Records of the National War Labor Board (RG 202), 1942-1947

General Correspondence, 1943-1945. Entry 203. National Archives Identifier 3545626

Central Files, 1943-1945. Entry 204. National Archives Identifier 3555642

Meeting Minutes, 1946-1947. Entry 489. National Archives Identifier 3555644

Records Relating to the Appointment of Arbitrators, 1946-1946. Entry 490. National Archives Identifier 3555646

General Records, 1946-1947. Entry 491. National Archives Identifier 3555648

Press Releases, 1946-1946. Entry 492. National Archives Identifier 3555652

General Correspondence, 1944-1947. Entry 493. National Archives Identifier 3555654

Records Relating to Form NWSB 9, 1946-1946. Entry 494. National Archives Identifier 3555660

Materials for Distribution, 1942-1945. National Archives Identifier 78118078

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Region VI Records

The Daily Newspaper Printing and Publishing Commission was preceded by an advisory panel that was created by order of the National War Labor Board on February 24, 1943, at the request of labor and industry representatives. The panel was at first established on an experimental basis for an initial period of 90 days to provide industry-wide treatment of wage cases and to obtain greater uniformity of treatment within the industry. Its jurisdiction included employees in the mechanical, maintenance, mailing, editorial, art, circulation (including newsboys), commercial, and kindred departments. During this experimental period the Panel reported to the National War Labor Board for final action all cases processed by it, both voluntary and dispute. At the expiration of the trial period the National Board extended the life of the panel indefinitely.

 

On June 16, 1943, a directive order of the National War Labor Board empowered the panel to pass finally, subject to review by Region VI, on voluntary cases where its decisions were unanimous and where the proposed adjustments fell within the maladjustment formula. In all other cases, the panel's function was limited to making recommendations to the Region VI Board at Chicago.

 

The panel was reconstituted a commission by order of the National War Labor Board on February 8, 1944, with final authority to act on all cases within its jurisdiction, subject to review by the National War Labor Board. Its membership comprised two representatives each for labor, industry, and the public, all appointed by the National War Labor Board. Management and labor representatives were chosen from nominees submitted by the corresponding representatives of the Board. The public members served as Chairman and Vice Chairman.

 

After the termination of the National War Labor Board on December 31, 1945, the processing of voluntary wage cases for the newspaper industry was handled by the regional office of the National Wage Stabilization Board having jurisdiction over the establishment involved in each instance.

 

 

The Detroit Area Tool and Die Commission was established on December 11, 1942, by directive order of the Board to implement the directive orders of October 23 and December 11, 1942, which were designed to prevent soaring wage rates and labor pirating in the Detroit tool and die market. The Commission was empowered to make final rulings, subject to review by the National Board, on all pending and future disputes and on voluntary cases involving tool and die workers in the six-county Detroit area and was also given enforcement authority. 

 

In the first few months of its existence the Commission was virtually autonomous. It reported its action on voluntary cases to the director of Region V at Cleveland, but was not under the supervision of that regional office. By February 1943, the National Board established Region XI, comprising the State of Michigan, with headquarters in Detroit. The Commission became, administratively at least, a division of the Region XI board, though it continued to act independently. Gradually, however, it was integrated with the regional board and on July 29, 1943, the National Board, acting on the joint recommendation of the regional board and the Commission, officially reconstituted the body as the Tool and Die Commission of Region XI. It also expanded its jurisdiction to include the entire state of Michigan. The rulings and decisions of the Commission were thereby made subject to regional board review, and enforcement cases within its jurisdiction were brought within the jurisdiction of the regional board's Enforcement Division. 

 

At first the Chairman of the Commission was appointed by the National Board and he in turn chose labor and industry representatives, serving on an ad hoc basis, from a panel of names approved by the National Board. In this respect, it differed from the other commissions, since its labor and industry representatives were not full-time employees. After July 1943, however, the Chairman was appointed by the regional board and was assisted by labor and industry consultants who were chosen by the Chairman from a panel of names approved by the regional board.

 

With the termination of the National War Labor Board the Commission went out of existence. Application for wage adjustments, formerly within its jurisdiction, were thereafter processed by Region XI of the National Wage Stabilization Board.