rejected bargaining representation in 1,625 elections. Approximately 77 percent of the collective bargaining elections were held on the basis of agreements reached between the parties, without recourse to the formal procedures of the Board in Washington.

Unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor won 2,092 out of 3,399 representation elections in which they participated during the 1949 fiscal year, or approximately 62 percent. This is approximately the same percentage of elections won by AFL unions in fiscal 1947, the last year of the Wagner Act, when they were selected as bargaining representative in 2,196 out of 3,581 elections in which they participated. Unions affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations won 858 out of 1,546 elections in which they participated, or approximately 55 percent. This compares with victories in 63 percent of the elections in which they participated in fiscal 1947, when CIO unions were selected as bargaining representatives in 2,138 out of the 3,410 elections in which they took part. Unaffiliated unions won 939 out of 1,311 elections in which they participated, or approximately 72 percent. This compares with victories in 65 percent of the 1947 elections, when they participated in 1,317 and won 860.

In the 5,646 representation elections of all types conducted by the Board, a total of 607,534 employees were eligible to vote. Valid ballots were cast by 533,326, or approximately 88 percent of those eligible. Of those voting, 387,176, or approximately 73 percent, cast ballots in favor of union representation, while the remaining 146,150 cast ballots against representation. In these elections, CIO affiliates polled a total of 162,592 valid ballots, AFL affiliates 133,323, and unaffiliated unions 91,261.

In 406 elections in which AFL unions and CIO unions competed for the right to represent the same groups of employees, the AFL won 162 and the CIO won 175. Twelve of the elections were won by unaffiliated unions, and in 57 of the elections the employees rejected any bargaining representative. In competition with unaffiliated unions, AFL affiliates won 76 out of 204, while the unaffiliated unions won 97, and in 9 no bargaining representative was selected. CIO affiliates, in competition with unaffiliated unions, won 47 out of 163 such elections, while the unaffiliated unions won 94, and in 12 no bargaining representative was chosen.

Of the representation elections, a total of 132 were held as a result of petitions to decertify a currently recognized or certified union. The employees voted to retain the union in 50 of these elections. AFL affiliates won 22 out of the 54 such elections in which they participated. CIO affiliates won 25 out of 62, while unaffiliated unions won 3 out of 17. A total of 18,773 employees were eligible to vote in these elections, and 17,078, or 91 percent, cast valid ballots. Of all

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ballots cast, 9,816, or approximately 57 percent, were cast in favor of retaining the bargaining representative.

A total of 157 of the representation elections were held as a result of petitions filed by employers. The employees voted in favor of bargaining representation in 100, or approximately 64 percent, of these employer-requested elections. The employees voting cast a total of 25,831 ballots in favor of union representation. This was 84 percent of the 30,817 valid ballots cast and 70 percent of the 36,774 employees eligible to vote.

In 137 of the elections requested by employers, only 1 union sought to represent the employees. The union won in 83 of these 1-union elections, or approximately 61 percent. Of the 20 employerrequested elections in which more than 1 union competed for bargaining rights, the employees voted for union representation in 17 elections, or 85 percent. CIO unions won 9 of these competitive elections, AFL 5, and unaffiliated 3.

Unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor participated in 103 of the 157 elections held on employer petitions. They won 58, or approximately 56 percent of those in which they took part. Unions affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations participated in 44 and won 28, or approximately 64 percent of those in which they took part. Unaffiliated unions took part in 24 and won 14, or 58 percent of those in which they took part.

Board rulings in representation cases during the 1949 fiscal year are discussed in chapter II.

5. Results of Union Shop Authorization Polls

A total of 1,733,922 employees were eligible to vote in the 15,074 polls conducted by the Board to determine whether the employees wished to authorize their union to negotiate a union-shop contract requiring all employees to join the union as a condition of continued employment. Of these eligible employees, 1,471,092, or approximately 84.8 percent, cast valid ballots, of which 1,381,829, or 93.9 percent, cast ballots in favor of union-shop conditions. In 14,581 elections, or 96.7 percent of those conducted, the employees authorized the negotiation of union-shop contracts.

AFL affiliates won 10,448, or 96.5 percent of the 10,830 in which they participated. A total of 896,893 were eligible to vote in these elections, and the AFL unions polled a total of 728,227 ballots.

CIO affiliates won 1,979 out of 2,024, or 97.8 percent. In these elections, a total of 596,318 employees were eligible to vote, and the CIO unions participating polled a total of 475,588 valid ballots.

ballots cast, 9,816, or approximately 57 percent, were cast in favor of retaining the bargaining representative.

A total of 157 of the representation elections were held as a result of petitions filed by employers. The employees voted in favor of bargaining representation in 100, or approximately 64 percent, of these employer-requested elections. The employees voting cast a total of 25,831 ballots in favor of union representation. This was 84 percent of the 30,817 valid ballots cast and 70 percent of the 36,774 employees eligible to vote.

In 137 of the elections requested by employers, only 1 union sought to represent the employees. The union won in 83 of these 1-union elections, or approximately 61 percent. Of the 20 employerrequested elections in which more than 1 union competed for bargaining rights, the employees voted for union representation in 17 elections, or 85 percent. CIO unions won 9 of these competitive elections, AFL 5, and unaffiliated 3.

Unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor participated in 103 of the 157 elections held on employer petitions. They won 58, or approximately 56 percent of those in which they took part. Unions affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations participated in 44 and won 28, or approximately 64 percent of those in which they took part. Unaffiliated unions took part in 24 and won 14, or 58 percent of those in which they took part.

Board rulings in representation cases during the 1949 fiscal year are discussed in chapter II.

5. Results of Union Shop Authorization Polls

A total of 1,733,922 employees were eligible to vote in the 15,074 polls conducted by the Board to determine whether the employees wished to authorize their union to negotiate a union-shop contract requiring all employees to join the union as a condition of continued employment. Of these eligible employees, 1,471,092, or approximately 84.8 percent, cast valid ballots, of which 1,381,829, or 93.9 percent, cast ballots in favor of union-shop conditions. In 14,581 elections, or 96.7 percent of those conducted, the employees authorized the negotiation of union-shop contracts.

AFL affiliates won 10,448, or 96.5 percent of the 10,830 in which they participated. A total of 896,893 were eligible to vote in these elections, and the AFL unions polled a total of 728,227 ballots.

CIO affiliates won 1,979 out of 2,024, or 97.8 percent. In these elections, a total of 596,318 employees were eligible to vote, and the CIO unions participating polled a total of 475,588 valid ballots.