The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-09

leadership of our Union because We
knew that there was sentiment
ripening in the minds OF our menu
bership for utilization.
Not Anew Question.
The question Of utilization Of our
Union to the T.UU.L. is by no means
new in the ranks of the Union. The
fact Of the matter is that when, about
10 months ago, the question of launch
ing of the union officially came up,
the question Of affiliation was taken
up also.
AT that time we were not ready to
start a discussion in the Organization
Committee of this problem. Our
Union came into existence as a result
Of broad demand on the part of a
large number of Painters who were
ready and willing to begin building
an organization for struggle against
wage cuts and for better conditions
of work.
Our Union was born and developed
in struggle and has gained in strength
and influence because the workers
saw that it is the Union they were
looking for, for many years.
Other Leadership Failed.
We know that one Of the reasons
that we have not yet succeeded in
drawing in larger numbers Of work
ers into our Union is, that the paint
ers of New York have seen many at
tempts made within the last 20 years
-, 1HroIn aud
that the leaders of these attempts
have never fulfilled heir promises to
the painters.
In most cases the Painters were
badly disappointed by elements that
got themselves into the leadership Of
these unions and groups who were
only playing into the hands OF the
corrupted and discredited leaders OF
the Brotherhood.
AS a result of these disappointmentS
the masses of Painters are still look
ing with considerable amount OF
olstrust at the attempt made by our
Organization to build a mass Altera-
ton Painters Union.
"Watchful Waiting"
There are many thousands OF
Painters who are now convinced that
our Union is the proper weapon Tor
struggle and that it is the Union that
they will sooner or later join. They
are convinced that our Union has the
correct policy and tactics but are
adopting the attitude Of "watchfuny
awaiting
TU.UL. Popular.
rTr,a x~o,,,,Io,-ifty NJ I1fa IT II III, and
the trust and confidence the workers
are placing in the TU.U.L. cannot
be doubted. The Painters Of this city
are hesitant to join an Independent
Union having learned through ex-
perience that in every case in the past
such a Union in the Painting trade
| has been misused by the Brotherhood
misleaders to the detriment OF the
workers.
The workers see and realize that
| our Union is different and that our
policies of militant struggle against
the attacks of the bosses are very
much in line with the tactics and
! policies of the other class struggle
Unions that are affiliated to the
T.UUL.
| Question Must BE Met.
The question therefore arises IN
the minds of many painters as to the
advantages that would be gained by
our Union if we affiliate to the
TUUL.
1t is the opinion Of the writer OF
this article that the present situation
of the Alteration Painers Union and
the problem Of building a mass Union
as well as the problem of drawing
into our Organization the many
militant workers whom we have not
yet reached largely depends upon
whether we affiliate to the T.U.U,L
or remain indefinitely an independent
union.
Encourage Discussion.
We must open a broad discussion
in our Locals and in the press on this
question. 1t should be the object OF
the leadership of our Union to en-
courage this discussion so that as
many rank and file workers as pos
sible express their opinion.
The field for our Union is wide
open. Thousands of Painters in New
York are closely watching our activity
and our progress, and if utilization to
the TU.UL. will in any way help in
bringing masses Of painters quicker
into the Union We must not delay this
question much longer.
| - 49, u of T. h,traaJcrarv