The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-08
Woman As a Factor in The
Trade Union Movement
BY ROSE woRTIs

abandoned the policy of militant
struggle in favor of a policy of
"hearty cooperation with the en-
ployers".
The dressmakers played a leading
role in the internal struggle of the
l. l.. G.. w. U. in 1925 when for a
period Of four months they kept vigil
at their headquarters day and night,
under most difficult circumstances,
in order to prevent these headquar-
ters from being captured by the Sig
man machine, then at war with the
membership.
The dressnlakers distinguished
themselves by offering the most
stubborn resistance both against the
employers as we'll as the reactionary
officials, and are today playing a
prominent role in the present strug-
gle going on in their union. BY the
admission of Sigman himself the
dressmakers are a hard nut to crack.
The women have braved all dangers
in order to save their union from the
domination of the Sigman clique
which has made common cause with
the bosses to destroy the union built
thru struggle and sacrifice.
Women In Other Industries.
What is true of the women dress
makers is equally true Of the mil
linery workers. For years the reac-
tionary officials of that union main
tanned that the women could not be
organized; but thru the patient eff
forts of few energetic women
splendid local has ben organized in
New York and another local is in the
process of being organized in Chi
eago.
The role Of the women in the tex
tile strikes and particularly in the
recent strike of Passaic has COM
pletely dispelled the old idea that
women's role in society and has
demonstrated women's ability as a
fighter in the cause of labor. 1t was
the simple, unpublished women, mo-
theirs of families, who gave battle
to the textile barons of Passaic and
forced some of them for the first
time in the history of the textile in
dustry to recognize the right Of
workers to organize themselves into
trade unions. 1t was these horny
daughters of toll that reused the at
tention Of the entire country to the
shameful conditions prevailing in the
mills of Passaic. With their babes
in arms, they braved the cossacks
with their gas bombs on the picket
line. Misery and starvation had
brought these women together and
taught them the lesson Of class
solidarity.
The heroic deeds of the women in
the mining districts in support of
their men strikers are a great tri-
butte to the courage and spirit of de-
fiance of these women, to no lesser
degree than the Passaic women.
Need For Militant Women.
The activities of the women in the
recent boXmakers' strike in New York
and the strike of the laundry work
ers are additional proof that women
have become a prominent factor in
industry and, as such, are beginning
to assume their proper place in the
trade union movement. They have
demonstrated that not only are they
able to fight on the picket line but
they have also shown ability along
the lines of administrative work. The
labor movement of America today,
which has been dragged into the
mire of petty politics and is under
the domination of a corrupt and self
seeking leadership more closely al
lied to and concerned about the EN-
/ ploying class and its interests than
the interests of the workers whom
they are supposed TO represent, is
in great need of the active partici-
patton of women. 1t is in need of the
sincerity. devotion, fearlessness anC
spirit of self-sacrifice which is Sc
characteristic of working class wo-
men and women active in the trade
union movement in particular.
The trade union movement offers
broad field for social activity fol-
women which will be of great advan-
tage to them and to the labor move
ment in general. Every women work,
er who has the opportunity to assert
herself as a factor in the trade unior
movement should not fail to take ad,
vantage of it. s
Or WORKING WOMEN OF