23
Will State Service Be Faced With an
Employee Unionization Problem?
As an organization, , the Oregon State dental. The OSEA, an entiwlv inde- .
Employees Association has no quarrel pendent and self-governing body of
with labor union movements in this -state employees, has growfpfrom a mem
country. The principles underlying the bership of 50 in 1943 to its present
formation of the AF of L and the CIO strength of over 4,100 by a consistent
unions are yrell known and beyond the policy of presenting every employee
stage of discussion. However, the facts problem for solution at the proper
of their activities, purposes and methods level on the basis of m erits fairness
are becoming better known, and could and what it deemed best for the wjeU^
rightfully be of, concern to the welfare fare of the State. It is a non-profit
of the State and its employees at this organization. Its methods have been
straightforward, honest, dignified and
time.
There is now in existence among considerate. Its successes ¿dfej due., to an
State employees an A F of L organiza appreciation of the true worth of its
‘requests in the interests of efficient
tion known as the American Federation ■
of State, County and Municipal Em public service.
ployees. The CIO at their recent na Cooperation With OSEA Desirable
Cooperation between the administra
tional convention at Portland gave pub
lic notice of their intention to organize t o rs ? of public service and the service-
public workers by aggressive action in producing State employees as represent
to their group. It is apparent that the ed by the OSEA is no'«obtainable by
A F of L will not remain idle when the mutual discussion and study on a
attempt to organize and unionize State friendly, sober basis/free from pressure
workers really gets under way in Ore tactics, implied threats or political
chicanery. The paramount interests of
gon? between these rival unions.
the public are recognized and safeguard
Employees Make the Decision
ed.
The elective and appointive adminis
A continuation of this present situ
trators of Oregon’s public services, re ation in State public service can be as
gardless of their personal opinions or sured ONLY by a strengthening of the
^official desires, can do little publicly or present State employees organization,
privately one way or the other when the OSEA. Only as; this group main
these labor organizations struggle for tains a membership strong enough, to
employee membership among State em assure defeat of unionization at any
ployees. It is the employee who will be union election which might be forced,
^solicited, urged and pressed by these only by such means will minorities fail
highly efficient organizing bodies, and to usurp power and thus thw art the
it will be the employees who decide will of the majority.
what the outcome will be!
The OSEA is engaged in a member
ship driye>aimed at having at least
OSEA Reliability Recognized
Prior to organization as the present of State employees as a c tiv ^ m e m g g |
Oregon Sta l l Employees Association in Its past record, and its objectives merit
1943, itsV charter members had dis-at- support by every IBtlzen of the State,
tached themselves from the A F of L by every public adminisW tor and by
union, after'discovering that the inter . «every State employee who is concerned
e s t s and methods of the AFSC&ME un w ith the improvement of public service
ion and their own were not truly coinci and the true welfare of the State.