The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-02-01
EXPOSES ROLE
OF BURKHARDT-
LORE MACHINE
Conditions of Workers
Growing Worse
Fellow Workers:
Dy b. kALFIDES.

to the locals from the Contra! Of
flee of the A. F. W, you viii be
called upon to cast your vote for
the next Secretary Treasurer of our
organization.
AS far as we know there are only
two candidates running for office
NJ. Obermeier and A. Burkhardt.
We've got to choose between these
two candidates.
But before we make our choice
let US examine and analyze the sit
uation and development in the food
industry. The existing trade unions.
the part they played in the past, and
what are the prospectives in the near
future.
One does not have to be pro-
fessor or scientist to observe the
tremendous growth that is going on
in all fronts of our industry. Bak-
ing, meat packing. auxiliary indus
tries. grocery. fruit, etc.
While the bosses are organized
into powerful trusts with hundreds
of millions at their command, the
workers are completely helpless. un-
able to put up big fight against
these organized giants, the power
full trusts and monopolies in the
food industry to better their condi-
ton.
A very small percentage of work
ers are organized today into the
existing trade unions, that is, the
A. F. of L. and the A. F. W. But
the bulk of the workers Of our in
drstry that runs into millions are
organized.
he A. F. of L. controls a few
II bakeries in the East Side and
nix, and a few restaurants that
-- err to organized labor The butch
er shops they control are hardly
worth mentioning.
The officials of the A. F. of L.
have no intention to orgaize any
thing. They make sure to keep as
many shops organized as they will
be able to pay their salaries.
If any progressive workers within
the A. F. of L. make an attempt
to organize, they are Immediately
expelled by the controlling bureau
cracyno AS result of this policy of
the officialdom, today we have in
dependent locals of butchers, grocery
clerks, and culinary workers that
broke away from the A. F. of L. and
ready to be linked up to a real left
wing movement.
The locals of the A. F. of L. to-
day are in a process of disintegra-
ton. The trade of the independent
bakeries, the small two-by-one shops
is replaced by the big bread and
cake companies that use unskilled
and unorganized workers.
The new machinery, the labor
saving devices are not only putting
the small bakeries out of business,
but also throw out of work the
skilled bakers. The unemployment
list of the locals in the A. F. of L.
is growing bigger and bigger with
the hope for betterment in sight.
The bakers in the A. F. of L. are
revolving against the officialdom.
But what is the situation in the
A. F. w? We are supposed to be a
radical organization, and industrial
union, union that will organize not
only the skilled but also the unskilled
the millions that are working in
the bread factories, packing houses,
grocery clerks, ETC., etc.
Burkhardt is in control of the
union for the last six or seven years.
What has he done? Resolutions
were passed for the last two con-
MENTIONS instructing the secretary
to write in the "Free Voice." edi-
torials about the development in the
food industry. Did he do it, No,
he did not.
He does not understand what is
going on in our industry. He takes
the attitude of the technical clerk
in the office expecting to get orders
from the G. E. B. and carry them
out. He has nothing to suggest,
nothing to offer.
What did the Burkhardt admins
tration do to organize the bread fac
tories in New York?
We spent thousands of dollars, we
sent out organizers but without any
concrete plans, and of course with
no results.
The situation in the bakery To-
Gals as well as in the Hotel Workers
is deplorable. The unemployment
grows in all locals. The small
bakeries under our control are 60
ing out Of existence day by day.
But the officialdom does not give
. damn about our conditions, our
officials do not intend to move. Our
union is no more industrial than the
A. f. of L. and the leadership as
much reactionary.
If we are going to continue the
same administration for two or
three more years our union will dis
integrate. We must move, we must
awaken and adapt ourselves to the
new developments--to the new sit
rstibn in our industry.
Exploit the situation existing to-
day. within the A. F. of L. Try to
bring into our ranks the locals that
are breaking away from the A. r.
Of T.