THE WAGNER ACT MEETINGS OF JULY 9, 10, 11, 1935 EXHIBIT 5420 NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL ORGANIZED 1907 11 WEST FORTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK CITY ▲ FEDERATION OF NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS (In pencil) JUNE 29. We have always tried to make plain to all executives of State associations that they were most welcome to attend the monthly session of our Legislative Advisory Committee of the Council. But here is a particularly important meeting that I want you to know about, and to attend if it is at all possible. The enclosed copy of the call I have sent out to the legislative committee covers the details. Every Association is particularly confronted with the new situation arising out of the passage of the Wagner bill, so that I am sure you will want to join in this meeting to be held in New York, Tuesday, July 9th in the Blue Room of the Hotel Roosevelt. Please avoid giving out any bulletins or public announcements on this meeting, and let me know at New York Headquarters whether you will attend. Sincerely, GEORGE F. KULL, Chairman, State Association Group of the EXHIBIT 5421 NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL ORGANIZED 1907 11 WEST FORTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK CITY A FEDERATION OF NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS (In pencil) JUNE 29. Passage of the Wagner Labor Disputes measure has created a new situation of immense concern to every labor relations organization in the United States. Every such organization, and you in particular, are therefore invited to attend a special all-day conference on the Wagner Bill called for Tuesday, July 9th 10:00 A. M. Blue Room, Hotel Roosevelt, New York City. The first of the week you will receive a legal outline of the new law from the Washington office of the N. A. M. Read this over and discuss it with your leading members so you will come prepared to give the viewpoint of your area. The application of the Social Security measure will also be discussed. No publicity on this meeting is necessary, so do not mention it in your bulletins. I cannot too strongly urge your attendance at this important meeting. It will equip every labor relations organization executive to handle his job under changing conditions to the better advantage of himself and of all industry. It is important to know whether you will attend, so let me know at New York Headquarters. Sincerely, SIDNEY E. CORNELIUS, Chairman, Employment Relations Group of the EXHIBIT 5422 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 West 42d Street, New York (In pencil) JUNE 29. It seems highly advisable in the light of recent developments to call a meeting of our Board of Directors for Thursday, July 11th, beginning at 10 A. M. in the Jansen Suite, Waldorf Astoria, New York City. THE AGENDA 1. Consideration of Wagner Labor Disputes Bill as passed; validity; future policy, etc. An outline of the act from a legal standpoint is being mailed you from the Washington Office the first of the week. 2. President's Tax program (A copy of a statement issued by the N. A. M. is enclosed.) 3. Reorganization of N. R. A. (a) Report of what seems to be policy of new skeletonized N. R. A. Administration. (b) Possible new legislation that may be offered next session (some small possibility this session). 4. Future organized effort necessary to protect American industrial system. 5. Social Security-Form of advice to offer our members with respect to this important legislation which is now a law. In order to prepare adequately for this meeting we are calling on Tuesday the 9th a meeting of the National Industrial Council in New York to gather expressions of attitudes from all over the country on the Wagner Bill. On the next day, Wednesday, the 10th we are calling an all-day session of our Executive Committee with particular reference to item No. 4 in the above agenda. In this way we expect to perfect at least in a preliminary fashion some definite suggestions for the Board Meeting the following day. Please come prepared to attend not only the all day session but an evening session if necessary, as the extent of the items to be considered may necessitate this procedure. I want especially to insist upon your attendance at this Board Meeting, as any one of the five major questions in the program are vitally important to future industrial stability. Very truly yours, ROBERT L. LUND, Chairman. EXHIBIT 5423 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 West 42d Street, New York (In pencil) JUNE 29, 1935. You are receiving a call to a very important Board meeting for Thursday, July 11th. I am enclosing another copy of that call because I want you to note especially the agenda of items to be considered. With so much to offer our Board for discussion, I think it becomes necessary that the Executive Committee meet the day before and assist in bringing more definite recommendations before our directors. Accordingly I am calling an all day meeting of the Executive Committee for 10:00 A. M., Wednesday, July 10th, in the Pillement Suite, Waldorf Astoria, New York City. At this meeting I wish your judgment and advice, particularly on No. 4 of the agenda. It is not possible to write fully of this, but there have been various suggestions for additional organization of shareholders and the teaming together of manufacturers to study the effects of politics on their businesses. This will be covered in detail at this meeting and offers one of the most vital situations confronting the manufacturers today. This industry attitude on the Wagner Act and other items on the program I am sure warrant your participation in this all day session. With your help I believe we can facilitate the handling of the extensive program to be offered the Board the next day by a little "predigestion", making our Board sessions the more resultful. Sincerely yours, C. L. BARDO, President. INTERPRETING THE ACT TO EMPLOYEES EXHIBIT 5424-A WILLARD STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY Main Office and Factory, 246-286 E. 131st St., Cleveland, Ohio Address your reply to NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS, JULY 30, 1935. 11 West 42nd Street, New York City, New York. (Attention: Mr. Walter B. Weisenburger, Executive Vice-President.) GENTLEMEN: Last week we received your bulletin headed as follows: "What Does the Wagner Bill Mean to Employees?" We immediately wired you for thirty additional copies, so that we could put them up on our bulletin boards. Yesterday we received a bulletin from your Law Department, dated July 23, 1935, which, it seems to us, is inconsistent with the first bulletin referred to above. In the Law Department bulletin the position is taken that the operation of a manufacturing establishment is not such as to bring the employment relations of the manufacturer and its employees within the provisions of the so-called Wagner Bill. The Law Department bulletin is properly sustained by decisions of the Supreme Court, but the first referred to bulletin does not make this point clear, but, on the contrary, does infer that employer and employee relations are covered by the Wagner Bill. 89562-39-pt. 35-20 We hesitate to put this first mentioned bulletin up on our bulletin boards and it is would seem to us that in view of the Law Department bulletin of July 23, it would be advisable to change the first mentioned bulletin so that there could be no question left in the mind of employees on the important point as to whether or not the Wagner Bill does cover employer and employee relations in a manufacturing establishment. We will be pleased to have your advices by early mail. Treasurer, Willard Storage Battery Company, 246 E. 131st Street, Cleveland, Ohio. Dear Mr. SCHNAITTER: This will acknowledge yours of July 30 to Mr. Weisenburger. With reference to the statement that there is an apparent inconsistency between the July 23 bulletin issued by our law department and the poster "What Does the Wagner Bill Mean to Employees", I enclose marked copy of the poster and direct your attention to the fact that the very first question quotes both Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Green upon the limitations of the act, and the fact that it does not "cover all industry and labor." The other questions are the sort of questions about which many employees are concerned, and which it was thought advisable to answer, not from opinions of our own, but from statements of advocates of the measure. We believe that this poster does sufficiently point out that the Wagner Bill does not cover "employer and employee relations in a manufacturing establishment." Very truly yours, vh. EXHIBIT 5425 NOEL SARGENT, Secretary. EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES 1 [Copy Letter from Mr. Sargent-Employment Advisory Group] JUNE 27, 1936. DEAR MR. Our Employment Relations Committee at its meeting this week gave careful consideration to the suggested Employment Standards. It was unanimously agreed that the Advisory group had presented a real contribution to constructive thought on this subject. After several hours of consideration the Committee adopted the standards with some revisions and a copy in the form adopted by the Committee is enclosed. You will understand, of course, that this is provisional and may be subject to final revision by our Board of Directors. The Employment Relations Committee omitted from the report the following paragraph: "No discrimination in either employment, training, promotion, retention, discipline or discharge on account of membership or non-membership in any organization." It was felt that in all probability this subject should be included in the standards but there were certain objections to the particular language. 1 See pt. 17, pp. 7410 ff. We should appreciate it if you will send us any suggestions you may have as to revisions of this statement. I enclose herewith copy of a letter sent by Mr. Warner to all Association members, accompanying mailing of our Employment Relations Committee report, containing a most significant statement of "typical employment procedures" not suggested as "standards," but meriting, as the report states, "Careful study by all manufacturers even though some of them may not fit the conditions in individual companies." You fully appreciate, of course, that the next six months in particular is a crucial labor relations period, and that it is highly important to have every industrial company carefully review its employment policy and practice. If you should desire additional copies of this report they are available to Council affiliates at the special member discount price quoted on page 2. Very truly yours, WALTER B. WEISENBURGER, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS 11 West 42nd Street, New York FEBRUARY 10, 1937. To the Member Addressed: The labor problem is always of great importance-seldom, if ever, has it been of more importance in industry than today. It is essential that every well managed company check to see that its labor policy is carefully defined-and that superintendents and foremen are carrying out this policy in their daily contacts with employees. I direct your particular attention to the enclosed report by the Association's Employment Relations Committee. The "typical employment procedures" presented in the report are the results of over six months careful study by your committee, aided by the advise of outstanding labor experts of the country and that of labor relations association executives in our National Industrial Council. The "procedures" listed in the report are not to be considered in any way as "standards" suitable or desirable for all companies-but as the report itself states, they "merit careful study by all manufacturers, even though some of them may not fit the conditions in individual companies." I suggest that you carefully study the report believing that it may be practical assistance to you either in the development of company labor policy or in checking up on your present labor policy. We shall be glad to have your observations on this report; the consulting services of our Industrial Relations Department are at all times available to Association members. Very truly yours, WM. B. WARNER, President. |