Conciliation Services in Labor Relations
| Published date | 01 November 1946 |
| DOI | 10.1177/000271624624800117 |
| Date | 01 November 1946 |
| Author | Edgar L. Warren |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
120
Conciliation
Services
in
Labor
Relations
By
EDGAR
L.
WARREN
M ORE
widespread
public
concern
was
expressed
with
respect
to
the
settlement
of
labor-management
disputes
during
the
ten
months
from
August
14,
1945
to
June
15,
1946
than
during
any
other
period
in
history.
This
concern
was
based
more
on
a
num-
ber
of
Nation-wide
strikes
and
threat-
ened
strikes
which
marked
that
period
than
on
the
generally
troubled
state
of
industrial
relations.
With
these
situa-
tions
in
the
immediate
background,
a
discussion
of
machinery
for
the
settle-
ment
of
labor-management
disputes
cannot
be
limited
to
theoretical
prob-
lems,
but
must
be
based
on
means
to
meet
similar
situations
when,
and
if,
they
arise
again.
A
brief
review
of
a
few
of
the
more
important
strikes
and
threatened
strikes
with
which
the
Fed-
eral
Government
was
concerned
during
the
period
immediately
following
V-J
Day may,
therefore,
be
of
interest.
SUMMARY
OF
STRIKES
1.
Northwest
lumber
industry.-A
work
stoppage
involving
members
of
the
AFL
continued
for
65
days
before
a
major
agreement
was
reached.
This
strike
in
the
latter
part
of
1945,
as
well
as
a
threatened
strike
of
the
CIO
union
in
the
same
industry
during
the
spring
of
1946,
was
settled
without
interven-
tion
by
the
Federal
Government
except
in
the
form
of
normal
conciliation
con-
ferences.
2.
Oil
industry.-A
strike
in
the
fall
of
1945
continued
for
a
period
of
20
days
and
was
settled
only
after
govern-
ment
seizure.
In
this
instance
concilia-
tion
efforts
had
failed
and
the
serious-
ness
of
the
situation
became
such
that
seizure
was
required.
At
the
same
time
the
Secretary
of
Labor
established
a
fact-finding
board,
and
its
recommenda-
tions
served
as
the
basis
for
settlements
after
one
of
the
major
companies
reached
an
agreement
in
direct
negotia-
tions
with
the
Union
on
the
disputed
wage
issue.
3.
Bus
employees.-A
strike
in
the
Central
Western
States
lasted
for
a
period
of
102
working
days,
and
was
terminated
only
when
the
Secretary
of
Labor
appointed
a
fact-finding
board
to
consider
the
issues
in
dispute.
The
strike
was
called
off
at
the
time
the
board
was
appointed,
but
only
after
re-
newed
mediation
efforts.
Both
parties
finally
agreed
to
accept
the
fact-finding
board’s
recommendations
in
settlement
of
the
dispute.
4.
Flat
glass
industry.-A
strike
which
continued
for
thirteen
weeks
was
finally
settled
by
mediation
efforts,
but
only
after
it
had
seriously
threatened
the
production
of
new
automobiles.
5.
General
Motors.-This
much
pub-
licized
strike
lasted
113
days
in
spite
of
a
Presidential
fact-finding
board
which
made
specific
recommendations
for
set-
tlement.
A
special
mediator
appointed
to
the
case
by
the
Secretary
of
Labor
was
finally
able
to
obtain
an
agreement
which
involved
some
compromise
by
the
union
from
the
fact-finding
board’s
rec-
ommendations.
6.
Basic
steel
industry.-In
the
case
of
this
wage
dispute
a
settlement
was
achieved
only
by
means
of
a
specific
proposal
by
the
President
of
the
United
States
and
a
predetermination
of
price
relief
to
be
granted.
A
fact-finding
board
which
had
been
appointed
by
the
President
actually
did
not
have
oc-
casion
to
make
a
formal
report
on
this
dispute,
since
agreement
of
the
parties
was
obtained
after
a
strike
lasting
26
days.
7.
Meat
packing
industry.-A
strike
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