The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-09-15
Rail MiIitants Hear Report
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ure entered into relations with the 16
unions, the universal eight-hour day
increased wages and better conditions
won. But this did not come from the
activities Of the union officials, but
from a temporary peace" maneuver
of the companies, who actually drove
tens of thousands of workers into the
unions.
How unlonism Has Lost.
Prior to 1916, the railway clerks
had about 5000 members, but this in
creased to over. 100000 in 1920. The
carmen, who had 10000 in 1915, had
over 100000 in 1921. The sixteen
standard unions rose from about $780,
600 in 1916 to 100000 in 1921.
Under the national agreement wages
had increased. In 1916 the average
wage was 1892. Then came the war
and in 1917 the average was $1,000;
1918, SLAB; 1919, $1,4S6; in 1920,
$3.50. The total wages had more
than doubled from 1916 to 1920. But
all these conditions were abnormal,
not due to any fighting policy Of the
union officials, but were a maneuver
to pacify labor carried out conscious
ly by labor's enemy-the companies
and the capitalist government, in or
der to avoid interference with the
war program. Anyone could have
.foreseen that when the war was over
capitalism would take away what it
had given.
No Officials Who Would Fight.
With fighting leadership which had
program such favorable situation
would have been seized upon and the
unions made invincible. Instead, the
leaders were going into coal mining,
banking, real estate and other bust
nesses, now not even caring if the
membership does dwindle to naught as
dividends from banks, ETC., pays their
salaries.
The post war offensive Of the COM
panies was explained in detail, the
passage of the Esch-Cummins bill and
the setting up Of the railroad labor
board beginning the drive Of capital
against rail unions. The open shop
drive began. Capitalism began to at
tack the unions one at time. Wages
were cut here, and when the cut was
put over, then wages were cut there.
A war strategy of the companies
against the workers was put in effect.
Layoffs, outside contracting, wage
cuts, withdrawal of conditions were
the order Of the day. The railroad la
Dor board compelled the unions strict
ly to obey its orders but the CON-
panies openly and successfully fouted
its rulings. The net result in the de-
feat of the shopmen symbolized the
success Of the companies. ilnlm
Betrayal Of the shopmen.
In that strike the betrayal Of the
union leadership became most appar-
ent. All workers were anxious to aid
the shopmen. Some struck in spite
Of the officials opposition. The Main
tenance Of Way men had vite strike,
but that unions officials sold out the
strike for mere two cent raise for
this one union. The government
threw all its power against the strik-
ers.
The Willard-Jewel agreement of
Sept. 10, that year, was the first big
surrender of the union officials and it
demoralized and shattered the ranks
OF the strikers. Their cause was lost.
The work of 25 years was undone.
The shop unions melted away like
snow before summer sun. From AGO.
900 they fell to 100000 or less. It was
a terrible monument to the stupidity
OF craft unionism and the folly or
worse Of the leaders with no vision.
The Present Situation.
The Carmen, which went into the
strike with about 100000 have now
only 10000 left. The machinists, which
had a railroad membership of about
$4,000 today have only 10000 on the
railroads. The total membership of
all is trades fell from 1850 900 in
1922 to about 100000 at present. The
whole machinery of protection by the
union in the shops was destroyed.
Wages have been lost in ten occupa-
tons ranging from 7 to 1872 per cent
between 1921 and 1925. They are
still going down. In February, 1925
rail workers got 100000 less than
in February, 1924; 1884 fewer men
were employed. Two dollars a month
was lost in one year off the average
pay of all railroad workers.
For the entire month Of February,