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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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They also moved people around from one department to another department. Later on they said they did it deliberately because they thought that little gangs were being organized in various departments and that those gangs were breeding trouble. That was the way they put it. To a bona fide, really good union that would mean that the employer is trying to find a way to prevent union organization and union development. In this case, Allis-Chalmers said later on that they were afraid that sabotage and spying and bad acting was going on. They would move the one they thought was the ring leader to some other department.

Finally, of course, they proved to my satisfaction, and to others, that wherever a certain half dozen men went, no matter how they moved them, there was trouble. I remember one of our conciliators saying, “Well, why not leave them right where they are. Don't keep moving them around. It seems to spread trouble. They were trying to satisfy themselves that these were the men.

Before the days of the Labor Relations Board management would have fired the people that they had doubts about. They couldn't do that because there would be a protest at once that Jones was fired because of his union activity. Then charges would be made, and then the Labor Relations Board would come





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