The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-24
.LOSOvSKY TELLS
FIFTH CONGRESS
ABOUT UNIONS
Tactics of Communists
in Reforrnist Bodies
Especial to the Daily worker.)

MOSCOW, July 6.-(By mail.)-
Opening the discussion on the trade
union question yesterday, before the
Fifth Congress of the c. l., Losovsky,
secretary of the Red International OF
Labor Unions was the chief reporter
The speaker declared that the chief
characteristic of the present situation
was the fact that the retreat of the
working class had ceased, and in some
countries there could be observed the
beginning Of a counter-ofrensive on the
part of the working class on the eco
nomic field. The leaders Of the Am
sterdam International have shown
themselves in their true colors as the
political and economic strike break
ing agencies of the bourgeoisie. For
this reason the discomfort Of the
masses and, consequently, the in
nuence of the Comintern and Proin-
tern is growing.
As a result Of the appearance OF la
Dor governments, renewed pacifist il
lusions are coming to the surface
again; and the tendency to with
drawal from the trade unions is also in
evidence. The chief problem is to
preserve the unity of the trade unions,
and to restore it where it has been
impaired. Trade union unity is not
an end in itself, however, and the
Bolsheviki always hold themselves
aloof from organizational fetishism.
Control Of the unions does not mean
control of the trade union machinery,
but rather the winning over of the
masses. For that reason withdrawal
from the unions is not revolution
airy procedure; it is an act of de-
SPAR.
In the period preceding the Frank
fort Convention, the Communist Party
of Germany had no trade union po-
icy. The movement to leave the trade
unions was a desertion from the field
of battle. There is but one solution,
and that is Back into the trade unions
and fight for the unity of the workers
there.
Where there is already split, as in
France and CzechosSlovakia, the chief
task consists in restoring the unity Of
the trade unions by means Of a Joint
congress, and for this propaganda
to be carried on in the shops and
factories.
Expelled Must Get Back.
1t is the task Of the Communists
who have been expelled from the trade
unions Immediately to organize and
to fight for their reinstatement.
1t is but a cloudy illusion that all
problems will be solved by abandon
ing the craft unions and setting up
industrial organizations.
The Transformation from craft to
industrial unions will be long and
slow process. Therefore the German
Communist Party did right in refus-
ing to launch program Of building
new industrial unions.
Left Wing Of ReformIsts.
The Vienna Congress Of the Am
sterdam International showed that
left-wing is forming itself in that
body. This left wing, however, does
not understand that international are
higher than national interests. The
chief problem before the Amsterdam
International is whether to join the
right wing of the working class or the
left wing Of the bourgeoisie. At the
Vienna Congress, altho several reso-
buttons were toned down, still the right
wing won on all questions. The left
wing was not homogeneous; the COM
mon aims are merely: first to save
Amsterdam; second, to get the Soviet
unions into the Amsterdam Interna-
tional; third, to bring about the disso-
luton of the Profntern; fourth, to
restore peace in the trade unions un-
der the condition that the Amsterdam
right wing break with the Labor Blu
reau Of the League of Nations and
that the Communists cease organizing
the opposition.
Altho the left wing did not criticise
the position of the Amsterdam Interna-
tional of the peace treaty, the repara-
tons plan, the occupation of the Ruhr,
and the question of the Soviet unions,
still the Communists are prepared to
regard the left wing as progressive.
The Comintern, the Proflntern, and
the Soviet Unions are prepared to sup
port the Amsterdam left wing, are
ready to come to an understanding