The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-03

charges from Uu5 CdpAtdilSCS ASOOh
opened at our union meeting recently
Russian unions are truly industrial
ers of an industry combined into one
by itself, embracing every worker In
the plant from the lowest skilled to
the highest. Moreover, every agree
ment covers each and every category
of workers under one roof.
Fhe meetings are held at the club,
an excellent room set aside in every
enterprise as a meeting place for the
workers. The order of business in
cludes but one point, the ratification
of a new agreement with the firm. 1t
is a long agreement and point by
point it is read and discussed. The
business manager, a fellow worker,
responsible for the administration OF
the enterprise, often objects but prac-
tically without exception the workers
insist upon their stand. Frequently
they are able to base their conten-
ton on some paragraph of the soviet
labor law, while in other cases the
agreement goes beyond the provisions
of the law. The workers also have the
support of one of the district officials
of the union.
Clash "on Trial"
One of the first points to bring about
a clash was that providing that work
ers could not be hired ION trial" for a
longer period than two weeks. The
manager thot that this was not always
long enuf. The workers disagreed,
and cited the labor law. The more
basic provisions that employment and
discharge had to be ratified by the I'M
ion was of course self understood and
never questioned.
This agreement provided an in
crease of nine per cent in the wages Of
all technical workers, the responsible
workers" having had a raise given
them in all industries thru action by
the "Stoa,' or national council of la
Dor and defense. An interesting sec
ton provides that in case of delay Of
payday for any reason, interest at the
rate of one-quarter per cent per day
must be paid to the workers. This
provision has more of a traditional
than a recently practical basis, for in
cEarist times paydays were very often
postponed indefinitely, and some en-
terprises paid only once or twice a
year. It is then used to help hold the
workers in line. There is seldom any
occasion for it's application today but
when there is it is maintained to the
letter.
Mothers Protection.
Another point that raised consider
able discussion was the objection of
the administration to the extension Of
the protection of mothers beyond the
provision of the labor law. This law
now provides for vacation, with pay,
two months before and two months
after confinement. The agreement
provides that even II the nursing
mothers are unable to return after the
four months period they cannot be
discharged without the consent of the
labor inspection, the most powerful
revisory body in all Russia. The man
ager stated that he was agreed in
principle, but that the practice would
ers employed to replace a mother on
vacation would be too indefinite. The
section remained in the contract Just
the same.
M transportation for Workers.
Another question that aroused dis
pute was a demand that transportation
be paid for all workers living more
than two yersts "a mile and half
from the plant. This provision origin
ates In industrial enterprises which
draw their working forces from an ex.
tended countryside. The Russian in
dustrial proletariat was drawn from
the peasantry, and a large transition
element has now one foot in industry
while the other foot remains in the
village. Yet in the cities the question
OF car-fare is of no small importance
10 the lower paid workers, since II is
particularly. these who live in the
cheaper new lodgings on the out
skirts of the city. After some discus
sion the section likewise stayed in the
contract, the better paid workers com.
ing to the aid OF their fellows.
Other interesting points, 20 web.
rooted that there is no dispute pos
sible concerning them are those OF
workers sent 10 other cities. and those
regarding apprentices. A worker can
be aent IA another CITY only with HIS