The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-08-29
The Neqv Attack on the
Railroad Workers

DECENTY the radroad interests announced that they will
10 wages again Last year an agreement was reached
Inv the railroads and the officials of the unions that there
should be of 10 per cent to last for The mem
bershp was assured by the leaders that the old wages
would be restored February l. 1888 They also
given to understand that the unemployment situation would
be eased up by unemployed being restored to jobs The
agreement been force for six months but instead of
rehirng men, have been laid off Union condi
tons are in many not enforced And on top of all this
the railroad magnates notice that they Will not only
demand the continuation of the 40 per cent cut but intimate
that they will demand cut high 20 or even 25 per
cent.
This situation in the railroad industry, the renewed
attacks the living standards of the railroad workers. shows
the bankruptcy effect of the policy of coopera
ton the railroad lords and the bureaucratic officials
upon the workers standards 1t shows that not only the
semi-skled and unsled workers who have always been
betrayed by reorst trade union leaders, the losers
in this bossworker partnership but the hitherto prvi
legged section of the workers well.
large section of railroad workers who occupied apriv
legged position faced with unemployment low
wages In the past these privileged workers content
to follow the policy of the bosses and their leaders in not
organizing the rest of the railroad workers. who in the
days of prosperity lived on starvation wages. They made
efforts to unite with the Negro railroad workers Now
every railroad worker that the policy of peace
with the bosses dividing the of the railroad workers
and only the interests of the employers and their
agents. the hgh-salaried railroad union officials.
The railroad workers see that reliance upon
negotiations of their officials the months
will bring only Continued attacks The game the Off
cut just they did last year. But they will do every
hing possible to demoraze the workers defeat them
The last time they betrayed the workers through
negotiations Now this method will be little more difficult
But they have planned for such emergencies They have
voted for and brought into existence the WasonParker
Law which will be used against the workers This law
which calls for compulsory arbitration will give officials
every opportunity to pretend to be against the wage cut
The BOSSES in order to rebuild their prestige will even assist
them They will demand 25 per cut The officials
viii then claim victory in bring about cut of perhaps TO-
10 or 70 per cent which is reality what the bosses hope
to accomplish at this time The victory the railroad workers
want is not only to defeat the wage but to restore
the old 1881 scale. This be achieved only through
militant mass fight of the railroad workers.
Already there steps being taken to organize the
fight The Chicago Unity Committee the militant railroad
workers committee is organizing the fight against the wage
attacks 1t has already called conference at which pro-
gram OF action has been mapped out This includes:
Ito vote down the wage cut in all lodges and
demand the enforcement of the present to re-
store the 1881 wage scale February LIST.
TO place the local lodges on record demanding
rank and file referendum all future agreements
covering wages and working conditions.
SO go on record against arbitration watson.
Fafker Law and demand direct negotiation by represen-
tatlyes elected by the workers with the management
40 take steps through the organization of unity
committees in all local lodges yards shops uniting the
unorganzed Negro workers, etc. in joint action against
he wage cut At the time to carry the fight for
rehef TO the unemployed and against ayoffs.
Inc railroad workers of the country, by ralying behind
TINS program can defeat the attacks This fight re-
qures that all workers should rally support of the railroad
workers This requires especially that the revolutionary
rade UNIONS the left wing opposons in all the A. F. of T.
unions the Trade Union Unity Councils in the various cities
sd come TO the support of the railroad workers in organ
izing this struggle So
The Communist Party and its central organ the Dailv
Worker will give every possible leadership and snnort to
railroad labor in this fight ~