Labor Union Chiefs Predict a Radical Shift in Democratic Party Plank

In a shocking turn of events, Democratic labor leaders have forecasted that the party’s upcoming convention in Philadelphia will push for even more drastic labor reforms than in 1932. The predicted plank aims to tackle a shorter workweek, minimum wages, and the abolition of child labor, all of which were key promises in the 1932 platform. However, since the National Recovery Administration (NRA) attempted to implement these changes, average working hours in industry have actually increased by three, pushing the average to nearly 42 hours per week.

The recent surge in labor sentiment for President Roosevelt, spearheaded by influential union leader John L. Lewis, has contributed significantly to this anticipated shift. Furthermore, the President’s renewed efforts to combat unemployment, outlined in his Baltimore program last week, have reignited the labor movement’s fervor. As a result, Democratic labor men are now eyeing the party’s convention as an opportunity to go even further than in 1932.

The Supreme Court’s impending ruling on the Guffey Coal Act, due next Monday, and its decision on the New York minimum wage law will likely have a profound impact on the convention and the campaign. With these developments in mind, it remains to be seen whether the Democratic Party will indeed adopt a more radical labor plank in June.

A closer look at the 1932 platform reveals that the promise of a shorter workweek was only partially fulfilled. While the NRA did attempt to reduce working hours, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Sugar Institute case has led to a significant setback. The recent child labor and fair trade practice provisions upheld by the Court have, however, provided a glimmer of hope for labor reform advocates.

As the Philadelphia convention approaches, labor leaders are holding their breath, eager to see whether the Democratic Party will indeed take a bold stance on labor issues. One thing is certain: the stakes are high, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the labor movement and the nation as a whole.