The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-10-12
ARTICLE NINE.
BY WILLIAM F. dunno.

THE gap between the unorganized
4 semi-skilled and unskilled workers
in the basic industry and the organ
lied workers is growing wider-nOt
only in the sense that the wages,
working conditions and the extent of
job control of the unorganized work
ers are less favorable, but the trade
unions have lost a good deal of their
former influence among them for two
reasons in addition to those already
cited:
First, because the trade union Of
fcialdom makes little If any attempt
to reach these workers and in some
cases actually displays contempt for
them.
Second, because the trade union Of
ficialdom, saturated in craft unionism
and tied to the bosses by the machin-
cry of the capitalist parties and a
thousand bonds of worker-employer
cooperation, is incapable of appealing
to these workers who, when they en-
gage in a conflict with the capitalists,
know little of and care less for the
internal politics of the trade union
movement and its perennial jurisdic-
tional conflicts, its craft divisions and
obsolete machinery which acts as a
brake on the struggles of its member
ship and the unorganized workers as
well.
A CLASSIC example of the impo-
n tence of the present leadership
was furnished recently by the strike
of the motormen and switchmen en-
ployed by the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company of New York.
After many attempts on the part of
the strikers and their sympathizers to
get action from the officials Of the
Amalgamated Association Of Street &
Electric Railway Employees, the trade
union having Jurisdiction over this
industry, conference was arranged.
The strike itself was an inspiration
to anyone except an old line trade
union officer. The workers had broken
with the company union, they had
struck without any guarantee OF sup
port from any section of the labor
movement, the New York police had
been modified against them, but the
strikers were the last to acknowledge
that they had tackled too big job
without adequate preparation.
INSTEAD of taking charge Of the
L strike and giving it organizational
direction, placing it under the auspices
Of the recognized union and appealing
to the labor movement for support,
the official OF the Amalgamated Street
& Electric Railway Employees first in
formed the strikers that they would
have to be split up into separate
local unions in accord with the sacred
constitution and bylaws of his union
The strikers quite naturally looked
upon this proposal as a method of
weakening the strike and particularly
we're they unable to understand the
necessity of such procedure when they
were at grips with one of the most
powerful corporations in New York
City.
To the trade union official the union
as an institution, with all It's rules
and regulations. was paramount. To
the unorganized strikers, the strike
and the extension of the strike was
the important thing.
The strikers were right and here is
shown the fundamental difference be-
tween unorganized workers in motion
and a trade union o1icialdom which
thinks first OF a settlement" OF get.
ting the men back TO work.
THE same reverence for craft auto
4 nomy in a more aggravated form
vas largely responsible for the defeat
II the stssi strike in 1920. The Of.