Labor: Playing the Patsy

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The rash of disputes in basic industries spurred public demands for some mechanism that would preserve collective bargaining without repeatedly dislocating the U.S. economy. President Johnson promised 15 months ago to propose legislation to "deal with strikes which threaten irreparable damage to the national interest." Fearful of alienating labor, whose most credible weapon is still the strike, he has yet to do so. But Congress, understandably, is growing weary of playing the patsy every time the President is confronted with a potentially disruptive strike.

In 1963, John F. Kennedy turned to Congress to intervene with special one-shot legislation to prevent a rail strike. Last year Congress was at the point of legislating against the airline strike when the two sides settled it themselves. With the May 3 rail strike looming, Johnson faces such alternatives as compulsory arbitration or Government seizure of the railroads—both unpalatable to a man who has been strongly backed by labor in past elections. Instead of taking either step, the President is expected to ask Congress for legislation barring the strike. Congress has little choice except to carry the ball for the President still another time, but its patience is growing thin.