The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-20
EXPERIENCES, LESSONS
IN DYE STRIKES

IN DYE STRIKES
I WILL deal with a number of
strikes in dye shops. Recently
there was a strike in the -
shop, in which we applied the united
front tactic. Here we found the
United Textile Workers Union, one
member of the National Textile
Workers Union and a few SYM
pathizerS. When we came into the
strike the organizer of the u. r. w.
Immediately whispered to some of
his Syrnpsthizers that the organic
ers Of the N. r. w. are in, and
they should be gotten out of the
meeting. When it came time for
the shop meeting, the organizer of
the U. T. W. tried to kick us out.
He brought out the fact that the
important thing to be decided is
which union shall lead. We, how
ever, emphasized that the impor-
tant thing is to unite the workers
to defeat the wage cut. We also
pointed out to the workers that we
didn't come there to break I'D the
strike but to help them to estab-
llsh the united front of all the
workers in the shop against the
boss. The workers listened and
decided that the question of the
union will be taken up later.
DEMANDS DISCUSSED
The need Of getting together all
the workers in the shop, both the
night and day shift, was taken up.
This Immediately put the U. T. w.
organizer in the background. The
conditions of the workers, the de-
mands for which they we're fight
ing, were discussed. The workers
also combatted the organizer of the
U. T. w. when he proposed that
instead of mass picketing the shop
should be picketed two by two.
These workers resented this and
told him that this was wrong.
They decided on mass picketing,
from 7 o'clock until nine and after
that two or three pickets to see
that no warps came out of the
shop. This shows clearly that
these workers were following our
policy of holding the shop together.
AS a result Of this, when they got
together to decide whether or not
to continue the strike, the men,
berS Of the U. T. w sided with us.
They decided to continue the strike
on the grounds that the members
of the N. It. w. who are working
in the building had issued a leaf1et
calling on all the workers to go on
strike, and the other workers had
agreed to strike after learning that
the boss was contemplating a wage
cut during January.
After the meeting we spoke to
many members of the U. T. w,
pointing out to them the role of
the N. T. w. They wanted to
know why we have two unions in
the city. We explained the differ
ence, also why the U. T. w. organ
izer would not accept a debate on
the question of the role of the U.
t. w. or the N. It. W., although
We had challenged him twice. The
workers are now waiting until after
the strike to take up this question
and have a debate.
NOW as to the other dye strike.
~ We received a report from two
unemployed workers, formerly dye
workers themselves, of a strike in
the - shop. Immediately we
got in touch with some comrades
from the unemployed council who
were formerly dye workers, asking
them to mobilize as many workers
as possible. We went down there
and mingled with the workers. The
N. t. w. was the only organization
down there. We told these work
ers that the first thing they should
begin to do is to organize mass
picketing in front of the shop, at
the same time arranging for a mass
meeting right near the place, to
discuss the demands and elect Il
strike committee. 1t Is important
to note that here the unemployed
rallied solidly behind the employed
workers. When they learned Of the
wage cut and that the workers were
battling against the 14-hour shift
and for an S-hour shift, they told
the workers to follow the leadership
Of the n. T. w. :. :.
DEFEAT
WAGE CUT
In the morning, out of $50 work
ers only II appeared on the picket
line, the rest OF them stood on the
sidewalk. The Party members APP
peared on the picket line. The
workers were afraid to picket be-
cause of the police and 1t was nee
essary to break the terror. The
police knew one of the Party men,
bers who had sold Daily Workers
and wanted to know whether he
worked in the shop. I told the
policeman he had no business to
ask this because he doesn't work
in the shop either and neither do
I. Immediately all the workers,
seeing the disturbance, began to
gather around and a heated dis
cussion on the conditions, the
wage cuts, etc. took place. The
boss saw the demonstration and
came ont. He heard the discus
sion, and the result was that the
wage cut was immediately With
drawn