The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-18
Delegates from Lead
ing Plants Report at
SMWIU Conference

PITTSBURGH, pat the call OF
the District Executive Committee Of
the S.M.WI.U., Pittsburgh district.
100 delegates representing locals and
organizational committees Of the
union met in conference at the wal
ton Hall, Pittsburgh on Sunday, De
cember 10.
Delegates were present from the
following mills; Jones and Laughlin
South side plant, Jones and Laugh
lin (AlIiquipa), Pressed Steel Car Co,
RdcKees Rocks, from Homestead Car
negie mills blooming mill, $40 inch
MILD, Carnegie Steel, Duquesne; Wal
worth Foundry, Greensburgh; Edger
Thompson Steel, Braddock; Union
Switch and Signal, Swissvale; Nc
Chntoc Marshall Co. Rankin; Jones
and Laughlin coke plant, Hardwood
Westinghouse Electric, Turtle Greek
Eliza Founry u. 81 L., National Tube
Corp, McKeesport; McKeesport Tin
plate Co., McEeesport; Copperweld
Co., Glassport; Columbia Steel, Car
negie; Pittsburgh Water Heater, East
Pittsburgh: Central Tube, AInbridge,
American BriSge, Ambridge.
Aside from the delegates represent
ing the SMWI.U. directly from the
locals and organizational committees,
ten delegates from the opposition in
the Amalgamated Association of Iron.
Steel and Tin Workers attended and
participated in the conference.
The District Conference reviewed
the past period in the district and
laid the tasks for the next steps or
the union. This was stressed in the
main report, given by Jim Egan,
District President, now out on a one
year sentence appeal for his actiYi-
ties in the urSon and the unemployed
struggles in which he is a leader.
Egan stressed especially the lessons
Of the Ambridge strike, pointing out
its weaknesses and positive sides.
from which the district must draw
its lessons in future battles With the
Steel Trust.
The Conference was opened by Pat
Cush, Chairman Of the National
Board, who was followed by John
Meldon, National Secretary Treas
urer, who gave greetings to the con-
ference and reported on the activities
Of the S.W.W1.U. nationally and the
situation in the industry.
John zalonko, Chairman Of Nc
KEGS Rocks Local No. /, was elected
chairman Of the conference, and
Brother Thompson, Negro steel
worker from Homestead was elected
vice. chairman.
Following the reports, workers from
all sections Of the districts took the
floor in discussion. A strong note
OF militancy ran through all speeches.
with many of the delegates calling
for a campaign throughout the win
ter period to consolidate the union
IN strategic mills to be followed By
whole series of strikes eliminating
in local major strikes in the Spring
period. The discussion also stressed
the need for united action between
the miners, who utilize April LIST of
each year for their strike movements.
and the steel workers. Frank Borfch.
leader Of the miners and secretary OF
the National Miners Union, addressed
the conference, bringing greetings
and experiences Of the miners
A report on opposition work within
the Amalgamated Association of Iron
Steel and Tin Workers was made by
Brother r. D., active member Of the
He called for the for
nation of opposition groups in all
locals of the A.AIS.T.W,
Throughout the whole discussion
careful attention was paid to an an
alysis of the organizational forms of
the union, particularly the depart
ment form Of organization. Emphasis
was placed by the reporters and del
egates on the necessity OF roofing
the union in the mills and shops on
a functioning basis, fighting daily
A plan Of work was submitted and
adopted by the conference which
called for combination OF open mass
activity in the steel towns and ter
ritories and careful activity in the
Steel Trust mills. Local conferences
we're outlined to carry the decisions
down to the localities and into prac-
ttce by the membership.
Resolutions were passed and cent
the release Of the Leipzig
tIial defendants, the Scottsboro boys
and Tom Mooney. A letter Of greet
ings was sent TO Mooney, who is
Honorary Chairman OF the s. M. W.
1. U.