The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-11-25
A.F.L. Members in Action

WHAT a well organized rank and file movement inside
the ranks Of the A. F. OF L. locals and spirited
workingclaSs initiative do to defeat the racket
eering practices of corrupt A F of L. officials is excel
lenty illustrated in the action of the Painters Unions
in New York this week.
Rank and file painters are acquainted with the
notorious record Of william zausner, who eluded
rest for misrepresentation of thousands of dollars of the
unions funds with the aid of the bosses driven
out Of the Painters Union by aroused membership.
His comeback effected with the support OF strong
arm men and the usual coercion and intimidation
in the art Of which A. F. of L. leaders well trained
For three months zausner and his official clique in
the District Council collected daily tax OF so cents
from every working member of the union. The tax
was imposed on the membership after the leading
members of the rank and file had been driven out of
the union meeting the point of guns The tax netted
the neat sum Of $125000 and was said to be for the
purpose of pushing the unions organization activity
WHAT did Mr., zausner, who is molly defended by
" the Socialist daily, the Jewish Forward, do with
these funds? The funds went for the purpose of hr
ing gangsters to beat up members of the militant
Alteration Painters Union who were strike, for
hiring scabs to take the jobs from these strikers
strongarm men to intimidate and terrorize the
bershp and smash the Alteration Painters Union The
funds went for strengthening and building the strong
arm squad which would insure Zausner in office in
definitely and make the lucrative business of Fleeing
the rank and file permanent.
Did zausner do anything to compel the bosses to
carry out the paper agreement he concluded with
bosses after the sbcaed striker 1t is generally known
in the union that the bosses violating the agree
ment and that the Gale of SO day for hours of work
is nothing more than paper scale. Not cent went
to the relief Of unemployed painters, which there
are large numbers in the union.
When the painters realized the purpose for which
the funds were being used they decided to stop paying
the tax. AT their initiative 400 painters met and
voted unanimously to to their locals and put through
official action against the tax. zausner who came to
the meeting, was completely repudated by the painters
-Four local unions have confirmed the action Of the 400
painters who paved the way for this revolt and the
revolt is spreading by the organized activity of the
rank and file.
pY MEANS OF such concerted organized action A.
of L. workers will throw Off the racketeering and
treacherous leadership of the A. F. of L. bureaucracy
The first step In the direction of consolidating the
forces Of the A. F. Of L. rank and file workers in New
York in unified opposition movement will be taken
at conference Of the rank and file today at Irving
Plaza. The conference should strengthen the A. f. Of
L. members in their struggle for relief for the iobless
and for the elimination of many Of the abuses existing
inside the union imposed by the A. F. of L. isleaders
1t must mark step forward in establishing real
center Of all rank and file members In the New York
A. F. of L. unions for the purpose OF guidance in
forthcoming struggles and for building strong move
ment for unemployment insurance and relief.