The announced intention of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company to close 300 stores in Cleveland would be of widespread importance and interest, even if the threat of sympathetic strikers throughout the nation did not draw attention to this latest dispute over recognition of famous section 7a of the NRA. Cleveland union leaders have insisted that the A and P has consistently violated the provision of the Code which provides that the employer shall not "intimidate, coerce, or dismiss employees for joining organizations of their own choosing." On the other hand, the A and P insists that there has been at no time a strike among their own employees, that the present crisis was instituted by outside union men and professional agitators, and that they have continually given assurance through the Press of their desire to comply in both letter and spirit with section 7a of the Code, providing that employees of labor shall deal collectively in bargaining with labor.

Significant is the fact that one group of 700 company employees had no quarrel with the policy of the A and P, as they claimed that they were being fairly treated and that wages and working conditions were satisfactory. At the same time, another group of employees, led by union leaders, announced that "a closed shop was essential to protect the interest of employees." Measures adopted by this latter group, included the blockade of trucks under contract to deliver A and P goods, the agitation against employees, who desired to return to their jobs, some picketing and violence with the chance that affairs may take a more serious turn.

It is high time that the government mediation committee on the National Labor Relations Board brings about a settlement of this dispute between the union leaders' demands for a closed shop and the A and P's insistence that an open shop be maintained. For it is obviously impossible that the demand of section 7a for collective bargaining with labor be satisfied when labor refuses to be collective by dividing into two groups, each group maintaining that it represents all employees and each group insisting that its individual policies be carried out. The entire removal of section 7a from the Code would no doubt help toward solution of future disputes of this kind that may arise as it is now virtually impossible for industry to do collective bargaining with labor.