The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-10-13
BERT MILLER.

The shop nucleus is the spearhead
with which the Communists will
break thru the ranks of the reformist
trade union leaders to the leadership
of the masses OF the workers. The
shop nucleus is the most effective
weapon against the right wing in the
trade unions. 1t is absolutely indis-
pensable for our work in the trade
unions.
Power Of the Union Leaders.
When an important question comes
up for discussion in trade union, the
leaders WELD a tremendous power
over the membership through their
control in the union machinery, with
which they can mold the opinion Of
the membership, They control the
union organ which reaches every
worker in the organization. They
have control of the mailing lists
which is an additional channel for
propaganda. They can manipulate
the machinery of the union SO as to
have meetings called at the most
favorable time and place and in the
most favorable manner. Their bust
ness agents and other officials use
their" contacts with the workers to
strengthen their hold upon the organ
ization. 1t is in their power to render
many small favors to some of the
workers, thus giving them an addi-
tional hold upon them. Then too,
there is the prestige which goes with
an official title, which has consider
able influence upon the average rank
and filer. And last but not least they
have the support Of the capitalist
press whenever they take respect
able" stand against the interests Of
the workers, and denounce the Com
munists.
The Power Of the Nucleus.
Seemingly the odds are against the
Communists. But a closer analysis
will show that on the contrary, the
shop nuclei form of party organiza-
ton gives the Communists power
full advantage.
The strength of the Communists
lies in the fact that they base their
policies upon the actual needs of the
workers in the shops. There is no
better means Of determining these
needs than the shop nucleus with its
alert representatives In every depart
ment of the shop in contact with the
workers every. minute of the day.
Here the officials are at distinct
disadvantage, for their knowledge Of
conditions in the shop is obtained
Indirectly and is often unreliable. The
policies formulated by the Commun-
lists in the shop nucleus on the basis
of their intimate knowledge Of the
situation, are bound to meet the
needs of the workers far better than
those proposed by officials who are
out of touch with the rank and file
Having formulated policy on the
basis of a correct analysis Of condi-
tions in the shop, having received
the approval of this policy from the
party fraction the Communists can
readily put it thru in the union.
Their propaganda is not limited to
one union meeting, or to one issue
of the union organ. 1t is carried on
day after day, systematically and
persistently until the entife shop is
won over. The members of the shop
nucleus use not only leaflets, party
newspapers, the shop nucleus paper,
and the shop meeting, but what is
most effective, the personal interview
in the language of the worker. No
opposition can withstand this assault,
provided it is organized and carried
out well in sufficient number of
shops.
Our party has carried on an effec-