The daily worker., 1931-02-18
Immediate Tasks in Building the
Food Workers Union
BY S. WISENIAN.


THE Food and Packing House Workers Indus
trial League is the only organization that
can be depended upon to organize the workers
in the stock yards, packing houses large bakeries.
food factories, hotels, restaurants and chain
stores.
Toward Large Shops
How we'll fitted is our organization to carry
out this tremendous task? At present, although
we have at last recognized the correctness that
we must first and mainly approach the workers
In the stock yards and large factories and chains,
we have done very little in this direction. 1t
must be recognized that the trend Of our ac-
tivities is turning towards the larger enterprises.
In Detroit our local is concentrating on the
Park and Webb Packing House, the Consolidated
Baking Co., and the Gordon Bakeries Commit
tees have been established In these plants In
Seattle, Washington, on the Fryes Packing Co.;
in Philadelphia on the Penn Sugar Refining Co.,
and the National Biscuit Co.; in Buffalo on the
Dold Packing House, and in Chicago our food
workers group after sharp pressure is begin
ming to concentrate more definitely on the stock
yards, besides some large hotels. In Mime
apolis we reach the Gold Medal Flour Mills.
In New York, the largest base Of our union, the
concentration points are the National Biscuit
Co.. Gottfrieds Bakeries. German Bakery, Hotel
Manger chain, Silver's Cafeteria chain and Fol-
tis-Fisher'S Cafeteria chain
Tagging Behind
In most cities our locals are not yet con-
centrating on some specific point besides in most
cities where we are supposed to be actively con-
centrating on the large places the work is ridic-
uously weak, and almost without definite results.
The shortcomings In this work must be exposed
If we want to accomplish the proper results.
Our approach to this work of setting up griev-
ance or shop committees getting contacts ETC.,
is very mechanical. First, there is not the con-
viction that this is the only way to build a
solid base for our union especially is this so
amongst the leading comrades. In those cities
where we are not yet definitely concentrating for
the setting up Of committees in the larger fac
tories, this is quite clear, but our shortcomings
are more easily exposed when we sit ourselves
down to these tasks after admitting that we
must follow this line.
The best forces in our union and Of the Com
munist Party fractions necessary for this
work Have we followed this procedure? Un-
doubtedly mol The shock groups around these
points of concentration are in most cases a col
laboration Of workers not functioning any
other activity. Often no concrete plan OF work,
understanding perspective Of ' 1rk is given to
these groups, and many times they disintegrate
as in Chicago, and by doing so become dis
couraged, losing the spirit and energy to con-
tinue this difficult work. What contacts have
been made are not guarded and taken care Of in
the proper way, developed or given the proper
attention. This is serious shortcoming because
the forces inside the factory are the most i'm
portant for us In this work.
One of the main reasons why such situation
can exist is because the Party fractions and the
Party have not given the proper attention to
these problems, nor discussed the weaknesses in
the work, and on whole does not realize how
necessary and important this is for the build
ing Of a revolutionary union on a mass scale.
In New York our main activity is still the
small shops While we cannot neglect the work.
ers in our organized small shops or unorganized
workers In the small shops by this time we
should have: ID ideologically developed greater
part Of the membership to understand the i'm
portance Of this work; co and directed our
main activities and energy in this campaign: 90
and should be able to have shown better results
by this time True, our field Of concentration
may be too broad. For instance, we may throw
all our forces into concentrating on the large
plant or shop in one section Of the industry.
such as hotels and cafeteria chain stores. but
with the present understanding and approach
to this work we would not even be able 10 ae-
complain anything at any specific point ,...