The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-27
Chicago Daily News Questions
Answered by Russian Communist

4lAlSo-- VI all uilAOAlSAAs OIdlI uHlOnbg
disunited, compete with one another
and undermine the power of the work
ing class. The unions, affiliated to
the American Federation of Labor,
the l. w. W., the independent unions
which attempt to form at the same
plants, compete among themselves by
most unfair methods, create confusion
and disorganization in the midst of
the working class. The number of or
ganized workers does not exceed 4
million. The American Federation of
Labor, after 45 years of existence,
has in it 100000, which consti-
tutes an insignificant percentage of
the total number of workers. In many
trade unions Negroes and work.
ers Of the yellow race are not admit
ted, common laborers and semi-skilled
workers are not organized and not
taken into the unions.
But the trade unions in the USSR
are organized along industrial lines
one industry Zone factory, one union.
All, beginning with the common la
borer, the Waterman, the sweeper
and up to the highly qualified spe-
cialist, belong to the same union. The
trade unions are open to all workers
irrespective Of race, nationality, re-
ligious and political views. 81 per
cent of all people working by hire
are members of trade unions. All the
trade unions are amalgamated in one
central body, the USSR Central
Council of Trade Unions, and help
each other in their WORK. IN July
/, 1926, we had 9,270,O00 trade union
members-88 per cent of the total
number of people working by hire.
If the American trade unions were
organized along the same lines as the
trade unions of the USSR and should
embrace even 50 per cent of all per-
sons who work by hire ana be organ
lied in one central body, it would be
Of great benefit to the American
workers.
The trade unions of the USSR are
organized on the basis of democratic
centralism. The rank and file are
drawn into trade union activities;
they elect and control their leaders.
AS soon as any trade union leader
becomes estranged from the mass of
workers and begins to manifest symp-
tens of a bureaucrat, OF an official
who attempts to rule over the MEM
bership, such a leader is recalled from
his post and another, more worthy
leader is elected in his place. Our
trade unions are of the opinion that
it is not good for people to occupy
leading positions too long; we do not
recognize life jobs in the trade
unions. That helps much against con-
servatism. Our trade union leaders
and active workers are all revolution
lists who work for an ideal and they
do not look upon their trade union
post as their vocation, as their privi-
lege and monopoly, and they do not
fight for their jobs.
If all that should be adopted by the
American trade unions, we would not
be witnessing how their leaders be-
come lifelong rulers and czars of
their unions, we would not be wit
Messing the reign of the fist and the
strong arm in the American unions
which is fostered by many trade
union officials, we would not be wit
Messing the bureaucratism, conserva-
tism and venality which obtain there,
and that would be very, very advan-
tageous for the American workers.
Concluded tomorrow.)