The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-28
shoe WORKERS
DRAW FIGHTING
PLAN IN EAST
Anticipation Demand
Against Fake Union
BY JOSEPH MANLEv

I cAAOC WI hNAoy Will DAAIA tAy w NAAC oN(AAC
of bitter struggle between these
workers on the one hand and their en-
pIoyers who want to cut their wages
20 per cent on the other. 1t appears
at this moment as If the Boot and
Shoe Workers "a. F. Of Id will get
into the fight on the side of the shoe
manufacturers.
A big movement is on foot backed
by the employers, to exploit the Boot
and Shoe Workers Union to their own
benefit and to the detriment Of the
workers. 1t has reached It's highest
point in the city of Lynn. Here there
are several large local unions of shoe
workers members Of the Amalgamated
Shoe Workers Union. This was the
organization which grew out of one of
the many attempts to amalgamate the
various independent unions in the
| shoe industry.
Capitalist Press Boosts Fake Union
In Lynn the agreement If this un-
ion with the employers expires on
April 30th. The newspapers of Lynn
are flooded with propaganda in favor
of the Boot and Shoe Workers Union
The propaganda is so extensive that
even the churches have taken up the
cry. Agents of the Boot and Shoe
Workers Union are working in the
locals of the Amalgamated Shoe
Workers creating sentiment favorable
to the Boot and Shoe Workers I'm
ion. The purpose of all of this is to
create a situation whereby the Boot
and Shoe Workers Union can come in
to Lynn at the expiration of the Anal
gamated agreement, make an agree
ment with the Lynn bosses selling
them the union LABEL and enslav-
ing the Lynn Shoe Workers.
To cope with this situation and the
lack of unity, the threat Of wage cuts
and unemployment in the industry,
conference was called by the T.. U. e.
L. in Boston. At this conference mill
tant shoe workers from the various
New England shoe centers were re-
presented, and in addition two dele
gates from New York participated.
Zero the Minimum
The situation with regard to the
Boot and Shoe Workers Union and the
independent unions was gone into
in detail. From reports Of militant
shoe workers from Lynn, it was plain
to be seen that the rank and file Of
the Lynn shoe workers were bitterly
opposed to the Boot and Shoe Work
ers' Union. Its methods, as practiced
in other New England cities, were
well known to them. They are ia
miliar with the infamous proposition
of the Boot and Shoe Workers Union
namely, local co.. This zero organ
ization is scheme of the officials of
the Boot and Shoe Workers Union to
prevent free expression of the rank
and fie. 1t means that no local union
as such functions.
In several centers the Boot and
Shoe Workers National Union has an
agreement with the employers permit
ting them the use of the union LABEL"
in return for which the employers
allow the agents Of the Boot and Shoe
the Workers Union to visit the plant
and collect 25 cents weekly from the
workers. By this method the workers
are made members of the union.
This arrangement functions 100 per
cent to the benefit of the employers
and the bureaucrats at the head of the
Boot and Shoe Workers Union. Other
Aquses, almost beyond belief, were re-
ported to the conference.
Wide Sentiment for AmaIqamatIon
1t was generally agreed that a
strong sentiment for amalgamation ex-
lists in the industry, and no confidence
in anything but in the militants and
the program of the T. U. E. L. was
expressed.
1t was decided to call large and
fully representative conference in the
near future, It was the unanimous
opinion OF all those present, that the
time has arrived for the miIitants TO
take virtual charge of the amaIgama-
ton sentiment, the struggle for unity
and the fight against the employers In
tho shoe industry. To this end the
hOHoNlng program was adopted:
oreanlzatlonaI Proposals
!. Raise slogan of one union in
shoe and leather industry thru anal.
gamatlon Of existing organizations. To
this end the following measures are
proposed.
a. A strong movement to consolid
ate independent unions in amalgama-
ton convention to be called as soon
as possible.
b. A move TO amalgamate the indie.
pendent unions with the B. & S. on
the basis Of the following demands,
which will turn the 3. & S. from
company into trade union:
Abolition Of local 20" and restora.
ton Of right Of minorities TO express
opinions.
Use Of 3. & s. label TO be govern
Cd by local councils and to be given
only 70 closed shops.