The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-01
From Report to the T.U.U.C.)
BY ]. ZACk

BY ]. ZACK
WITH more than 100000 unem-
" ployed in the United States,
and in New York City alone near
ly million and a half, no one
can seriously think about the labor
movement and the development of
it without organizing the unem-
ployed, which means to say that
any of our trade unions that do
not put the unemployed question
as a major order OF business in
their everyday activities, cannot
really succeed because they narrow
themselves down to only one part
Of the working class.
This is particularly important
for those unions in the building
trades, needle trades, and several
other trades where unemployment
is so per cent or more OF the total
number of workers that are work
ing in that industry, III the Build
ing Trades there is practically &c
per cent unemployed.
Unless union has considerable
influence among the unemployed,
it will not be able to establish the
necessary solidarity between the
employed and unemployed to fight
Tor better conditions.
THE struggle of the unemployed
L takes on certain forms some
what different from what we have
been accustomed to for years in
the trade union movement. Be
cause of this, many Of our unions
and opposition groups are slow to
learn how to lead the unemployed
workers. 1t takes them q long time
to take up this struggle as mat
ter of their everyday work.
RESOLUTIONS ARE ONLY
THE FIRST STEP
They usually start with resolu-
lions, and speeches, which is all
right. These are the first steps,
and then gradually they go over
to some simple forms of struggle.
I think we have already, as re-
suit Of the last few years, expert
ences OH the basis of which we
can make much more determined
effort on organizing the unem-
ployed.
The unemployed now are far
more embittered than they were
year ago. The employed have re-
ceived three to four, and in some
places their fifth wage cut, and are
also far more in g. mood of strug-
gle than they were year ago. We
know that in the last three months
it is already possible in a whole
number of trades to develop an
offensive to obtain wage increases.
A year ago, for instance, many
of our strikes were purely defen-
SiYe strikes, against wage cuts,
lengthening of hours, etc. At pre-
sent, of course, We still have strug-
giles to prevent wage cuts. But
there are q whole number of trades
in New York where the workers
organized in the militant unions
can go over to the offensive, TO de-
mand wage increases.
The same thing can be noticed
among the unemployed, as is
shown by the many struggles
around Home Relief Brros, rent
strikes, etc. Therefore, this year
it is necessary to bring this whole
struggle Of the unemployed and
employed to a higher level
WHE,N this work started, we had
w the idea that activity amongst
the unemployed is confined purely
to problems arising in the industry
as such. We had such thing as
exemption from paying dues, which
is important, because when the IN
ployed are not exempt from
paying dues they cannot remain
in the organization. We had other
such questions such as demand
on the bosses to set aside 2 per cent
Of the payroll for fund to relieve
those workers who are mostly in
need of it; and some demonstra-
tions in front of the Offices of the
Bosses Association.
WIDEN STRUGGLES
FOR UNEMPLOYED
But now we see that those uni
ons that have started good work
in this field beginning to look upon
this question lrnIn "a broader. nnint