The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-02-23
& Il \ T. $,g G355Z IlI, 10
THE TASKS OF THE T. U. U. L. AND THE
COMING NEW YORK CONFERENCE

The Main Inner Weaknesses Of the
T. U. U. L.
In spite of the considerable ad-
vances made due mainly to the OBJ
iectively favorable situation, and i'm
in our methods of work,
our inner weaknesses must still be
the main factor in not
making greater advances. These
weaknesses are in the main of the
following character:
1. Ciinging generally to agitation
methods and tactics and often to
outworn ones (this particularly in
unions operating In trustified in
dustry.)
2. Sticking to small shop sections
of industry, needle, food, etc.
3. Prosperity opposition tactics in
class collaboration unions building,
needle, printing, pocketbook tradeS.)
4. Lack of planning or organiza-
ton and financial questions and
general gross underestimation OF
the Importance of good orgsni-
cation.
5. Lack of planned, collective &C
Invitation of the membership, "the
office being the union. food,
needle, marine, etc.
6. Separation from the struggle
of the unemployed (shoe, metal,
furniture, marine, transport, etc.
I. insufficient clarity on methods
to attract the youth to the trade
union movement and no specific
methods or tactics TO attract women
workers.
8. Outside Of the needle trades
no activities TO attract Negro
workers.
9. None of our unions engage in
political struggles even of the every
day elemental variety. They are
not political minded. Slow to move
jointly, each for ITSELF" they come
for help when they are In trouble
but don't get excited when others
need it, the result is that collective
action can be brought only partly
and that only under tremendous
pressure.
10. Our defense organization
legal defense, defense against
gangsters and police terror is
chaotic and haphazard, each union
for itself.
IL. Strike preparations are mainly
agitational as to serious organiza-
tional preparations, particularly as
to strike funds, defense ard relief.
They are in each case exceedingly
weak.
IL. United front activities are in
the main still in an agitation not
in action stage. This applies par
ticularly to the Food and Marine
Workers Union.
10. Educational activities are
badly organized with little or no
planning or follow up. Lately there
has been more top attention 10 the
development of new cadres but all
unions are bad in this respect,
transport, metal, marine, medical
building maintenance, are among
the worst.
IA. Our unions generally are at
the tail of events, they act more or
less painfully. Only under tremen-
dous pressure from below or as on
questions of a general nature or in
affecting turns in thei accustomed
inne rattacks only under strong
pressure from above. They are q
driving force in the main in an
agitational sense, generally handl-
ing curren tbusiness and hoping
for things to turn up. This lack
of driving leadership is the main
cause for the tremendous disportion
between the effectively extraordin-
arily favorable situation, our great
theological influence, and of the
slowness Of our organizational
growth.
Is. Practically no progress in
organizing trade union work in
Jersey, industrially the most i'm
portant territory in this district.
What is Being Done To Correct
These Weaknesses
We are a movement whose social
composition flows;
from the unorganized with all
the lack Of organizational experiences
and,
2-from the skilled organized trades
where the bulk of members never
in union organizing &C
tivities. This terrific lack Of indie
pendent class organization experience
reflects itself diastrously upon our
The American worker who grumb-
led but hoped for better times or
luck or left it to the strong leader
is reflected In our organizational
weakness. If we only, realize it and
buckle down TO learn The most ele-
mentary things in class organization
In the economic and political field
and do not tire to teach as much as
we know to new corners, we will lead
out of agitation on to action and or
from abstract agitation to
concrete to everyday class politics not
only on big things but on the small
ones that stir even tn emos1 back
ward worker.
The Political Side Of Organization
The question Of organization is, OF
course, not a mere matter of tech
nique. II is primarily a political