The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-05-29
Conducted by the Organization Department of
the Central Committee, Communist Party, U.sA


the Unemployed Council, that there are prob
ably very few workers in Greenvile not wise
to it, On the other hand, certain concessions
and gains have been made and certain relief
activities have been started by the city, Elks.
Red Cross, etc, due to the activity of the I'm
employed Council During strike struggles, the
mill workers will remember that these gains
were made. ana only be made, because of
organization and mass pressure C the workers.
Such political lessons that Uncnrloyed Coun-
Gil members learn, in whatever locality they
are, will be of the greatest value when they are
later involved in strikes.
If the Unemployed Councils are well organ
lied, strikers need have no fear of these work
ers taking their jobs but will see that these
unemployed workers and Unemployed Council
members will help them win their strikes, by
picketing, attending meetings, raising relief,
ETC. Having workers Of all industries meet to-
gether and struggle together in the same Or
ganization, the Unemployed Council makes each
strike not an isolated affair, but the concern of
all the workers in that locality. The unem-
ployed and employed workers are closely linked
up, because of the stagger system which causes
thousands of employed workers to be partially
unemployed and because of continuous lay
offs. The stretch-out also throws thousands out
of work Also, in workers families where one
or more are working, there are sure to be some
out OF work. 1t is not necessary to establish
unity of the employed and unemployed, as for
example was tried in one city, where unem-
ployed workers broke into shops to unite with
the employed workers, and probably antagonized
the employed workers. thinking the unemployed
had come after their jobs They are already
united, whether they like it or not and wage
cuts speed-up, unemployment, evictions, lay
offs, etc, affect both. However, the employed
and unemployed should be organizationally
closely linked up, by having representatives
from our unions on the Unemployed Council
committees and by having Unemployed Coun-
Gil members on union and TUUL committees
In every locality, a joint TUUL committee of
employed and unemployed should be established
These organizational links would make it cas-
Ter for the workers to join in common strug-
giles for relief and better working conditions
The Unemployed Councils should be training
schools for women workers. We are always
talking of the need for organizing women work
ers, the need of having women's departments
in our unions, how to reach women workers
etc. Well here is our chance Practically every
demand the Unemployed Councils make are
demands that are of special interest to women
workers. Actually, the women, more than the
men, 1eel Cfe responsibility when there is no
money to pay the rent. They worry more when
the kids can't go to school for lack of clothing
They suffer more when the kids are sick and
they can't pay doctor or get medicine And
they get fighting mad when the kids go hungry
Not only the women mill workers who are or
ganized and activized during struggles of the
Unemployed Councils; will be of great help to
our textile unions, for example but in times of
strike, wives of mill workers, and other WON IN
who have been active in Unemployed Council
work. can also be drawn in TO play an inpor-
tant part.
In the South, one Of the greatest problems is
breaking down the wall of hatred and suspicion
between the white and Negro workers If white
and Negro members of the Unemployed Coun-
ellis join in common struggles, it will be the
one biggest factor in building our revolutionary
unions on a sound basis, of unity Of black and
white. Probably the outstanding thing that has
made the Negro workers Of Greenville have
extent lose suspicion of the white workers, is
the fact that some white workers went to stop
an eviction at Negro workers home Also,
several times all the white workers at Unem-
ployed Council meetings voted to do SO, should
an eviction occur.
In some textile centers where the majority
OF mill workers are unemployed, the building of
Unemployed Councils should be the major task
of the National Textile Workers Union In
New Bedford, for example thousands of mill
workers arc out Of work. For two years the