The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-31
Some Experiences in the Briggs
Auto Strike in Detroit
BY Bxrek

it would not mean anything and
it would look to the workers as
if the Auto Workers Union sold
out the strike. Of course, we are
not opposed to written agreements.
However, what the comrades did
not see is that the establishment
of shop organization-the workers
knowing that they have won their
demands-creates the best guaran-
tee for enforcing the conditions
gained. During the discussion Of
this point, it became clear to some
comrades leading the strike that
they did not take the negotiations
seriously and that they failed to
keep definite perspective during
the strike, which was that this
should be a short strike and that
it be brought to successful con-
clusion SO that it would serve as
an incentive for further struggles
in the auto industry.
THERE were other cases of cater
ing to the legalistic illusions of
these workers within our fraction.
Here the need Of being right on
the spot, being in contact with
every little move, listening to all
rumors and whispering campaigns,
keep sufficiently in touch with the
general feeling and atmosphere,
was of decisive Importance. The
Importance of all these things were
considerably underestimate by
the fraction and the union leader
ship. These are some of the i'm
portant lessons and experiences
gained in the strike.
It is the task of the Party and
the union Immediately to consoli-
date the organizational gains (250
workers have already joined the
union at this writing and to utilize
this victory to intensity this work
in preparations for struggle among
the workers in Ford's and III other
plants, as well as to demonstrate
in practical action the growing
unity of employed and unemployed
workers in the struggle against
wage-cutS and for relief and IN
employment Insurance.
The conduct of this strike de-
manded a considerable change in
many ways, in how to work and to
orientate activities of the Party in
TO shop work. 1t raised sharply the
responsibility of the leadership as
we'll as of individual leading COM
rades for shop work and strike ac-
tivities, and the consciousness that
it must be the Party that builds
the union and that leads the work.
ers in building a united fighting
movement.
MUST BUILD
PARTY AND UNION.
The strike shows clearly that in
the course of building this united
front move m t, we must
strengthen the Party; we must
build shop nuclei. We must pro-
mote leading rank and file MEM
bers into leading positions and in
crease the iron discipline of the
members of the district leadership
in responsible bodies 1t further
demands from us the further build
ing OF the union leadership and TO
give d busineSs-like tone to all ac-
tivities of the union. 1t remains
with us to show the workers how
to organize-how to Highland
lead them in these activities, and
how to create initiative from be-
low. 1t is urgent that the union,
without delay, issue its official or
gan, "The Auto Workers News"
regularly, conduct organizational
work in systematic fashion, is
sue membership books with the
proper dues system, and present
militant fighting front SO that the
auto workers can look to the union
and its leadership as their own.
The line OF the Central Commit
tee OF our Party, If correctly APP
Piled, is correct, as was demonstrate
ed in this strike. We must go forth
We must definitely root the Party
and the Auto Workers Union i'm
the shops and among the unem-
ployed,
TH1S is of decisive Importance III
view of the seething situation in
the auto industry which contains
all elements for new struggles in
volving greater masses of auto
workers and leading towards a gen.
eral struggle Of the auto workers
in the struggle against the wage
cut.
That our perspective Is correct
is seen in the fact that as this is
written, over 900 Motor Products
workers are now out on strike since
Friday, January goth, to force The
company to take bac,, the wage
cut which was put over on Jsnu-
airy !,