparation in defense of the people's welfare in peacetime. The kind of world we shall have five year* from now is being shaped today by inaction as well as by conscious intent. A planning body must be given power and responsibility not only to secure material but, In cooperation with other agencies, to draw up concrete detailedproposals for action.Otherwise prospects for the post-war period are bleak indeed. Although the circumstances under which peace will come cannot be foretold exactly, millions of worker* will probably lose their jobs within a few months after hostilities cease.Millions of additional men and women will no longer be needed by the armed forces and will wish to return promptly to civilian life. Although there will be a large demand for goods, many huge plants will inevitably be idle for six or nine months as they change over from war production.The tremendous need for civilian supplies will not in Itaetf guarantee continued full production and employment.Even more likely than an Immediate depression, Is an Inflationary boom followed by collapse.The nation cannot afford to risk such a disastrous outcome of war-time sacrifices. The danger of economic chaos exists, and therefore must be faced and averted. Some businessmen and some state and local government* are making post-war plans on aspects of the problem that are within their own control. Many governmental and private agencies are studying the question.Federal Action NeededBut useful as such activities may be, they are far from sufficient for grappling with a matter of basic importance to the entire nation and affecting every aspect ot its existence. Only the federal government can act for the nation as a whole and can effectively control economic forces that ignore state lines.In rebuilding its economy on a peacetime basis, the nation should seek not merely avoidance of disaster but the achievement of positive goals which our productive resources now make possible. These should include:1. Peace-time jobs as soon as possible for every one, including former members of I lie military forees and former war workers.2. Production of adequate supplies needed here and abroad to maintain decent levels of living.X. Improved facilities for education, medical care, recreation, housing, transportation and so forth.4. An income for everyone. Including the unemployed, adequate for health and happiness.5. Full, stable and efficient production and employment, with prevention' of both inflation and business depressions.6. Participation by all Americans In political and economic decisions that affect their welfare.7. Cooperation witli other nations to give all people* everywhere a chance to earn a decent living, to enjoy democratic institutions and to live at peace.Wipe Out Race DiscriminationThe current wave of race riote laseriously endangering the war effort.The Nobile riot, the Beaumont, Texan, riot, the Detroit riot are bet manifestation* of an American brand ot fascism that la a« great a menace aa the lapaneae or Nazis. In every inatanee the riot* have followed the familiarpattern of dissemination of false rumors, the occurrence of a provocative incident, and the development of mobpsychology and hysteria.The causes of racial tension and conflictWararise out of fundamental defects in our democracy. Unless these basic causes are recognized by the entire nation and effective measures adopted and pursued to eliminate them, racial conflicts in other crowded industrial areas are inevitable.Labor must recognize that the force*which foment racial strife are Identical with those that would destroy the organisation of the labor movement.As a means of strengthening democracy and for Its very self-preservation, labor must wage an all-out attack on these disintegrating forces and deal resolutely with the basic causes in its day-to-day operations.The absence of conflict in the shops during the recent Detroit riots is a tribute to CIO leadership in Michigan.Curative measure# are not sufficient.A nationwide program of prevention Va imperative. It must Include every segment of our community life.The CIO through its National Committee to Abolish Racial Discrimination, working with similar committees set up in our industrial union councils must make real the basic racial policy of the CIO throughout every community in which we are organized.Positive ProgramIt is incumbent upon the National CIO Executive Board to recommend to the Federal government that it recognize the conditions that lead to race riots and take the initiative in formulating a positive program to eliminate these conditions both in government and outside it. Such a pro-gram should include the following:Development of an overall program for the various Federal agencies to include full and complete support for the President’s Fair Employment Practices Committee, with White House directives to these agencies for the carrying out of the program.2.A national radio broadcast by President Roosevelt on the program, outlining the situation and the remedies that the Federal government is to undertake.BE IT RESOLVED, That the Executive Board of the CIO goes on record again sharply condemning all evidences of mob hatred and violence against Negro citizens and people of other minorities, wherever they occur or under whatever circumstances.Wo petition President Roosevelt taorder the Department of Justice and other appropriate agencies to make the fullest Investigation of the origin* and perpetrator* of these outrage*, with special attention to the presence and activity of Axk agent* among them, ta punish those guilty with the utmost severity, and to proceed Immediately against such Individuals a* Gerald K. Smith of Detroit and the Ku Kltix Klan who have notariouely been fomenting the very mob hatred and violence against Negro citizens and people of other minorities.We express our solidarity again with our Negro fellow citizens and fellow workers, and renew our fight against discrimination and persecution of any of our people as a necessary part of our common fight against the enemies of our country and of the United Nations.
Newspaper Details
The CIO News
Cumberland, Maryland, US
Mon, Jul 19, 1943
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Lily L.
NY, USA 08 Mar 2021
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