The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-13
CONTINUED from last issue)
CHAPTER "

and of approach to the problems of
building our party is apparent. To
become effective opponents of Com
munism and to actually organize the
workers for the overthrow Of capt.
talism, we must learn how to connect
the struggle for our ultimate aims
with that of the elementary needs Of
the workers.
Our members too often overlook
these needs, although being employed
in the shops themselves, because the
everyday abuses caused by the sys-
tenn of exploitation have become so
habitual and ordinary. While this is
too often accepted merely as a part
of wage slavery, it is precisely the
things which are Objectionable to the
workers. The objections, however,
are not given expression.
1t is the duty of our shop nuclei to
take up these issues, formulate the
proper demands and correct slogans.
But so simplified that a few are con-
centrated on and couched in the
| language of the workers. These is
sues should be taken up through our
various means of activities, and par
ticularly through the shop bulletin.
Properly conducted they will serve to
establish wide contact with the work.
ers and gradually move them into ac-
ton against their class enemies.
There are for example the following
issues:
1.-Speed-up System and Long Hours
of Work.
In most of the industrial enter
prises of the country, production is
standardized, the individual output
being ever increased. Various de-
vices are applied to increase the speed
of the motions of the workers, in ad-
dition to foremen driving them to the
point of exhaustion. Most places long
hours obtain with a shift system.
Sometimes double shifts with no extra
pay for night work. Yet when work
is slack the speed does not diminish
and seldom are the hours reduced,
but workers are rather placed on part
time employment while the industrial
reserve army waits at the gate for
jobs. Thus increasing the competition
of the workers and further intensity
ing the speed-up system. Shop nuclei
must here take up the question of get
ting rid Of slave driving bosses, re-
duce hours of work, point to the need
of organization of the workers and
solidarity with the unemployed.
2.--Health and Safety Conditions.
In the factories many conditions OBJ
tain dangerous to the health of the
workers. Lack of ventilation, use of
poisonous materials, insanitary toilet
and Mushroom facilities, etc. Lack
of safety devices make accidents daily
occurrences. Compensations for &C
cidents generally mean a maze of red
tape and graft by petty politicians.
In this respect shop nuclei can be in
strumental in leading the fight for
healthy conditions and for real safety
devices and assist workers or their
relatives who are victims of accidents
to obtain their compensation.
3.-Violation of Working Agreements.
This is a problem mainly of shops
of organized workers. With morgan
lied workers the bosses make no
/ agreements. Violations often occur
as a result of demands that workers
prepare their own material not spe-
cific in the agreement or carry heav-
Ter loads than specified; or in many
other ways. Discrimination generally
results where objections to such prac-
tice is made. If not through actual
lay-offs, then often in assignment to
lesser paid or more disagreeable work.
Such violations of agreements in real
ity becomes a reduction of wages.
While the violations also often have
direct connection with cooperation
of trade union officials who sell out
the interests of the workers and CO.
operate with the bosses.
Schemes of so-called adjustment
through adjustment boards, arbitra-
ton, or permanent labor boards gen
orally further discriminate against the
workers in favor of the bosses. A
fight against such violations, dis
examinations and the schemes to up
hold them broadens the basis of shop
activities as well as the ranks of the
fighting forces. 1t often makes pos
sible the establishment of effective
connections from shop to shop in the
same industry A part of the fight
must be the exposure of the corrupt
practices of trade union officials
where such is the case.
flight Against Wage Cuts.
Wage cuts are ordinary occurrences
whether applied on the hourly rate or
piece work rate. The first task of
shop nuclei members should be to
understand the nature of the cuts,
gather the necessary statistics to
strengthen the case Of the workers
and proceed to organize resistance.
This gives particular opportunity
for party members to explain the sys-
tenn of exploitation of the workers,
proceeding from concrete basis and
will generally bring ready response
/ from the workers concerned While