The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-30
DEVELOPING, FOLLOWING
UP CONTACTS IN SHOP


DEVELOPING, FOLLOWING
UP CONTACTS IN SHOP
ANOTHER case which concerns
n probably $500 workers. For
years the workers in this depart
ment never worked on punch
time card system. Now the time
card system is being established.
1t is possible to carry through an
action in connection with this,
through some organization to give
leadership to this grievance that
exists in that department, and this
could be developed to the point
where, on a certain day, the work
ers would refuse to punch the time
cards. You rer !mber III the Strike
of the Dredging Fleet" published in
the Daily" where workers started
to work at o'clock in the morn
ing and the comrade was able to
develop such an agitation that
they did not come to work until Z
o'clock in the morning. But this
requires organization to a certain
extent.
But these small actions are of
vital Importance. Why? First,
because they increase the morale
of the workers, Second. they
develop unity among the work.
ers. Third, 1t gives them fight
ing spirit for organization, feel
ing that they can actually win
something. These small actions,
if they are carried forward and
won, will be able to win for us
many future struggles.
TAKE, for instance, another ac-
i ton: A five-minute protest
against certain conditions that ex-
list inside the mill. How to develop
them? Through personal con-
tact, individual agitation, small
group meetings or social gatherings,
Through the chess clubs, radio
clubs. or checker game groups, or
some kind of social gatherings, is
sues can be raised and such ac-
tions developed. The workers are
ready. The only thing they are
looking for is someone to lead
them.
There is another thing about de-
veloping personal agitation. This
is highly personal and specific. We
can utilize such a method inside
the mill when one comrade imme-
diately Seizes on certain grievance.
For instance, the time cards, or the
mistreatnlent of a worker. Write
out 10 copies on onion skin paper,
just what that grievance is and
have on the bottom, please pass
it on to the next fellow worker"
This would go around the depart
ment, in this manner developing an
theological unity on a certain
grievance, a desire for action. In
this way a number of workers
can be involved tho the results
might not be accomplished imme-
diately.
JUST few more words on our
section work. In the last couple
Of months, at least, it has been
characterized by more serious and
determined and more organized and
concentrated effort to make a
change. But far from enough. We
have a plan of work on the ques-
ton Of financial support, on the
question of assignments, the dis
tribution Of forces, on the question
OF unemployment, on the develop
ment of inside actions, the develop
ment of contacts, the question of
the paper, keeping discipline inside
the units. The Section Commit
tee has already reviewed this plan
Of work. 1t has been discussed in
side the unit. However, to a great
extent this plan has not been car
rled out because I was in jail for
certain time. However, the plan
OF working is going to be brought
up again, checked up, revised after
the unit discussion and in this way
we will be able to make change.
On the question of the Daily
Worker: We are already beginning
to make some movement in this
respect. Our shop nucleus is tax
ing steps to distribute the DAILY"
inside the mill. Two specific days
were picked out whereby our mill
workers will send correspondence to
the Daily Worker and the distribu-
ton will be made inside and out
side the mill.
| THINK that in dealing with
! these seemingly small questions
and experiences, my own opinion
and the opinion of the comrades
who helped me to prepare this re-
port, Is that we are really placing
the work Of this most important
conference on the proper basis, on
the. basis that this will enable us
to really set our teeth in several
central problems and arrive at
practical, tangible results which
will result in a definite and no.
ticeable improvement--and that is
what we are here forl
Gin tomorrow's issue OF the
Daily" we will publish the speech
of the section organizer which deals
with some Of the weaknesses In the
above report, as we'll as editorial
comment on both speeches Edi-
torial note.)