The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-17

Oh bHe SLLGhCES anu 10 DItaA Ahchi a
Workers Union. The I. W. w. failed.t
The strike ended VIGOROUSLY.
Under the leadership of the Auto
Workers Union, the Briggs Water
loo workers proved the possibility OF
winning strikes in the period Of de-
preston and widespread unemploy-
nent. 1t showed that it could be
done. 1t proved to be the torerunner
of a whole series Of militant strikes
of automobile workers throughout
the country.
A few weeks later a strike broke
out in all the plants OF the Briggs
Corporation involving 10000 workers.
Under the leadership Of the Auto
Workers Union strike committees
were established for each plant and
a General Strike Committee to lead
the whole struggle in Detroit and
Highland Park. 1Tass picket lines
were established at all plants. The
I. w. w. again attempted its disrup-
tive tactics, but during the first few
weeks of the struggle mass action On
the part Of the strikers defeated
them. The ranks Of the strikers re-
manned firm.
The company was forced to make
concessions, agreeing to wage in
creases and to do away with the
practice of mo pay for waiting
time" At the same time attacks
against the strikers were redoubled.
City and state police broke up the
picket lines in Highland Park and
arrested many of the most militant
strikers. These attacks were carried
on under the snoke-screen Of a drive
against the REDS" Capitalist news
papers, A. F. of l.. and Socialist
Party officials joined the pack, all
Of them attacking the Auto Workers
Union as being dominated by Reds. .
Company agents among the strikers
began their disruptive tactics.
Into this situation the L w. w.
entered, giving direct support to in
dustrial spy agents, in their attempt
to break the leadership Of the Auto
Workers Union. The company agents
and stool-pigeons needed a mouth
piece who could feed the workers
with demagogy Understanding but
meaningless words, and who would
serve as a front for strikebreaking
tactics. Cidervall, the I. W. w
leader in Detroit, applied for the
Job and was accepted by Cornell
chairman of the negotiations COM
mittee, who was afterwards proven
| to be q stool-pigeon. At mass
meeting. Cidervall declared: ST can
tell an honest man when I see one
and everyone should support Cor
nell" On the other hand, he en-
couraged the workers in their illusion
that the only obstacle standing in
the way Of the granting of their de-
mands by the Briggs Co. was that
they had accepted the leadership OF
the Auto Workers Union.
This time the I. w. w. succeeded.
The only group supporting the cor
rect strike tactics was driven out
The ranks of the strikers were
broken. The strike was smashed
Cidervall was fully entitled to a
share of the spells paid out by Wal
ter Briggs to his strikebreaking
agents.
I. W. w. SANDERS
The 7. w. w leadership is fully
responsible for the smashing of the
Briggs strike. Yet, despite the facts
known to every Detroiter, that the
Briggs Corporation, the newspapers
and every other avenue of publicity
was used to sever the Auto Workers
Union from the leadership Of the
strike, I. w. w. leaders consider it
good tactics to industrously spread
the lying runor that Phil Raymond
Secretary Of the Auto Workers
Union, received $4,000 for breaking
the strike.
Used BY Murray Body
After strike OF Murray Body
workers, led by the Auto Workers
Union at the beginning Of the year