The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-01-18
DELEGATES LAUD
RISING TIDE OF
WORKER freedom
Emphasize War Danger
in Europe
Continued from Page Ome)

Soviet Union than by the workers in
America.
Workers In America and Russia.
Coming from land in which work
ers' organizations are being threat
ened with extinction, in which the
government by it's injunctions, police
brutalities, state militias and court
decisions is RELOCATING the trade
unions to a progressively unimportant
place, the delegates were astonished
to discover that in the Soviet Re
public "the trade unions are a mighty
force. They are consulted on all
plans for new industries and demand
that funds be set aside for health and
safety. Back of the trade unions are
the Commissariat of Health, the Com
missariat of Labor and the whole
power of the Soviet government" y.
Again we learn: "There are no lock-
outs, police clubbings, hostile courts
or injunctions against the worker
Workers are not blacklisted for
striking, but the management or trade
union officials are disciplined. A
shakeup in management generally fol
lows in plants where strikes have
occurred"
Workers AIl-Powerful.
Summing up this phase of their
report we find the conclusion;
Throughout Russia, in all industries
and cities visited, we felt the strength
and the power of the workers. In
the factories, trade unions, clubs, and
schools we found the workers advanc-
ing toward happier and richer work
ers' state. Organized labor is build
ing Russia and holds the key to the
future"
No less were the delegates surprised
at the evidence of the part played by
the workers in their trade unions, of
the democracy within these unions
and more than these of the large pro-
portion of the union members who
were engaged in executive and admin
istrative activities in these organiza-
tons.
In one factory, the Amo Automobile
Works, the delegates were astonished
to discover that "95 per cent of the
members attended the 46 meetings
held during the year. .one quarter Of
all union members participated in
executive and administrative activity,
an incredible figure judged by Amer
lean union standards. :"
American workers will no doubt be
interested to hear that "there are no
high paid labor officials in the Sow
let Union. In fact none of them, even
Tomsky, makes more than 225 roubles
(about $112) per month. All of them,
from top to bottom, seemed to us to
be highly energetic and devoted
real leaders of labor in close touch
at all times with the rank and file of
the union. :"
Trade Union Democracy.
"Here is democracy indeedi" ex-
claim the delegates. The democracy
Of work, assigning Jobs to every work
er, organizing activity that reaches
the sweeper of floors and demands
that the red director himself, manager
of the works, function also as a union
ist. 1t is democracy that gives short
shrift to the bureaucrat, that pushes
aside the self-seeker. It is an effec-
tive democracy. sensitive tn the wish
es of every element of the rank and
file. because the newest or most I'M
skilled union member has every DOS
sible opportunity to bring his influ-
ence to bear on union policy and
tactics"
Other sections Of the report deal
with the cooperative organizations in
the Soviet Union, Health and Safety
Workers Education, International Re.
lations, the Housing Campaign and
the Basic Industries.
Free Rent.
The section on housing should BIZ
particularly instructive, especially tc
New York City workers. A sentence
or two may be quoted: "In contrast
to the American worker who must
spend a fourth to third of his in.
come on rent, the Russian worker If
most major industrial districts pay
nothing for rent, heat, light or gas
Elsewhere rents are based on 5 to II
per cent of the workers wages"
Unemployment insurance, vacations
with pay, amusement and recreation
provisions, medical attention, educa
tional activities, sports and numerous
other provisions for the enrichment o
the workers. life comprise prominen
sections of the report.
The section on international Rela
tons emphasized that Russia is tn,
only country in the world where tn,
government considers it. . essentia
to account for it's actions to the work
ers," for it's relations with othe,
countries. 1--WE found the desire TO
world solidarity of labor very strons
among the Russian workers. TIL
report emphasizes, however, the de
termination of the Russian proletaria
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