The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-11

the government overruled the policy
of the open shop" favored by the
Grace Line and forced them to ao-
cept the governmental controlled In
ternational Longshoremen's AsSocia-
ton.
The present attempt Of the i1npe-
rialist powers to crush the Chinese
Soyiets and revolutionary movement,
the seizure of Manchuria for a mill
tary base to attack the Soviet Union,
the growing capitalist contradictions
which can only eliminate in war, de-
mand that the M.WIU. fulfil its
revolutionary duty to clarity the role
of the marine workers in time OF war,
for all members to build ships COM
mittees, the main tasks Of which
committees should be to conduct an
snti-war campaign, and for the vari-
GUS port branches TO form united
front anti-war committees which
should be closely linked up with the
crews on ships. We must intensity our
activities in mobilizing the masses Of
seamen and longshoremen and har-
Dor workers around the slogans:
do not load or transport troops or
munitions in an imperianst war!
Hands off the Soviet Union and
Soviet ChinaH
81 In view of the possibilities, the
present situation Of the Marine
Workers Industrial Union is in no
way satisfactory. There is large
fluctuation of the membership, and
the growth of the union is very slow
The reason for this is that the union
did not yet lead any major strikes, or
get out of the stage of propaganda
and agitation. One of the MwI.U.
major weaknesses is the insufficient
base amongst the longshoremen,
whom number Of strikes have re-
Gently taken place. The failure to es-
tablish a longshore section, to carry
on systematic work amongst long
shoremen, to develop broad rank
and file movement within the LILA,
has resulted in our failure to form the
united front and develop independent
leadership. This inability to go from
agitation to action is further illus
trated by the failure to build the nee
essary organizational forns-the ship
and dock branches-as the basis OF
the union, instead Of the port local
For Concentration.
The main causes for this are GER
eralization in methods of work, no
separate sections for seamen, long
shoremen or harbor workers, lack Of
clarity on points of concentration, and
most important Of all, no definite
program for each of certain strategic
ships or docks in preparation for
struggle. Further, there is no system
attic checkup on the work. This car
also be applied to unemployed work
in particular, and to the work within
the reactionary unions.
Because of the generalization Of the
Negro work, which resulted IN the
failure to establish a Negro depart
ment, draw up specific demands for
the Negro workers, we have failed to
smash through the Jim Grow policy
of the takers and establish unity be-
tween the Negro and white workers
during time of strikes. Generalization
has resulted in the problems Of the
and youths beng neglected.
Other weaknesses that add to the
general instability are lack Of collec-
tive work and mass activity. The fl
nancial question has become vital
problem in the union which at times
has completely paralyzed our activt-
ties, preventing the issuance Of the
"Voiye", and resulted in inability TO
react quickly to urgent strike situa-
lions. The NATIONAL Office has been
unable to give sufficient personal
guidance to the outlying branches,
There is also insufficient education
and development Of new cadres, and
efforts to ideologically combat the
syndicalist tendencies Of the marine
workers has not been carried out.
a To strengthen the Organization
Of the MW1L. amongst the seaInen,
and herbor workers, 70
prepare and lead strikes against the
attacks of the shipowners, the follow
ing steps must be Immediately taken:
a. Concentrate on ships where
there is already basis; endeavor to
have our members stay aboard, or
ganize and develop action around
the immediate grievances.
b. Concentrate on ships where
wage cuts, etc, have already &C.
CURED, try to ship members and
delegates aboard for the purpose OF
lining up crews to strike against the
wage cut. Ship delegates are the key
to the development Of struggle
aboard ships, and in this connection
a close check-up must be MAIN
tanned on all delegates, special d.
receives given them, correspondence
from secretaries, and where posi-
BILE, conference Of ship delegates
should be held.
ITO BE CONTINUED
WORKERS, Correspondenca IA the