The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-02
CzHChO-SIOvakia
Unions Are Split
By Right WingerS

PRAGUE, Czecho- Slovakia, April 4
by MaiD The Amsterdam Inter
national very often comes out in de-
Tense of trade union unity 1t accuses
Moscow of descriptive activities. 1t
does all in its power to prove that the
united front" is only an agitational
slogan of the Communists.
The words and actions of Amster-
dam, however, diverge appreciably.
Facts are not wanting to prove the
disruptive tactics of the Amsterdam
international One Of the recent sue
cesses of Amsterdam's policy of dis
ruption is the split in the militant al
lance between the reformist German
Railwaymen's overland" and
the railwaymen's section of the One
Big Union (OBU-Red Federation af-
filiated to RILU) in -Slovakia.
The present instance is very in
structive as all the disruptive ma
chinations were carried out on the
initiative and under the personal guild
ance of the president of the Amster-
dam Internationally degeest him
self-who personally attended all the
meetings of both trade union centres.
To Carry On Struggles.
Coordination of activities between
the "Verband" and the Railwaymen's
Section of the OBU was agreed upon
by both organizations in order to car
ny on the. economic struggle jointly
and to coordinate their struggle dur
ing the reflections of last year for
the railwaymen's sick benefit societies.
Of a total number Of 1SS,415 votes,
this block was supported by $4,000.
Such an increase of the opposition
alarmed the government as well as the
rsformists, who considered their po-
sition among the railwaymen secure,
and the former, through the agrarian
press, began to speak of the danger
of Communist control over the rail-
waymen.
Brodetsky, secretary of the reform
list Czech Railwaymen's Union con-
demned as treason the action of the
German Railwaymen's Union reform
ist) "Nerband" in coordinating their
activities with the Railwaymen's Sec
ton.
Collaboration between the German
reformists and the revolutionary union
was. however, rt-lived, and on the
18th of February a meeting was held
of Representatives of the overland"
and Railwaymen's Section, which, de-
spite the touching speeches of the re-
formists. virtually led to a break.
At this meeting Grunzner. the rep
resentative of the reformist 'Ver-
band" made a few remarks bearing
interesting testimony to the warm"
relations existing among the reform
lists.
Hampered Negotiations.
1--WE shall do everything" he said
ito guide the union in the right way
and coordinate all the forces of social
ism. We know that Brodetsky ham
pered the negotiations as much as he
could and will continue to do SO in
the future. He does not wish to talk
with you, while it is our aim, on the
contrary, to preserve mutual contact
and friendly relations" The reader
naturally asks: Why this sudden
friendliness?
The fact is: Grunzner considers
that ain accordance with assurances
received during previous meetings
with the reformists) the opportunity
arises for you to leave the OBU."
Perhaps continues Brunzner, that
will be the only way for the Rail
waymen's Section to get freedom of
action"
1t appears then that the friendly"
relations of the reformists towards
us depend on our breaking with the
railwaymen's section Of the OBU.
These are not very brilliant tactics.
Our comrades gave worthy an
swer to the Amsterdam proposal.
"You should not forget" said the
secretary of the Railwaymen's Sec
ton, that we, too. belong to defin-
lite International and to trade union
centre. We, too, have our principles
and our obligations"
Grinned and Bore il.
In breaking with the Railwaymen's
Section the reformists were well
aware that antagonism among their
own rank and file members would be