The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-01-04
An Heroic Strike in London

draughtsmen, blind workers, COM
positors, and others.
The police have of course at
tempted in many places to hamper
their movements, prohibiting their
marches, following them round on
bicycles and endeavoring to drive
them home, but have met with I'M
expectedly spirited resistance on the
part of the strikers. No pains have
been spared by the employers to
bully girls into submission. They
have tried employing blacklegs Ia
girl striker was arrested for throw
ing flour over one of them); but it
is not pleasant to go to work at the
Rego factory and face the scorn
of the Dickets. They have sent fore
men to the homes of some girls, but
in every case they have been sent
about their business. They sent each
individual employee a registered let
ter of dismissal and intimated that
any applications for reinstatement
must be made early, or it would not
be considered; the net result was
that one girl returned!
And the Executive Committee of
the T. G. w. u? While the workers
have been fighting for the preserva-
ton and recognition of the union
which they have built up for their
defense, and from which the officials
draw their salaries, the Executive
has not only refused strike pay but
has withheld from the branch con-
Quoting the strike the sum of $40
due to it for its current expenses.
At the same time it has demanded
the immediate payment of a portion
of local union funds (e37) which
in the ordinary way would go to
headquarters, but in the circum-
stances has been used to sustain the
strikers. 1t is due to the solidarity
of other sections of workers that
strike pay has been forthcoming,
and is even increasing.
Rumors are circulating that the
treacherous officials have been con-
Quoting conversations with the
Masters Federation, with a view to
issuing a joint statement repudiating
the strike; and in the light of their
conduct throughout, it appears
highly probable that the rumors are
well-founded.
The Labor Party, true to its re-
luctance to be associated with the
militant class struggle, has been
very niggardly of support. 1t was
only after considerable pressure
that they allowed party of thirty
Rego workers to appear at their big
rally at the Albert Hall, to sing and
collect for the strike; and though
the audience gave them a magnifi-
cent reception, not a word appeared
in the "Daily Herald" about it.
In sharp contrast stands the role
of the Communist Party and Young
Communist League in the strike. AS
already mentioned, the leader of the
strike committee is a Communist
Communist speakers actively assist
at their meetings, branches of the
Party have collected and voted funds
for the strike. And the Communist
press, together with that of the Min
GRITTY Movement and Left Wing, has
given prominence to the struggle
from the beginning, calling upon
men trade unionists to give active
help to the young girl pickets.
The Rego strike, although not COM
parable in dimensions to the great
strikes which have riveted world
wide attention recently has all the
characteristic features of the strug.
giles of the present period, when the
workers have TO fight not only the
employers and the police but re.
dictionary officialdom also, and car
only find the necessary leadership
in the Communist Party and the
lTeft Wing. If the strikers maintain
their present militant tactics there
is every prospect of victory that
will encourage othe-' ssci'"rs of tn,
G. I'd needle trades workers 70 d,
Likewise. e