The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-20
Realize Bad condItlons.

rue OrBdHI1dtlOu OF the GreoK Work
ers in the New York Furriers is a
classic example of organization work
done by rank and file organization
committees. For years the Furriers
organization tried to organize the
Greek workers in New York without
success. 1t is only when the new
progressive administration of the New
York Furriers' joint board inaugurated
rank and file organization commit
tees that they succeeded in their task
Room for Improvement.
Perhaps if the A. @. w. would fol-
low this example it would not have
in cities like Chicago, unorganized
clothing workers. Firms like Cling
Bros, employing hundreds of people,
operating in the heart of the clothing
center, would without question fall in
line with other organized shops.
The present leadership in the A. G.
w. has upheld the suspensions of
members Of Local 80, Chicago, be-
cause they have distributed leaflets
issued by Local of New York ex-
planning the reasons why the local
was expelled from the New York
joint board. Any leafet issued by
local that is a member of the inter-
national is legitimate and legal act.
Opposition outIawed.
But this local happened not to agree
with the New York officialdom on the
question pertaining to the manner in
which the Joint board officials dealt
with the employers. That made the
| local an outlaw in the eyes of the ma
I tional administration, and those work
ers who sided with Local 5 were sus-
pended from the organization.
The G. E. B. in upholding the sus-
pensions, has gone squarely on record
that no difference of opinion will be
tolerated in the A. C. w.
overestimatIng Power of Money.
The G. e. B. at the same session.
discussing the International strike
and lesson learned from this struggle,
point out to the membership that all
the sacrifices made by those involved
in the strike, and all the fine leader
ship in the strike would not have sue
ceeded in winning the battle for the
Amalgamated, had it not been for
huge resources of funds, that no bat
tie with the employers could ever be
won unless the organization is finan-
cially prepared.
1t is not the purpose of the writer
to discuss in these lines the victory
achieved after the 10 weeks of hard
struggle and expenditure of $500, 900.
But is well to remember that this
strike was not won by this huge ex-
penditure alone, that it was the solidi-
fed forces of the membership, the
militancy and determination of the
strikers, the mass picketing in New
York by the very forces that the
G. E. B. brands today as dual union.
lists, and the moral support of the
labor movement in those cities where
the strike was in effect.
What About Left Wing Aid?
1t was the left wing delegates to the
j Chicago Federation of Labor that
forced the Chicago federation to tear
the mask OF Ricketts, scab agency Of
the U. G.. w. and support the Anal
gamated in spite of Green's declara-
ton that the A. G. w. is still a dual
union-as far as the federation is con-
cerned
The officialdom should learn a les
son from this strike. ~ To have more
faith in the militancy and conscious.
ness of the membership; (2) to cali
strike when the employer does not
sign on the dotted line, when the old
agreement expires; CD not to wait
for the employer to lock out the work
ers when 1t is most convenient for
him; "a use mass picketing for
breaking down injunctions.
Unity on Progressive Policies.
If unity is to be achieved in New
York, the A. c. w. will have to clean
out the present corrupt officials and
put into effect the reforms advocated
by the membership. If organization
Is to be done, rank and file organiza-
tion committees are to be inaugu-
rated. to-
If the A. G. w. is to put itself back
in the place In the labor movement II
once held. 10 must stop its present
class collaboration policy and must
become a militant, fighting organize
ton for the workers. 1t must work
along with the other needle trades
unions for amalgamation and a labor
party Only then could the A. C. w.
take its former place in the revolu-
tionary movement.