1 - American Memory

Is H.R 7189 anti-union legislation? It is our considered opinion that H.R. 7189
cannot be attacked with any validity as being anti-union legislation. It does not
eliminate totally the right to strike. It merely delays it in the same fashion as is
provided by the 80-day injunction under the emergency strike procedures of the
Taft-Hartley Act. It does not provide for any compulsory arbitration, fact find-
ing or other devices to interfere with the rights of the parties to determine their
w^ages, hours and working conditions.
We will not deny that it has some Impact on the collective bargaining situa-
tion, but again must point out that this Impact is small. We contend, therefore,
that there can be no just case built on the contention that H.R. 7189 Is antl-unlon
legislation.
As stated previously, there is no question but that H.R. 7189 will have some
impact on collective bargaining between the parties. There is also no question
but that a shipping strike seriously affects 800,000 people of Hawaii and the
Territory of Guam and the Trust Territories. It is our contention that the third
party interests in this matter heavily outweigh the de minlmis impact on the
collective bargaining intereits of the parties and that legislative justice dic-
tates the relief from shipping strikes that H.R. 7189 provides for Hawaii, Ouam
and the Trust Territories.
TESTIMONY OF ROBEBT R. GBCNSKY, PRESIDENT, HAW AH EMPLOTEBS COTTNCIL
BEFOBB THE MEBCHANT MABINB SUBCOUUITTEB, SENATE COMMEBCE COMMITTEE—
JANUABT 19I2
I am Robert R. Grunsky, president of the Hawaii Employers Council. There
are over 600 member companies of the Hawaii Employers Council, large and
small, covering almost the entire range of business and Industrial activity in
the State of Hawaii and the Territory of Guam. It is principally through this
wide association that our business communities have maintained a sharp focus
on industrial relations and labor-management practices wliich promote sound
business climate, encourage economic development and improve the business
outlook for the future.
During these hearings, you have already heard from several industry and
business leaders who have given you detailed and specific testimony on the
impact of the current West Coast dock strike on the economic health of Hawaii.
Whenever Hawaii has experienced a shipping interruption, there has been a
marked effect on construction, employment and unemployment, personal income,
retail trade, tourist arrival, price increases and business failures. I have sut)-
mitted to your Committee a review of the economic impact of a shipping strike
on Hawaii. We prepared this research material back in June 1969 at the request
of the Department of Labor in anticipation of a possible .strike by the seagoing
unions. The findings in that review were substantiated in the current situation.
The review also includes a summary of the economic impact felt by Hawaii in
the 1949 and 1952 shipping interruptions. The genera! impact is as follows:
1. Layoffs started within 15 to 30 days after the start of the strike.
2. Inventories were quickly depleted with certain items in short supply within
30 to 45 days.
3. Additional warehouse storage area was required by sugar and pineapple
since they could not ship bulk sugar and canned pineapple to the West Coast.
It also meant a loss in marketing of these products.
4. The consumers price index increased.
5. Retailers felt the impact in declining sales.
I now would like to comment on the labor relations aspect of such stoppages
and the impact of Senate Bill 2836 on labor relations.
With the exception of the 177-d'ay strike of the Hawaii dock workers In 1949,
all other major interruptions In shipping in Hawaii occurred as a result of a
labor dispute outside of Hawaii. No other state in the nation is so uniquely
vulnerable to a shipping tie-up as Hawaii because of its complete dependence
on shipping for the importation and exportation of goods. While giant strides
have been made in air freight, the bulky, heavy equipment and supplies can-
not be flown in on an economical l>asis. The tonnage capacity of a single ship
per voyage (at least 15,000 tons on a container ship) cannot be matched by the
airlines.
It Is the combination of circumstances of dependence on shipping for the
smooth running of our economy And the occurrence of a labor dispute in which
Hawaii Is an innocent third party which makes us an extremely Interested party
to the various bills which have been proposed In Congress to prevent this kind
of a Shipping interruption.