American Labor and World Affairs

• Author: William J. Handley
• DOI: 10.1177/000271625127400119
• Published date: 01 March 1951
• Date: 01 March 1951
• Subject Matter: Articles

American Labor and World Affairs
By WILLIAM J. HANDLEY
STURMTHAL in his Tragedy of Eu- international affairs, both in their la-
ropean Labor/ in defining Ameri-
bor and nonlabor aspects. Nineteen
can labor
organizations as pressure
speeches delivered during the six-day
groups as distinguished from political
session either dealt almost exclusively
parties, makes the observation that
with international issues or were given
by foreign visitors to the convention.
... unless a serious crisis develops, they
Approximately one-third of the resolu-
have very seldom taken a stand on ques-
tions considered by the Resolutions
tions of foreign policy. And even if they
Committee dealt with one or another
do, no action is undertaken to impress
their views
aspect of international affairs. In addi-
on such problems upon the
policy makers.
tion, the International Labor Relations
Committee submitted a long report in-
This appraisal of the interest and
cluding a recommended twelve-point-ac-
participation, or lack of it, of American
tion program. The subjects discussed
labor in matters of foreign policy and
ranged throughout the international
international affairs, made in 1943, is
sphere: international trade and the Re-
of some significance to this discussion.
ciprocal Trade.Agreements program, in-
Its essential importance lies, however,
ternational information and exchange-
not so much in whether Sturmthal was
of-persons programs, United Nations
accurate or inaccurate in his estimate of
Charter revision, an African Federation,
the position of American labor at that
the Point IV Program, the Stockholm
time, as in indicating that to at least
peace petition, an AFL school for in-
one informed European observer, Amer-
ternational affairs, an Atlantic Pact type
ican labor appeared, less than a decade
of security arrangement between the
ago, to have neither an interest in for-
free countries of Asia and the Western
eign policy nor a desire and capacity to
democracies, to mention only a few.
influence it.
The proceedings of the CIO Conven-
tion reveal a similar degree of emphasis
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ISSUE
on international affairs.
A
AT
strongly
LABOR CONVENTIONS
worded resolution on foreign policy was
adopted. Its ten major points included
A brief examination, however, of the
statements on Korea, the United Na-
proceedings of the last conventions of
tions, European economic recovery,
the American Federation of Labor and
European unity, the State Department,
the Congress of Industrial Organizations
and dictatorships.
Philip Murray,
provides illuminating evidence of the
Walter Reuther, and Jacob Potofsky
radical change that has taken place in
spoke at length on the Economic Co-
the attitude of American labor vis-A-vis
operation Administration’s activities in
international affairs since Sturmthal
Europe. A 24-page pamphlet entitled
made his observation.
The CIO and World Affairs, giving the
At the AFL Convention, for example,
rationale for the CIO’s interest and
the most important single theme was
participation in international affairs and
1
Columbia University Press, 1943.
explaining CIO policies on important
131

---

132
foreign policy questions, was given to
against attack by Communist imperial-
each delegate.
ism, has given American labor a trans-
These convention activities show our
cendent opportunity to assume respon-
two largest trade union organizations to
sibility in foreign affairs.
be deeply concerned with international
In the first place, American labor is
problems. This concern appears, more-
well aware of the days of darkness which
over, to range over a wide variety of
fall over trade union movements under
subjects and not to be confined to labor
the impact of totalitarianism, whether
problems per se. What makes the pic-
it be in fascist or Communist guise.
ture of even greater significance, how-
There’ is no ’place under a totalitarian
ever, is the realization that this was not
system for the kind of independent,
mere convention oratory but a drawing-
vigorous, and free trade unionism that
up of policy on questions in which in
American labor has built and to which
many’ cases American labor today di-
it is accustomed. Hence, it has become
rectly participates, and on which its
of massive importance for American la-
influence is by no means inconsiderable.
bor, if only for its own preservation, to
Very clearly then, a profound change
devote itself unreservedly to this strug-
has taken place in the attitude of Amer-
gle.
ican labor towards world affairs, a
Secondly, American labor has asumed
change not merely in appearance but
a share of the national responsibility.
also in fact.
It feels that with its means to develop
and maintain worker-to-worker relation-
LABOR’S FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES
ships abroad, with what it considers to
What, then, are some of the reasons
be its greater understanding of the
for American labor’s current preoccupa-
ideological issues now troubling people
tion with international affairs?
And
everywhere, it has a special and crucial
what are some of the main channels
role to play in this struggle, a role which
through which it seeks to further its
it believes it can play more effectively
foreign policy objectives?
than any other segment of American
American labor today occupies a
society.
strong and secure position in American
President Truman emphasized this
society, a position which it has achieved
point in his convention message to the
not without considerable effort and
CIO when he said
struggle. Its views on domestic ques-
our unions have a
...
great spiritual con-
tions, both political and economic, are
tribution to make to the cause of freedom.
given careful consideration by the legis-
The labor movement in this country...