The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-30
ORGANIZE AND STRIKE
AGAINST WAGE CUTS!

othy Shea, assistant president Of the Brother
hod of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen,
Cleveland,
Immediately after the Hoover-Green statement
hood Of Locomotive Engineers, Cleveland; TIM
was issued telling the workers there would be
no wage cuts, the Central Committee Of the
Communist Party, u. S. A, warned the American
workers that there would follow nationwide
wage cuts for the workers. The Central Com
mittee told the American workers:
THE bureauCrats of the A. i. of L. pre-
tend to speak in the name of American labor.
Hoover called them in to discuss plans how
the bosses can continue operation of indus
tries in the crisis without disturbing by what
they call labor troubles Hoover and the CAPT.
talsts know that the pressure of the crisis
win force the working masses to organize and
fight against the bosses the only means to
secure decent existence. The program agreed
upon was: MAKE THE WORKERS PAY! The
A. F. of L. hureaucrats accepted this program
and pledged themselves on their part to make
the workers submit They pledged themselvs,
No movement should be initiated for increase
of wages, and that every cooperation should
be given by labor to industry in the handling
of its problems' You workers of America
might have the illusion that the bureaucrats
of the A. F. of L. ought to discuss the question
how our problems can be solved But that it
is not the bureaucrats' point of view. They
concern themselves with how the bosses prob
lens can be solved.
'aThe first step in Hooyer's plan is to in
tensify the speed-up and to slash wages. This
is supposed to revive the falling profits and
help the American capitalists take more mar
kets away from their competitors. But this
measure also, which must meet the energetic
resistance of the workers, cannot solve this
crisis for capitalism, to the extent that it
is successful. The reduction of the earnings
of the working class as likewise as the re-
duction of the purchasing power of farmers,
may give capitalism immediate profits, but
sharply cut down the domestic market. As re-
suit, the crisis viii be intensified"
What was the result of this conference?N The
total payroll of the American workers during
1880 was cut over $12OOo,OOo,oo0. In the unions
represented by the A. r. of L. nlisleaders who
were present at Hoover's conference. wage cuts
have been repeatedly handed out.
at the present time there is a drastic wage
cut drive impending in the railroad industry with
the officers of the railroad unions aiding Hoover
and the bankers to prepare the wage cut drive.
One of the officials of the railroad unions,
Doak. is now Secretary of Labor. His sole func-
ton is to prepare the wage cut drive in the rail-
road industry. The result of the agreement be-
tween the bosses and the A. F, of L. officialdom
has been an effective wage cutting drive while
the A F. of L. bureaucrats acted as strike
breakers.
Now as a logical result of this process, a new
wage cutting drive, more drastic than the $12-
0Oo000,0oo cut in 1880 is under way. It will hit
first in the steel industry and on the railroad.
All workers who received wage cuts in 1880 will
get further cuts as the result of the present
wage cut drive
There can be only one answer to this drive:
Organize and strike against wage cutsl Unite
with the unemployed for battle against the
capitalist starvation program Into the streets
May to demonstrate your determination to take
up the challenge!