The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-09-24
Turn in Our Revolutionary Trade
Union Movement
BY BURCK

TO recognize that the most important decisions
of the Fifth Congress of the RILU. did not find
up to recently the necessary practical applics-
lion, and 1t is only in recent months that the
first steps were made in this direction
We do not attempt at all to conceal the fact
that the revolutionary trade union movement OF
the US.A. has a whole series of big and small
shortcomings, which to large extent hamper
its development We are not afraid to self-crit-
ically look into all corners, check up every phase
of our work, and discuss the organizational
forms, as we'll as the methods and contents of
our work.
We are not at all afraid of our enemies who
might try to utilize our self-criticsm in order
to discredit the revolutionary trade union Or
CARNATIONS in the eyes of the workers 1t is only
because we are not afraid of self-criticism, be-
cause we generally realize our mistakes and
shortcomings, and because we feel the necessity
to overcome these shortcomings in our work. at
all COST that we frankly and directly tell and
must tell the workers. that in order to trans
form our revolutionary trade unions into de-
cisive factor, into real mass fighting class Or
CARNATIONS Of the proletariat, real decisive
break is necessary, new tempo is needed, and
new methods in all our work are required.
OF course, since the last Plenum Of the TU
U.L, which openly signalized the presence OF
crisis in the revolutionary trade union movement
of the US.A, undoubtedly certain change has
taken place. During this period the revolution
airy trade unions were able to lead the miners
and textile strikes, its theological influence has
grown to large degree, its organizational influ-
ence is being strengthened.
But the revolutionary trade union movement
Of the U.S.A. is still tagging behind the quick
tempo of the rehabilitation of the working mass
es. This difference between our growing ideo-
logical influence and the organizational basis is
very dangerous and must not be covered up
it must be signalized and definite serious mea-
sures must be taken to overcome it.
What hinders the revolutionary trade union
movement of the US.A from becoming a real
mass movement, what binders it from being at
the head lead and successfully end militant
mass strikes? What is the hindrance in its bet
ter organizational winning over of the masses
and the leading Of decisive struggles Of the work
ing class?
The basic shortcomings and mistakes that him
der the revolutionary trade union movement OF
the Us.A. to quickly and successfully go for
ward are generally expressed in the fact that
the revolutionary trade unions did not turn their
face to the shops, did not actually transfer their
center Of attention in everyday work to the
shops, did not create there strong support did
not concentrate their attention and forces on
decisive sections In important industries and
large enterprises have weakened their work in
reactionary trade unions did not strengthen
their organizational base among the unemployed,
do not very well and decisively apply in prac-
tical everyday work the tactics of united front,
do not sufficiently apply correct methods in mass
work
They did not create such uniform organiza-
tional system and such auxiliary transmission
belts from the trade unions to the masses which
would make it possible for them to organiza-
tionally embrace these Masses answer all their
needs and demands, and lead them on the basis
Of concrete program OF struggle
The revolutionary trade unions did not learn
yet how to thoroughly prepare for strikes and
how to make organizational gains during and
after strikes.
The revolutionary trade unions, with very few
exceptions, are not yet fighting mass oiganiza-
tons in the real sense of the word. In many in
stances there is no normal trade union life there
is no strong group trade union active elements,
there are no solid national centers. The member
ship is not drawn into everyday work in many
cases there is no collective leadership The leader
ship is most of the times removed from the
shops there is no defense of the everyday small
needs and interests Of the membership, and the