The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-10-03
WOMEN IN THE MINERS STRIKE

committees, taking an active part in the strike
struggle. The policy Of placing the women in
responsible positions resulted in mass particpa-
ton of women in every phase Of strike strug
gle. On every picket line, in every hunger
march in every kitchen, on every relief COM
mittee, etc.. the women, both Negro and white,
took very active part.
This, however, was not sufficient. 1t was nee
essary to give to these women permanent form
Of organization so that they may help the union
in all the struggles of the miners Therefore we
set ourselves the task to organize Womens
Auxiliaries along side of every local union of
the NNTU. The response of the women was
great. Both the Negro and white women en-
Enthusiastically joined the Women's Auxiliaries
However, in spite of the correct general line
towards work among women, there was def
mite underestimation of organizing Wonens
Auxiliaries Section organizers of the Party and
the NdU, local and section strike committees,
local unions and the Party units have neglected
this work. The building of the Womens Auxl-
iaries was left almost exclusively to the women
organizers-and there we're only few of them.
I'm some instances the women we're forced to
fight for hours at the local union meetings to
be permitted to carry on their revolutionary
duty. In other instances the women are taking
a leading part in the local unions, being even
officials of the locals.
Even when the Women's Auxaries were or
ganized not sufficient attention has been paid
to them by the union and the Party organizers.
AS result because of lack of understanding of
the most elementary principles of organization
on the part of the women, some Of the Auxil
iaries have ceased to function.
In the recruiting campaign of the Party not
sufficient attention has been paid to drawing the
women into the Party Only about 10 per cent
of the new members are women This will have
to be corrected at once not only to bring the
women into the Party but also in order to give
a strong Party leadership to the Womens
Auxiliaries.
In spite of all shortcomings and weaknesses
we have laid definite basis for the organiza-
ton of women. The task of the Party and the
NMU is to further develop and build the Wom-
ems Auxiliaries The success of this work de-
ponds upon involving the women into everyday
struggles of the miners and also upon the de-
velopment of special activities of the women.
The immediate task in this respect, closely con-
nected with the strike struggle and the unefn-
ployed movement of the miners, is the fight for
free food, clothing, medical aid, school supplies,
etc. for the school children. Tens Of thousands
of children are hungry naked and barefooted.
The work in this respect has already begun.
Mass demonstrations of the parents and chill
dren will be organized in every mining COM
munity to force the capitalist government to take
care of the starving children. Wherever the
government will refuse to grant childrens de-
mands, school strikes will be organized.
with the Party and the NMU paying sufficient
attention to the work among the women we will
be able to involve them in every struggle for
the Improvement Of minars' conditions.