The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-12-17

existence, has been able to success
fully conduct strikes, settle 70 shops
and raise the wages Of over 1000
painters.
These wages have been raised from
20 to so percent and working condi-
tons have been improved to an ex-
tent never before enjoyed by the
workers.
At the present time the union has
a dues-peying membership Of $50 in
six locals which maintain their OWE
headquarters in the various parts Of
the city. In spite Of the general de-
cline Of work In the painting trade
there are at present close to 500
members of the union working ful1
time on jobs.
On the average, 40 new members
affiliate weekly to the union.
In spite Of the fact that only G
little more than 800 workers inau-
gurated the union, there are at pres
ent on the rolls a membership OF
over 140o workers It Is Of course
due TO the general unemployment
situation that many Of these work
ers are not regular dues paying.
The union is making a serious ef-
fort to keep on its rolls all the work
ers in the painting trade even II they
are unable, due to the crisis, TO pay
dues at all.
Job Committees.
The method Of job control by the
Alteration Painters Union is unlike
that OF the A.. +. Of L. union. The
control Of the conditions OF the jobs
in the A. F. of L. unions Is entirely
vested in the hands Of highly paid
business agents who invariably ac-
cept graft and permit tho, bosses to
violate union rules. 9yot6
The Alteration Painters Union con-
trolls union conditions on the Job
through elected Job committees which
are required to report weekly to the
union on the existing conditions.
This method compels the bosses TO
live up TO the agreements signed
with the union and raises the conf
dence of the workers In their union.
The union has also inaugurased q
shop, work distribution system
which eliminates the antagonisni
which exists between the workers OF
the A. F. Of l.. union ON the question
Of unemployment for the majority
and employment of a small minority.
United Front.
Local organizers Of the new union
periodically visit the Jobs and sit in
with the shop committees, taking up
grievances ETC., on the Jobs. How
ever, the primary function Of these
organizers IS the recruiting OF new
workers into the union, organization
of strikes for the Improvement Of
their conditions and signing agree
ment with the bosses. These orgs-
nizers are constituted into a city
council which weekly plans out city
wide organizational drives.
The union has also been able TO
organize unemployed committees IN
each local for the purpose Of obtain
ing necessary relief for its members
in distress. The Alteration Painters
Union is helping in every possible
way for members Of the A. F. OF L.
Unions, to obtain the prevailing scale
of wages and union conditions OF
work. This, the Alteration Painters
Union has been able TO achieve, in
many instances where the member
ship OF both unions has been work
ing in one building and the A. F. OF
L. bureaucracy refused TO enforce
union conditions. AS a result Of
such fraternal interest in the welfare
of the membership Of the A. F. Of L.
union, whose officials are trying TO
beat down conditions in many IN
stances whole shops Of A. r. OF L.
union workers have transferred into
the Alteration Painters Union.