The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-06-02
Experiences of New York Unem-
ployed Councils

we're called and each tenant present was
signed to visit a tenant or two on their floor.
Where the original canyassing committee was
unable to convince them or had the door shut
in their face, these intimate neighbors were
more effective.
Demands were drawn up for 10 per cent re-
dueton in rent and that the landlord hire an
ex.erninator to rid the house of mice with
which every apartment is infested
A committee of five was elected to secure the
signatures of the rest of the tenants and pre-
sent the demands to the landlord reduction
of 50 on each apartment was secured, and the
landlord was also forced to make the necessary
repairs.
The Struggle Against High Cost of Food.
In Middle Village a food strike has been organ
lied by means of leaflets and meetings. De-
mandS we're made upon the butcher shops for
reduction in the price of meat, A picket line
was set up open air meetings held and many
shops were forced to settle upon agreed prices,
signs being posted in the windows of the shops
with a 20 per cent reduction. This success is
now being followed up with strike for re-
duction in the price of bread and rolls. The
Women's Councils are playing leading role in
this struggle.
cite these examples 10 give you glimpse OF
the organizational forms that are being deveI-
oped and how our general slogans are being
Concretized.
AS a basis for the development of these &C
tivities missionaries have been issued by the
Unemployed Council of Greater New York, with
the following directiyes how to canvass workers
homes
l. Concentrate on one block at time, going
from house to house.
2. Comrades should go in couples a man and
woman wherever possible and should have Gre
dentials with them
3. If acquainted with the nationality of work
ers, comrades speaking their language to be as
signed. If possible workers living on that block
should be assigned or sympathetic neighbors to
be taken along.
4. Open air meetings shall be held and litera-
ture distributed in the neighborhood as prepare
ton for canvassing.
S. When visiting the workers inform the fam
lies as follows:
ca Whom we represent (branch of unem-
ployed council;
(b) Bad conditions in neighborhood
Co Work of unemployed councils quitting
back furniture, stopping of evictions, preventing
shutting off of gas and heat collecting of money
from employment sharks for unemployed work
ers, Demanding immediate relief for starving
unemployed and our fight for Unemployment
insurance.
I'D Our fight to lower rent and for sanitary
conditions.
(e) The need for organization Of house COM
mittee in their building
d) That we are getting information TO de-
mand from the city government and the bosses
immediate relief for our starving neighbors give
specific cases where possible Workers visited
should also be urged to give information about
unemployed neighbors
6. Information as required in the question
naire should be secured as much as possible dur
ing conversation rather than in formal sense
T. II particular family visited is not in need
ask their attitude towards our organization and
whether they would join to help others
8. If sympathetic, ask them if they will per-
nit the use of their apartment for meeting of
the tenants in their house.
9. In some houses the landlord may live there
himself. Be careful when speaking to them or
even the janitor.
10. Leave some literature in house. inform
them of address of branch of UNEMPLOYED counA
Gil in neighborhood.
H. In the space for remarks put down what
their attitude is towards our activities and sug-
gestions for following them up for organiza-
uonal purpose. Also such matters that are of
particular interest and not included in the cues
ton blank.
IL. After thorough canvassing of the block,
1t must be Immediately followed up with meet
ing in the neighborhood called by means of
leafet
49, At those meetings all information secured
must be reported and committee from the
olocK together with the members of the IN
O,Ted E2ror
make demands upon the city and large corpora
lions In nelghborhood also the alderman of the
district for immediate relief, as well as the
charity organizations
a. Committee should report results and fur
ther action planned