The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-06-13
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE T.U.U.L.
PREPARES FOR STRUGGLES

progress IN the last year IN organizing on a
factory basis. In railroad and building we have
made no progress in ORIGINATING on shop basis.
We must build our opposition groups in the
A. F. of L. unions on shop basis.
Shop Branch and Grievance Committee
Comrades still confuse the shop branch and the
grievance committee We build the shop branch
as the branch of the union in a. factory. But
many workers are not prepared TO join the union,
although willing to participate in developing
struggles; we therefore try to develop in the
first stages of the work in the shop the grieY-
ance committee, which takes up the various
questions in the shop in the name of all the
workers in the shop and not just in the name
of the union. The union operates as the lead
ing force in it.
The Unemployed
In regard to unemployment, we still have some
difficulties In the mining industry we are ex-
perimenting We have the mine branch and the
unemployed branch, both part of the local union.
The unemployed branch pays dues to the local
union. In this way they carry through the
united front and develop struggle between the
employed and unemployed.
The question of terror in the factories is i'm
portant the necessity to safeguard in all ways
our members and contacts real political ex-
pose of the conditions in the shop, of the spy
systems ETC., must be made.
Reports on Four Shops
There were reports on the work in shops in
four industries. In each case the work in par
ticuar factory was selected. The big shortcon-
ing in these reports was that they were made
Inv in vI,n fneI
everyday problems of the work right in the
shop.
John Schmies told how, by formerly concen-
trating on unemployed work the tendency was
development away from building the union. There
was no union previous to the Ford Hunger
March. The latter created confidence in the
unity of the employed and unemployed. 1t was
decided that the basis of building the union lies
in the building of department committees.
In the Steel Mill.
Meldon, reporting on the work in the Repub-
lie Mill, Youngstown, told how the work had suf-
fered because of too much OF general propa-
ganda approach. Only recently did concrete
work begin, and leaflet against discrimination
on the job had led to big demonstration at
the mill gate, by the part-time workers, which
forced the superintendent to end this practice
/. Miller Shoe Shop.
How real strike struggle can be developed
by the slow but sure personal contact method
was shown in the report of ziebel, of the Shoe
Workers Industrial Union, reporting on work in
tie I. Miller company union shop, scene of the
present strike of 600 workers.
BY careleSsness, the previous organization in
the shop had been exposed and the work had to
be begun all over again, with new elements.
The organizer discussed with one member the
problems based around his machine. He got
two more workers, talked with them the purpose
of the union, what's going on in the shop, etc.
This system Of individual contacts was followed
out. Regular leaflets were issued, concrete
problems in the factory. The issue of giving
out work was fought out and it was seen to it
that every one got equal work. The workers
began to feel the force of the union. The workers
met in groups to protect the members; this gave
a good impression. From each group one was
elected to group of nine, the leaders in the
shop. The 10 percent cut came. Before the
company made lockout, the workers in all other
departments were prepared. The company union
was smashed in this shop.
The Pittsburgh Terminal Mine.
Borich, in telling of the work in the Terminal
Mine at Coverdale, dealt with an example of
work within the A. F. of L. The Terminal Co.
announced wage cuts on two different occasions
after the U. M. w. A. had signed an agreement
with it, but each time, through the N. M. U. in
fluence the cut was voted down and defeated
But we could not establish the union in the
mine, because we had underestimate the work
in the U. M. W. A. We thought because the
miners voted against the cut twice they were
won over to the N. M u but forgot the matter
of organization, of day to day work in the mine.
We were surprised when they did not respond to
our strike call when the wage cut finally went
into effect February l. Then we woke up and
started actual work in the mine We called three
meetings SO far, in the woods. at night, 36 came
to the first; We expect 125 at the third. We dis