The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-05-14
Recent Strikes in New York
BY BURCK

renewal of the agreement, twelve shops were
involved. The strike was led by the A. F. of L.
Upholsterers' Local rs. The strike resulted in a
crushing defeat for the workers, all the shops
we're lost
In Newark, N. j., the A. F. of L. called fake
strike of 300 painters against proposed wage
cut, from So to $40 a day. The strike was sold
out, by the A. F. of L. takers
Space does not permit to describe many more
strikes but they are similar to the ones described
above. Most of these strikes were defeated, be-
cause they were not prepared nor organized in
advance and still others were openly betrayed
by the A. F. of L. takers
These small strikes are of utmo~t Importance
to the revolutionary unions all. industrial
leagues. Many of our unions and leaa ,es in the
city OF New York, are not as yet prepared to lead
mass struggles, they are still propaganda organ
izations BY actively participating and leading
these small strikes, our unions and leagues espe-
cially the weaker ones, will acquire a great deal
OF experience, will learn many lessons in strike
strategy and become organizationally strength
ened and thus make it possible to prepare for
leading mass movements in various industries
The Food and Shoe Workers Industrial Unions
are already beginning to work along these lines
participating in strikes no matter how small the
number of workers involved. Although, at times
this is done at the expense of more important
concentration points in the industry, which is
very dangerous. However, because these unions
participate in these small strikes, they are con-
tinually growing and the prestige of the unions
among these workers is being definitely estab-
liShed.
Another example of correct approach towards
these small strikes, is the Building Trades In
dustrial League. Forty carpenters of the Green
baum Co. went out on strike against six dollar
cut. Even though ninety-five per cent of the
workers belong to the A. F. of L. the shop was
not organized and the workers worked under
open shop conditions The Building Trades In
dustrial League succeeded in taking over the
leadership. The strike won and the shop
committee recognized After the strike was over
the boss began to discriminate against the most
active workers. A second strike was called and
the workers we're reinstated. All the workers
joined the TUUL. The shop committee is at
present functioning.
The above mentioned experience can serve as
an example of how to transform our weaker
unions and industrial leagues into organizations
that will take up the immediate needs and
problems of the workers Of their particular in
dustry. 1t must be clearly understood that some
of unions and leagues, who are still propa-
ganda organizations, have either to continue to
remain small and insignificant propaganda
groups, with small or no base at all, among
the workers. This will lead to still further de-
crease in influence and membership, because
even those who join will continue to drop out
as result of "lots of talk and no action" Or,
to get to work in serious way, building up a
base inside the shops and factories working out
together with the workers programs on an in
dustry and shop basis and around these most
immediate, pressing and burning issues to build
our unions and leagues as genuine economic
organizations a OF .hs WORKERS ssisd e. sRs shops
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