The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-06-04
PRE-CONVENTION DISCUSSION
The Needle Trades Workers Industrial
Union and Its Struggles

splendid opportunity to wipe out the right
wing was neglected. Right after our Conven-
ton in January 1929, with the establishment of
our local in Boston, there was a tremendous
upsurge movement into the Industrial Union.
The masses were flocking to us, many of them
not knowing even what left wing means but
they knew very well, that the right wing is
rotten and does not serve their interests. The
masses demanded immediate action, in order
to force the employers to recognize our Union
and to enforce conditions. The G.E.B. did not
approve at that time the proposal of j. Levin
for a general strike, but accepted the attitude
of Emma Yaninsky of no strike and instead of
that to have an Organization Campaign. The
result-we permitted this enthusiasm among the
masses to melt away, some members being
disillusioned because of conditions becoming
worse and making it harder to mobilize to our
last strike. Too much regard for legality (the
agreement signed with the right wing was to
expire a year later, still according the COM
pany union some vague recognition as labor
organization was responsible for this mistake.
No Exceptionalism in Boston on the Question
of Mistakes.
A number of objectionable mistakes COM
mitted in Boston under the management of the
writer proves that no section was immune from
the opportunism with which our Union was
saturated. A letter sent out to the fur manu-
facturers without being corrected, exhibits the
inheritance of diplomatic language from the
right wing in dealing with the bosses, even
though the intentions may have been good.
Failure to bring to the forefront the T,U.U.L.
as the leader of revolutionary unonism in this
country, and insisting that the 1.U.UL. cannot
move into the headquarters of the N.T.WI.
Union, because the masses must be prepared
ideologicaly and may have some prejudice
against such a move. This "Chvostism" has
since been overcome to some degree but it is
of paramount Importance for the N.T.WIU.
to help to build up the Trade Union Unity
League. In the past, only when we were in
need of funds, did we go after these organi-
cations.
Boston General Strike in the Cloak and Dress
Industry February 1880.
Here in Boston we were confronted with a
similar situation as in New York The Schle-
singer clique was preparing for a fake stop
page. Already last season we carried thru
number of open forums on the question of
preparing for a general strike as the only
means o. combating both the right social fas-
cists and the bosses. Enormously enough the
right elements in our union attacked the writer
for Soaring away" some members because we
talked too much of general strike. The fake
stoppage was thoroughly exposed. But when
it came down to brass tacks, we suddenly
orentated ourselves on calling out only the
handful of cloakmakers on strike and then
gradually drawing in the dressmakers! Only
at the last moment when the circular was out
of print already, did we grasp this mistake
and corrected it. But the main line-the line of
struggle proved in this Base the correctness of
the policy and tactics of the TU.U.L. and the
Profintern
This time it was the right wing that was on
the defensive. 1t was the Needle Trades In
dustrial Union that led the workers into strug
gle, with its fighting battalons of militant
workers. 1t was due to us, that the 40-hour
week was established in Boston, and when
Schlesinger came to Boston on the eve of his
fake stoppage, he appealed to TIE employers,
that he no longer can give in the 42-hour week,
because the communists will come out the next
dav with splash that he betrayed the workers,
and he kneeled before them for 40-hour week
at least on paper The fake stcppage called
after the third week of our strike was already
a defensive measure. The rank and file clamored
for action, for they could not stand the pres
sure of our pickets.
The weaknesses of the strike were: az failure
to prepare properly, By failure to draw in the
unorganized g failure to apply the united
front from below in time of the fake stop
page But in spite of all these weaknesses,
we have succeeded to establish base for the
Boston Industrial Union, and gain the pres
tige in the eyes of the workers as the only
fighting organization for the interests of the
workers.
In reciting the major battles of the N.TW.L
Union we can still trace plenty of opportunism
II, rrac+ice We were still vacciiatinp in adapt-
ing the new line. We did not learn enough
about the industry as such, about the industry
as part of capitalism in the third period. We
were not revolutionary leaders, who are sup
posed to read, study and know thoroly what
is going on in the entire labor movement, ma
tionally as we'll as internationally.
At the coming convention, these policies
should be put under close scrutiny. Let the
delegates, who will come direct from shops
learn from these mistakes, so that they can
serve as guard against their repetition.
The T.U.U.L. Program For Our Union.
There cannot be any doubt in the mind of
any intelligent worker about the need for a
sharp turn in the N.TW.I. Union. The program
of the TUUL offers the solution The campaign
for ten thousand new members, are mere war
preparations. The near future will see spon-
taneous outbreaks among the needle trades
workers, unable to withstand the effects of the
naturalization process. The N.T.WI.U. must
get down to business and by continuous hard
work, day by day, build up strong organi-
cation. The omen shop markets must be in
vaded by us without delay The building up
of Youth and Negro Departments, Mems Cloth
ing and Headgear Departments, all these are
essential parts of the revolutionary apparatus
for struggle. Our strike strategy needs a