The daily worker., 1924-04-10
We and They
The Left and Right Wings in the Unions

II ne Lert ana INlgnL
HE struggle of the militants in
the American labor movement
and the needle trades in particular
is becoming more bitter from day to
day. In their efforts to maintain
their. power in face of the opposition
from the rank and file, the officials
Of the needle trades industry have
often accused the militant left wing
of disrupting the union.
Three conventions of the needle
trades are about to take place. The
Needle Trades Section Of the Trade
Union Educational League deems it
its duty to make clear its position to
the workers in our industry and the
labor movement in general on the
various problems confronting the in
dustry and the solutions we offer as
opposed to the policies Of the official
dom and their right wing supporters.
We are militants; they are Com
perists.
We believe in the class struggle;
they believe in peace between capital
and labor.
United Front Against Bosses.
We say that the working masses
must organize themselves so as to
present uniAed front in their battle
against the enemy; they say that the
workers should organize themselves
only for the purpose of collective
bargaining with the enemy.
We say that union officials must
act as leaders of the workers in the
struggle to win for them better con-
ditions of living; they say that union
officials must act merely as represen-
tatives of the workers bargaining for
favor from the bosses.
We declare the workers must be
organized in order to combat the
organized power of the employers;
they often try to help the employ
ers organize so as to be able to carry
on negotiations between their joint
representatives.
We say that a campaign of organ
ization amongst the workers of the
industry must be carried on at all
times; they regard the work of or
ganization as something Seasonal"
to be undertaken when the member
ship is on the point of disintegration
or when negotiations are about to be-
gin with the employers for new
agreements.
We hold that the rank and file of
the unions must especially be drawn
into the work of organization; they
believe this work must be done prin-
cipally by paid agents.
We believe in the activity of the
masses; they believe in the diploma
tic maneuvers of particular leaders.
We insist upon rank and file con-
troll of the unions; they believe the
unions must be controlled by paid
officials.
Class Education.
We say that the leaders must be
bound to the masses by close ties of
comradeship; they keep the leaders
aloof from the masses.
We maintain, that the workers
must be educated and trained for the
class struggle; they oppose this be-
cause they do not believe any class
struggle exists.
We say, that the unions must wage
a campaign to eradicate the evils
from which the workers suffer; they
try to reconcile themselves to all the
evils.
We say that the sweat-shop system
in the needle industry must be eradi-
Gated; they keep on friendly terms
with all sorts of organizations of
sweat-shop bosses.
We say that the activities Of the
union must be based upon the needs
of the workers battle for better con-
ditions; they hold that these activi-
ties must be suited to the personal
Of paid officials.
We stand for amalgamation; they
stand for the craft unionism.
We stand for the consolidation of
trade and craft locals; they want TO
maintain the useless division into
small locals.
We say, that the workers must be-
come active on the political field, and |
carry on independent political ac-
ton; they fraternize with all kinds
Of capitalist politicians and beg ia
gors from them for the workers.
We hold, that our unions must