The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-10-03
BY HARRY EISENMAN

Conditions are today ripe for the reorganiza-
ton OF the plumbers helpers into a powerful
union. The present crisis in the building in
dustry which finds direct reflection in mass
unemployment lower standard of wages and fur
Their intensified naturalization methods has had
radicalzing effect upon this section of the most
skilled workers. This crisis is mostly felt by
the plumbers helpers who the only section
of the building trades workers outside of the
reactienary building trades unions They have
had their bitter experience with the takers and
can be won over to the revolutionary trade union
movement They also be utilized as an i'm
portant factor in winning the building trades
workers away from the reactionary unions and
into the Trade Union Unity League.
tThe installation of the fve-day week. which
imposed a wage cut upon many of the helpers
has resulted in few spontaneous strikes In
, many cases the bosses were forced to YIELD
These strikes indication that the helpers
can be organized into militant struggles for
better conditions.
They Can Struggle!
This is the third. anniversary of the strike
of 1000 plumbers helpers in Brooklyn and Long
Island. It lasted for period of ten weeks, wit
messed mass demonstrations of 900 helpers in
front OF the reactionary plumbers locals and on
large jobs where scabs were employed. An Of
fetal organ, THE American Plumbers Helper y
was issued soup kitchens to feed the strikers
were established, strike, organizational pub
licity, educational and many other forms of or
ganizational activities established on mass
scale.
The organization and strike of the helpers
was accomplished through the initiative of the
Communist Party the Young Communist League
and the Trade Union Educational League The
United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and
Cashiers (the parent body of all the plumbers
locals) absolutely refused to take any steps to-
ward the organization of the helpers. Once the
organization was established they did everything
IN fhajr To faIyo
schemes, meaningless promises and sabotage.
The general policy adopted at the time of or
ganization, and during the period of the strike,
of seeking afflliaton and recognition by the u A..
proved the most detrimental factor toward the
winning of the strike and holding the member
ship gained through weeks of hard organizationaI
work A grave error was committed by the
helpers organization in putting too much faith
upon the takers.
Same Treaeheries
The u A. has three affiliated locals in New
York City. They include Local l, Brooklyn, and
Local 41s, Long Island City. On April l. 1927
Local / declared strike when the Master
Plumbers Association refused to grant their
demands of Sl4 per day, 5-day week. furnishing
OF tools by the bosses and elimination of electric
cutting machines from the jobs When the
strike broke out the helpers had succeeded in
enrolling practically all of the 1900 helpers en-
ployed in Brooklyn They Immediately struck in
solidarity with the plumbers, at the same time
raising their demands of recognition by the u
A. and Master Plumbers Association and the
granting of the 50 per day wage scale and the
b-day week.
The officials of the u A. refused to call out
the other two locals to strike in solidarity with
Local l. When the strike was about four weeks
In progress Coffield. general president of the
U. A. appeared at of the strike meetings and
ried to openly sell out the strike by imploring