The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-05-26
Finnish Trade Union
Movement Advancing

Side by side with the social demo-
cratic politicians and leaders the
white bourgeoisie has fought against
our trade unions. Very often we have
been denied even the most elementary
civil rights The freedom of assoc
citation and assembly has been in
fringed time and again by authori-
ties. A few examples may suffice to
show it.
Lumber, Transport Strike.
In May, 1922, the lumber and trans
port workers of North Finland went
on strike in order to improve their
miserable wage and working condi-
tons. Some social democratic news
papers as well as those of the bour-
geoisie branded the strike as Com
munistic. All the members of the
executive district body of trade
unions, which was in charge of the
struggle, were arrested and later on
sentenced even for three years to
penitentiaries. The Supreme Court
of Finland approved the sentences de-
claring the General Confederation of
Trad Unions as a criminal body.
Heretofore no special action has been
taken against that central body, but
the Judgment of Supreme Court hangs
as a Damoclean sword over our trade
union movement. The only ground
for the decision of Supreme Court
was the above described wage con-
flict.
On August 3rd, 1928, the authori-
ties arrested about 300 organized
workers all over the country. Among
those arrested were the whole execu-
tive committee of the socialist labor
party, the parliamentary fraction CIT
deputies of the Diet of 200 seats) of
the same party, editors of different
party organs and all the most active
party workers. All the nine party
organs were suppressed, party offices
closed and properties confiscated. In
short, the whole party was sup
pressed.
Suppress Labor Party.
In June, 1924, the Superior Court
of Turku sentenced 189 of the ac-
Icused to penitentiaries for terms
ranging from months to II years.
They were sentenced for high treason.
As the party was suppressed hun
dreds of trade unions that were af-
filiated with the party were deprived
of all the rights guaranteed in the
constitution Of the country.
Already in the autumn Of 1928 the
minister of the interior ordered the
authorities to suppress all the trade
unions formerly affiliated with the
socialist labor party. So began a gen
eral drive against our trade unions.
According to the speech of Comrade
Jokela, vice chairman of the General
Confederation of Trade Unions, in
parliament at the end of 1924, 400
trade union organizations were sup
pressed. These, of course, have been
.reorganized, but these prosecutions
describe how difficult is the position
of our trade unions. And still the
social-democratic politicians side
themselves with the bourgeoisie as
far as militant labor movement is con-
cerned.
Although prosecuted, our trade
unions have been able to carry thru
many victorious strikes during the
last three years. Especially in the
building industry the employers have
been compelled to submit to collec-
tive agreements quite favorable to
the workers. But perhaps the great
{ act ,-f -,
was the outcome of the general lock-
out of metal workers that lasted for
7 months. Locked out metal workers
numbered 10000, They presented to
the employers demands for higher
wages, which were partly won. Most
of the strikes of last years have been
victorious and all the workers are
convinced of the benefits of the trade
union movement.