The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-30
Hosiery Union Rank
and File Opposition
Is Gain ing Strength
Can for Militant Action at Meeting of 800 in
4s Philadelphia Local Union

leafiet to all the open-shop work
ers, advising them of our stand
and calling upon them to join us
in the one-day gtrike!'
Win Over Many
This motion was debated for over
two hours. Those speaking in favor
of the motion outnumbered those
taking a contrary stand by at least
two to one. It was obvious to every
one present that the officials were
alternating many Of their staunchest
supporters, for several Of them sup
ported the rank and file proposal.
Other rank and file speakers elabor-
ated on the militant purpose of the
motion. The obvious collision of the
Labor Board and the Code Author
ity; the fact that, as was admitted
by McKeown, president Of the local,
the hours curtailment scheme was a
brainchild Of the big open-shop bosses
such as Hemmerich, of the Berkshire
and Meyer, of the Apex, who had
enormous stocks Of finished hosiery
on hand; that the code revision was
being fought by the small manufae-
turers; that it had taken the Code
Authority only four days to accede to
the demands of the big open-shop
bosses for cutailment, whereas 1t had
taken the Labor Board 80 days to de-
eide to give the union workers one
third of their demand for 161a per
cent increase-all these cogent ar
guments were marShalleo by the
speakers Of the left and enthusiastic
ally endorsed by the members.
Ernest Kornfeld, the leader Of the
rank and file opposition, emphasized
the political character Of the proposed
strike, and gave a concise analysis of
the anti-proletarian nature Of the
N. r, A. in general and the hosiery
code in particular. On September /,
before throng of $500 hosiery work
ers gathered to discuss whether to
go on strike for the 1872 per cent in
crease, Kornfeld had made a speech
OF similar tone. Then he had been
booed, but Saturday he was roundIy
applauded
officials Land N. n. A.
The officials, in speaking against
the motion, Iauded the N. r. A. and
the Labor Board. They even went
SO far as to declare that the aborted
general transportation workers strike
was in defense Of the N. r. A. How
can We turn down the findings Of the
National Labor Board, when the
drivers of Philadelphia are trying to
bring about a general strike on wheels
because Budd and the P. r. T. are
flounting the Labor Board. Are we 60
ing to place ourselves in the same
position Budd and the P. r. T. are
in, ETC." Such was the general tenor
Of their remarks. They conjured the
boogie of an adverse public opinion
and wound up by remarking that the
hosiery workers could not afford to
defy the president by declaring one
day strike and sending a delegation
to the capital
Finally, when the vote was taken
the motion was beaten by about 100
votes. Some observers remarked that
the motion would have carried had
not the auxiliary workers (the hours
curtailment decision applies to knit
tiers only voted against it. The Of
f1cials' policy of support, uncondi-
tionally, of the N. r. A. once again
prevailed. But it was Pyhrric VIC
tory. They estranged many followers
who supported them blindiy for many
years, and they gained no new ones.