The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-08-14
How Unemployed Council Block
Committees are Organized
BY A. GERLAcH Detroit Mich.J

BY A. GERLACH Detroit, Mch.).
ONCE the March, 1880, demonstration Of the
Unemployed in Detroit where over 100000
workers participated we have tried to build I'm
employed Councils in or different neigh
borhood sections
Until 4 months ago, we did not succeed in
getting real council under way Leaflet form
calls we're issued for meetings and distributed;
some workers would come listen to our speak
ers land there we're plenty and long drawn
out ones) sign applications, join the councils at
tend or meetings and drop out This fluc-
uuation OF members has continued for months
There was no real life in the Unemployed Coun-
ellis
With the election of Mayor Murphy, the flop
houses were established Groups were organ
lied on the inside good demonstrations were
held, and at one time we succeeded in having
our demands for management of the flop house
granted. The flop house was managed for
few days by committee of workers living in
side, but for the lack of continuous attention by
the comrades in charge when the demands
were granted, we thought that this was all that
was needed) the city welfare commission thru
its agents, succeeded in getting the workers or
ganized against their own management COM
nittee and voted that the management be
turned back to the administration This was
the end Of our organized group in the flop
house
On the fight against evictions, we have been
able to mobilize thousands of workers especially
In the Negro workers neighborhoods as they
were the hardest hit. The reasons for our sue
cesses we're that here we had something con-
crete to fight for, but still the membership in
the Unemployed Council was dropping out
rapidly.
After continuous attempts to organize coun-
"a
gltsted and started a new form of work among
the unemployed. Blanks were made by the
TUUL office Unemployed Section) for inves-
tigation OF the starving families of workers
This was one step forward, because it gave us
a clear picture of the sufferings the workers are
actually confronted with
In a given block, in the black belt" work
er was visited and permission gotten to hold
meeting in his home. After the workers in
the block were visited, unemployment discussed
with them and they were invited to the meet
ing. At the meeting, individual cases were dis
cussed, number of families picked out a COM
nlittee elected and with the names of the fam
lilies, the welfare department was visited At
the welfare department demands were made
for food, rent, coal and all other necessities In
most cases. demands made by the committee
were granted. This was the laying of the basis
of the organization of block committees. The
block committees we're springing up like nlush-
rooms. At the present TIM have - block
committees, II OF these are fu:ctioning well with
an average membership of from is to so men,
bers in one neighborhood The total number Of
block committees at present in Detroit is As,
with membership of over $500, although not
all members Of the block committee are in the
Unemployed Council proper, but work under the
guidance Of same.
Each block committee has captain who is
in contact with the membership and at the same
time with the comrade in charge Of the I'm
employed Council. Through this system, we are
able to organize from 8 to thousand workers
in or hours. The block committees are the
most effective weapon in the fight against evic-
tions. If an eviction takes place in a certain
neiThborhocd especially Negro neighborhood
where 81 block committees are organizcd) a
worker would call up the TUUL office or the
Unemployed Council headquarters, and report
the place Of the eviction, from where contacts
would be made with the captains of the block
committees who would mobilize their members
and other workers from the neighborhood, and
go out to the place Of the eviction ready TO put
tho furniture back into the house. even TO the