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4526182
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Associated Builders and Contractors Dinner Speech, Washington, DC, February 18, 1969
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4526182
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document
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Associated Builders and Contractors Dinner Speech, Washington, DC, February 18, 1969
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Industrial relations
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Picketing
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4526182
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1969-02-28
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2
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1969
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1969-02-01
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1969
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The original documents are located in Box D26, folder "Associated Builders and
Contractors Dinner Speech, Washington, DC, February 18, 1969" of the Ford
Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential
Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D26 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
NOTES FOR ASSOCIATED BUILIERS AND CONTRACTORS DINNER SPEECH
Theme is Labor Law Reform
2/18/69
WASH.D.C.
(I think your theme should be that it is time to reassert the
public interest in labor-management relations...time to make
the public interest controlling.)
...YOUR HOSTS WILL BE MOST INTERESTED IN THE COMMON
SITUS PICKETING BILL. THE DEMOCRATS WILL BE PUSHING FOR IT
AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BY REP. FRANK THOMPSON, N.J.
GERALD
THE DEMOC RATS WILL GLEEFULLY RECALL THAT IKE PROPOSED COMMON
SITUS PICKETING IEGISIATION IN 1954 AND RENEWED HIS RECOM ENDATION
2/
A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER THAT. AS YOU KNOW, COMMON SITUS
PICKETING LEGISLATION WOULD AUTHORIZE CONSTRUCTION UNIONS
TO SHUT DOWN AN ENTIRE BUILDING PROJECT IF JUST ONE OF THE
UNIONS ON A JOB IS IN DISPUTE WITH THE EMPLOYER. THIS IS WHAT
THE NLRB AND THE COURTS, INCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT, NOW
SAY IS
ILLEGAL, A SECONDARY BOYCOTT. YOU'LL RECALL
THAT CHARLIE GOODELL LAST YEAR GOT A COUPEE OF MINOR
FORD LIX
AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL OKAYED IN COMMITTEE LAST YEAR AND THEN
AN ALTERNATIVE BILL WH ICH HEDGED SITUS PICKETING
ARV
PUSHED
AUTHORITY IN WITH SO MANY RESTRICTIONS THAT
UNIONS
3/
WOULDN'T BUY HIS BILL. BILL AYRES HASN'T STUCK HIS NECK OUT ON
THIS
LEGISLATION.
AS YOU KNOW, HE PLAYS FOOTSIE WITH THE
UNIONS. HOWEVER, HE RELUCTANTLY SUPPORTED THE GOODELL BILL.
WHO WILL PLAY THE GOODELL ROLE THIS YEAR? THERE ISN'T ANYONE,
SAYS MIKE BERNSTEIN. SAYS HE CAN'T PREDICT WHAT'LL HAPPEN ON
COMMON SITUS.
2
ANOTHER BILL THAT'S ON TAP IS THE "PRODUCT
PROMOTION FUND" BILL, WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE LAST
4/
YEAR AND DIED IN THE SENATE. (THE TAFT*HARTLEY ACT MAKES IT
ILLEGAL FOR AN EMPLOYER TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANY UNION OR JOINTLY
ADMINISTERED FUND EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN SPECIFIC PURFOSES...
PENSIONS, WELFARE, HOSPITAL INSURANCE.) UNDER THIS BILL, THE
UNIONS COULD JOINTLY ADMINISTER FUNDS TO WHICH EMPLOYERS HAVE
TO DATE UNILATERALLY CONTRIBUTED TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTS OF THE
INDUSTRY. THE BILL PROVIDES THAT THE EMPLOYER DOES NOT HAVE TO
NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNION REGARDING SUCH A FUND EVEN IF SUCH FUNDS
ARE MADE JOINTLY ADMINISTRABLE, BUT THE CONTRACTORS CONTEND THIS
IS NO PROTECTION BECAUSE THE UNIONS WITH THEIR STRIKE EX WEAPON
5/
CAN COMPEL THEM TO NEGOTIATE ON THE IS SUE! THE BILL ALSO
WOULD LEGALIZE SETTING UP A FUND TO FINANCE A BOARD OR
COMMISSION TO MAKE A BINDING DECISION REGARDING THE MEANING
OF A LABOR-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT...i.e., NOT BINDING ARBITRATION
NUT BINDING INTERPRETATION. BERNSTEIN SAYS THIS WOULD AID THE
RANK AND FILE IN SMALL UNIONS WHICH CAN'T AFFORD TOI - PAY
OUT MONEY FOR SUCH A PURPOSE. BOB TAFT LAST YEAR OFFERED AN
AMEN IMENTER - ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WHICH KNOCKED OUT THIS
LIBRAR
"BINDING INTERPRETATION" PROVISION. BERNSTEIN SAYS THIS WAS
A MISTAKE. MANAGEMENT WASD OPPOSED TO THE PROMOTION FUND
6/
LEGISLATION BUT NOT TO THE "BINDING INTERPETATION" PROVISION.
THIS BILL IS UP AGAIN THIS YEAR.
:
3
AUTHORIZE
ANOTHER BILLIN
IN THE E. & L. COMMITTEE WOULD
A JOINTLY ADMINISTERED FUND FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, ADULT EDUCATION,
NURSERY SCHOOLS FOR WORKING MOTHERS, ETC. THE COMMITTEE DIDN'T
ACT ON IT LAST YEAR. IT'S UP AGAIN.
I
IN ADDITION TO A GENERAL OCCUPATIONS SAFETY AND HEALTH BILL,
WHICH DIED IN THE RULES COMMITTEE LAST YEAR, THERE IS A
7/
4
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY BILL. THIS LATTER BILL APPLIES ONLY TO
CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SAFETY STANDARDS ON SUCH PROJECTS WOULD BE LAID DOWN BY THE
LABOR TEPT. ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS DIDN'T OPPOSE
IT HEAD ON LAST YEAR, BUT TOOK THE POSITION IT WAS NOT NEEDED.
tokengortdepter
THEY POINTED OUT THAT THE NAVY DEPT.
NOW WRITE
SAFETY STANDARDS INTO THEIR OWN CONTRACTS. THE BILL CAME UP
UNDER SUSPENSION LAST YEAR. IT GOT A MAJORITY BUT NOT 2/3RDS.
IT'LL
BE UP AGAIN THIS YEAR.
GERALD
LIBRARY
----
8/
THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CATEGORK PENSION AND WELFARE FUND BILLS
5
a. ONE BILL, THAT GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE LAST YEAR, WOULD EXPAND
THE PENSION AND WELFARE FUND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND IMPOSE
VERY RIGOROUS FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS ON THE AIMINISTRATORS OF SUCH
FUNDS.
b. THE OTHER BILL WOULD GO FARTHER REGARDING PENSIONS. (I
PERSONALLY LIKE THE IDEA, AND I THINK AMERICANS GENERALLY WOULD
GO FOR IT.) IT WOULD AVOID PENSION PORTABILITY (WHICH WOULD BE
TERRIBLY COMPLEX) BUT WOULD REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO PAY A
PENSION TO AN EMPLOYE WHO HAD WORKED FOR HIM FOR A SPECIFIED
9/
NUMBER OF YEARS, SAY FIVE YEARS, ETC., so THAT AN EMPLOYE
SHIFTING TO ANOTHER JOB WOULD NOT LOSE
THE PENSION
BENEFITS HE HAD ACCUMULATED UP TO THAT TIME. THE BILL WOULD
REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO TAKE OUT PENSION FUND INSURANCE so
THAT AN EMPLOYE WOULD NOT LOSE OUT IFI
THE COMPANY
BECAME
DEFUNCT. IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR A STUDY OF
"PORTABLE PENSIONS.'
-
7
ALTHOUGH A COUPLE OF 14-B REPEALI X BILLS HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED, BERNSTEIN SAYS YOU DON'T HEAR ANY TALK ABOUT IT. AND
LAST YEAR CONGRESS DID NOTHING ON THE SUBJECT.
10/
---
THERE NOW ARE THREE NEGROE SENX ON THE E. & L. COMMIT EE,
INCLUDING POWELL.
MI
BERNSTEIN EXPECTS TEEM TO PUSH XSSX
THE 8 (HAWK TNS) BILL ини WHICH WOULD GIVE THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION THE POWER TO ISSUE CEASE AND
REGARDING DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT-
DESIST ORDERS' Miller THE KIND OF POWER NOW ENJOYED BY THE
N.L.R.B. IN LABOR*MANAGEMENT MATTERS. THIS LEGISLATION
LIBRARY
PASSED THE HOUSE IN THE 89TH CONGRESS, DIE D IN THE SENATE.
LAST CONGRESS THERE WERE HEARINGS IN THE SENATE; THAT'S ALL.
IN THE 91ST, IT'S UP AGAIN, AND 7 OGDEN REID IS A CO-SPONSOR.
11/
---
ALSO (AND BUILDERS WOULD HAVE NO PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THIS),
q
THERE'S A BILL UP TO PUT FARM LABORERS UNDER TAFT*HARELEY
THE COMMITTEE REPORTED IT LAST YEAR: IT = DIE IN RULES.
NIXON HAS DIRECTED THE SECRETARIES OF LABOR AND AGRICULTURE
TO STUDY THE DESIRABILITY OF SUCH LEGISLATIONI
---
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
NIXON ALSO HAS DIRECTED THE SECRETARIES OF LABOR AND COMMERCE
10
TO MAKE A STUDY OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY STRIKES. BERNSTEIN SAYS
NIXON MADE A MISTAKEX IN CALLING THE PRESENT TAFT*HARTLEY
39
(Bernstein)
PROVISIONS OUTMODED.
HE/SAYS THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. I DON'T KNOW THAT
THIS IS SO. I THINK THE PUBLIC WANTS AT EXT LEAST AN EFFORT
MADE AND THAT NIXON SHOULD GIVE IT "THE OLD COLLEGE TRY. n I
THINK HE CAN DO so WITHOUT ALIENATING THE RANK AND FILE LABOR
GUY AND COULD MAYBE WIN HIMSELF A LOT OF VOTES EVEN THIS IS A
VERY
SENSITIVE LEGISLATIVE AREA. I THINK THE
PUBLIC IS SICK OF THE T REMEN IDUS NUMBER OF WORK STOPPAGES WE'VE
BEEN HAVING. AND PARTICUI LARLY THOSE BY PUBLIC
EMPLOYES. THERE MUST BE SOME BETTER ANSWERS.
11
ONE LAST NOTE...
RE: MINIMUM WAGE
IT'S NOW $1.60; Former LABOR SEC'Y WELLARD WIRTZ SAYS IT
GEORGE SHULTZ SAYS "NOT AT THIS TIME."
SHOULD BE $2. # AFL-CIO IS PUSHING FOR: $2 MINIMUM WAGE,
DOUBLE-TIME INSTEAD OF TIME AND A HALF FOR OVERTIME, OVERTIME TO
START AFTER 35 HOURS STEAD OF 40 (i.e., WANT A
35-HOUR WEEK
MADE STANDARD). BERNSTEIN SAYS HE HAS HEARD JOHN DENT SAY HE'S
GOING TO PUSH FOR THE AFL-CIO PROPOSALS BUT so FAR DENT HAS
FORD
NOT YET INTRODUCED THE BILL.
GERALD
LIBRARY
--
SUMMING UP: THE UNION PRESSURE IS FOR COMMON SITUS PICKETING
JOINTLY ADMINISTERED PRODUCT PROMOTION FUNDS, AND BRINGING "AG"
LABOR UNDER TAFT-HARTIEY. #####