The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-11-22
PRE-PLENUM DISCUSSION
Young Communist League, U.S.A.
Trade Union Work and the Role of the
Young Communist League

party, have long recognized the willingness OF
the working youth to struggle. For this reason
Music Is today actually engaged in attempting to
organize youth sections of the reactionary trade
unions Reading, Pa, Hazelton, Pa, and Phila-
delphia), in order to prevent the young workers
from entering the revolutionary trade unions Of
the T. U. U. L.
The overwhelming majority Of the youth to-
day is completely unorganized. Our major task
Is the organizing Of this great mass Of young
workers into the T. U. u L. Along with this
we must win over that section of the workers
that still remains within the reactionary and So
cial fascist trade unions. This task must not be
lost sight of if we are to win over this important
section of the working class which at the pres
ent time is under their influence. This can best
be done by the building up Of revolutionary op-
positions within the reactionary unions and util-
izing every opportunity of exposing the betrayal
policy of their fascist leadership.
Youth Sections Within the Revolutionary
Trade Unions.
One of the outstanding obstacles in the or
ganization of youth sections within the revolu-
tionary trade unions has been the complete lack
of clarity in understanding the important role of
the youth sections in the everyday struggle Of
the working class. The incorrect tendency to or
ganize the youth into separate youth unions"
has not been completely overcome. In addition
to this the attitude that "you cannot organize
youth sections unless you first organize the
union" Lawrence, Mass.) brings out clearly this
mechanical separation of youth. This due to the
lack of understanding that organizing the youth
is simultaneously building the union. This ap-
proach does not only retard the growth Of the
union, but completely ignores the tremendous
possibilities of utilizing the young workers as a
forerunner in building the union. Especially is
kl,t- ;,,c Tow yuIoo
the majority of the adult workers employed in
the mills are foreign-born and cannot speak
English. The reaching of the native-born youth
and the sons and daughters Of the foreign born
workers becomes of paramount Importance when
we realize that through the youth we reach the
parents. Another outstanding example Of this
mechanical separation can be witnessed in the
Metal Workers Industrial League. Here the
comrades present the theory that the union must
be built before special youth forms and actiN-
ties can be developed. While there is no opposi-
ton to the recruiting of young workers into the
Union, there is resistance to the development Of
| special youth methods. Storm the shops" must
become the living slogan Of the youth sections.
| Their function among the young workers in their
| neighborhoods must be brought to the forefront.
| The building of the youth sections must be con-
| sidered as general organzational problem Of
! the union and as an integral part Of the union
| activities.
Youth Sections and Their Shortcomings.
| The present resistance to the building Of youth
sections is due to the lack Of understanding OF
its functions, which prevents its functioning ef-
fectvely and in turn causes the sections to dsin-
tegrate In analysing the reason for the decline
Of the youth sections that have been established
In the past 1t is essential to note that the out
standing reason has been that the youth Sec
lions have not been connected with the every
day struggle of the working youth. In our re-
cent struggles Passaic, Gastonia, New Bedford
1t can be noted that so long as the struggle was