The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-02-11
BY NATHAN GREEN.

THE recent developments in the
American labor movement show
that the trade unions in the United
States are gradually developing into
company unions, that assist the en-
ployers to much easier and more eff
GENTLY exploit the workers, as can be
seen by the "B. & o." plan in the
Machinists' Union, the Nash Golden
Rule" in the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers, ETC., etc.
That the mass of workers are not
fully satisfied with such a condition
can be seen by the left wing move
ment that is developing in the diff
ferent unions. 1t is true that opposi-
ton and progressive groups are not
new thing in the American labor
movement, but the difference between
the opposition movement Of the past
and the present left wing is that while
the previous movement used to be
mostly a fight led by few people
without program running on such
planks as honest administration, they
used to call it a fight of the outs to
get in-that used to result in the new
administration being just as good and
just as bad as the former. The left
wing movement is organized not for
the sake of getting jobs, but is an
organized movement of the rank and
file with a definite program that is
to guide them in their fight against
the bureaucrats in the union as we'll
as against the bosses.
One of the outstanding reasons for
lack of militancy in the present trade
unions is because the mass of mem
bers do not take any active part in
the administration of the union, but
leave 1t to a small group of politi-
clans to run the unions for them.
That small group usually runs the un-
ion in their own interest and not in
the interest Of the workers.
The left wing proposes to change
the form of organization Of the shop
delegate system-a system of organ
ization that will draw the vast mem
bership into the activities of the un-
ion. In that way it will be impossible
for small group of people to do with
the union whatever they please.
At present the basic unit OF this
union is the local. To a meeting Of a
local union about or 10 per cent
OF the members attend, that means
that in a local union Of 1000 about
200 or 400 members attend the meet
ing. In the discussion of different
problems the Drained politicians lead.
If there happens to come to the meet
ing an average rank and file mem
Der, he finds there people he does not
know, and feels very strange. He does
not participate in the discussion and
usually it is a long time before he
comes again to a meeting of his union.
Under a shop delegate system,
where the basic unit Of the union is
the shop, a shop meeting would be
called regularly, let us say. for ex-
ample, once a month to discuss all
problems OF the shop, as well as OF
the union.
Eighty per cent Of the members
would attend such meeting. We
know from experience that to a shop
meeting where the workers are ac-
quainted with each other about so
per cent of the members attend the
meetings. The worker finding him.
self home among those he knows, be-
comes acquainted with the problems
Of the union, and in that way is drawn
into the activities of the organiza-
ton. This tends to develop a more
intelligent and class conscious mem.
bership.
The shop meeting would elect
shop committee to take up all com.
plants that the workers would have
in the shop and have power 70 set