The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-06-21
By JAY SINGER

ALTHOUGH the Building Industry is not con-
IA sidered basic industry, nevertheless the
present economic crisis affected the building
industry to such an extent that more than half
of the workers employed in this industry are
unemployed and have long since lost the label
of labor aristocracy
The crisis has hit the Building Trades to
such an extent that the workers employed in
this industry are the worst affected of any. A
statistical note appearing in the New Iork
Times of January 7, 1880, states that nearly
two thirds of the workers are unemployed. The
investment in the building industry for May,
1929 is estimated at $541, 343,313. In the same
month for 1880 it was $21O All 1871 drop to
almost two thirds from the year 1929.
Those workers who are employed at the pres
ent time are working under the most terrible
conditions. Union wages are non-existent. The
workers are forced to work very much below
the scale the 8-hour day is becoming a thing
of the past for large section of the building
trades the speed-up is continuously increasing.
This crisis and the constant betrayal Of the
workers by their officials has created situa-
ton where a large section of the Building
Trades workers are beginning to lose the little
confidence that they had in their leaders,
refusing to pay dues and are leaving the unions
We must severely criticise the members Of the
Party for not utilizing this mass discomfort for
the Building of the T.U.U.L. In many cases
where The Party comrades did initiate some
organization, the workers were ready not only
for our propaganda but were looking to US for
leadership in these struggles, which we did not
give them.
The unorganized Building Trades workers are
having, to large extent conditions, worse than
the members of the other AT. of L. unions.
These workers were always left to the mercy
of the bosses. Even during the so-called
"boom" period they were working for small
wages. These workers according to COmrade
Fishers article in the Daily Worker of June 8.
cannot be organized.
Comrade Fisher states that because these
workers are working for small bosses they cam
not be organized. 1t is precisely because of the
fact that they are working for small bosses,
and that their wages are small, that these
workers more ready for our organization
than the others. An opinion of this kind would
lead us to abandoning our entire base among
the unorganized workers and turn our face only
towards the AT. of L. facist unions, and leave
out the majority of the Building Trades
workers.
If we recognize the fact that we must organ
ize the unorganized and at the same time in
crease ana strengthen our position Wltnln Lne
A. F. of L., also the fact that the present sit
uation leads the workers to sharper class wars,
we must also recognize the fact that the Party
and the T.U.U.L must be the driving force that
gives expression and leadership to these strug
giles against the present existing conditions.
What then remains for us as Communists to
do in this period that does not only demand
general agitation, but systematic organization
and leadership?
1. To strengthen our T.U.UL. groups with
in the fascist unions, to build such groups
around the everyday struggles of the workers
and connected up with the aims and tasks of
the T.UU.L. Such demands as the 7-hour day,
5-day week, against the speed-up, for unem-
ployment insurance, for job and shop commit
tees We must also carry on struggle against
the expulsion policy of the fascist leaders,
against capitalist wars and for the defense Of
the Soviet Union
This work demands the utmost activity Of
our comrades and clear perspective towards
the realization of these tasks 1t is true that