The daily worker., 1928-03-02
TRACTION STRIKE
LOOMS ON |. R. 7.
w orkers Form Own
Shop Groups
lContinned from pane one


pare for a strike.
Rank and file traction workers have
been quietly forming their shop COM
mittees of action during the past few
days in order to insure themselves of
a 100 per cent strike when the call
comes. At the same time it became
apparent from the testimony of a
number of workers on various parts
of the road that the attempt to force
them to work with strike breakers
will be the signal for an immediate
walkout. This in fact has been what
has occurred in other strikes.
Information which The DAILY
WORKER can state is reliable con-
firms the fact that the power houses,
the shops and the workers in the sig
nal department will go out at the very
first call. The motormen and switch
men have, Of course, always been the
most aggressive and their attitude is
assured. 1t seems certain that the
conductors and ticket agents after the
lesson of the 1926 strike will likewise
join with their brothers in the walk
out. The strike will therefore be
general.
The word has been passed along
the lines, "No working with scabs,"
mo breaking in of strike-breakers."
Enemies at Work.
But while the workers have shown
all signs of their preparedness to act
in the fight for trade union status,
certain forces against which they
have been warned are now seeking to
break their ranks.
Mayor Jimmie Walker, who is now
seen to have played his prearranged
role in support of the traction inter-
ests by delaying the union with con-
ferences until the Interborough could
muster its strikebreakers, yesterday
showed even more openly his role as
stool pigeon to the companies. He
made a direct attack upon the union
in the form of criticism of the "a
hour ultimatum. 81 am not satisfied
with any statement that puts an ar
bitrary time limit on our efforts to
stop the threatened strike"
The mayor wishes further to delay
the workers action and to tie their
hands. He attacks them after already
having betrayed their interests. He
says nothing against the Interborough
herding its hundreds of strikebreak-
ers, gunmen and thugs. He further
puts at the disposal Of the company
the thousands of the city police, the
industrial squad which in 1926 beat
up the workers and in general plays
the part which The DAILY WORKER
has warned the traction workers he
will play.
The DAILY WORKER must fur
ther warn the traction workers
against danger from another direc-
ton. The union officials who have
already shown by their playing with
the mayor that they are ready to
accept their policies from the Tam
many Hall politicians. Today Ma
hon and Fitzgerald are again to meet
with Jimmie Walker who has already
betrayed the traction workers.
Such maneuvers will lead only to
further defeat. The workers must
organize their shop committees in
self defense. They will find at the
right moment their honest and cor
rect leaders some Of whom have al
ready sacrificed for them in the past.
Demand Tried Leaders
The traction workers will not be
leaderless or unsupported. They will
receive the support of the thousands
of organized workers in the city. AL
ready word has gone out from the
New York Council for the unem-
nloyed that "The Unemployed Will
Not Scab on the Traction Workers.
1. The traction workers must de-
mand at their meeting that the dis
charged workers who have sacrificed
for them be reinstated Immediately.
2. No working besides scabs; no
breaking in of strike breakers.
''0nr Own Strike!"
8. A strike, not for the traction
companies in their increased fare
move, but strike for our own de-
mands; sour Own Strike Under Our
Own Control"
A. Shop, barn and terminal com
mittecs to carry out these demands
and insure rank and file control.
8 Leadership from among the
men who have sacrificed and have led
ether strike movements: "Tried
Leaders"
6. Finally the instruction to he
lAmalgamated officials. No more
maneuvers with Tammany Hall. Vic