The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-02-28

"a prerequisite for the correct APP
proach to the young workers is the
realization of the fact that the young
workers have not gone through the
experience of the adult in organiza-
ton and class struggle, and the illu-
SionS drummed into their heads in
the school system are still fresh in
their minds Yet, at the same time
the young workers can be aroused
against miStreatment and for better
conditions in many cases quicker
than adult workers. They have had
no disappointments in previous Strug-
giles and are like fresh troops when
handled properly
The problems of the youth sections
are: Conditions of the young workers
IN the shops youth crafts, etc.,
bringing in recommendations to the
union to fight for such as pay in
creases for youth, equal pay for equal
work, sanitary conditions, safety de-
vices, dressing rooms, against speed
up, etc. Sports teams, practice, COM
petition with other teams, meets, etc.
Social activities sponsored for young
workers in the industry and in the
union, dances, dramatics, song hours,
bulletins, parties. hikes, etc.
1T is essential that in the devel-
opment of our youth activities
amongst the unemployed we also de-
velop the necessary approach and
fight for the youth demands, as an
important part Of the fight of the
unemployed"
Youth Committees.
CLUBS cannot replace youth COM
mittees of the union. The youth
committees are instruments to Or
ganize the youth of the union for
more effective approach to the young
workers in the industry. However,
the youth committees have remained
too narrow in their methods, and
were themselves influenced by the
attitude of the adult leadership,
which made one problem out Of the
youth and adult question. The re-
alization that the youth is a specific
problem must be also recognized or
ganizationally in our trade union &C
tivities. The young workers in the
union should be formed into youth
section"
I'VE must fight against the pre-
vailing tendency in our unions to
relegate the responsibility for youth
work entirely upon inexperienced
young workers in the union. 1t is
essential, of course, that we develop
young cadres and that the organiza-
tions built up amongst the youth
should be SO organized as to push
forward the young leaders into lead
ership not only in the youth organ
ization, but in the leading bodies of
the union as well. 1t is essential at
the same time that in all communi-
ties set up for the development of
activities amongst the young workers
there be included experienced adult
comrades. Any tactic that leads to
the division of the young workers
from the adult workers is the gross
est kind of opportunism. 1t repre-
sents the carrying over of the meth
DDS of reformists into the class strug-
gle unions"
Disseminated Groups.
Particular attention must be paid
to the methods of approach to the
young girls because of the much
stronger influence of conservative
parents at home. In many cases
they have been known to have put
up splendid fights for their condi-
tons. Negro young workers are
usually even more Disseminated and
nistreated than even white young
workers. We will never be able to
attract them to our organizations if
we do not realize this fact. When
Negro young workers go on strike
they are energetic and militant"
an the skilled trades there are
large numbers of young workers
which with rare exception have been
completely neglected by our opposi-
ton groups. These young workers
are generally treated by the buro-
crazy as bargaining material to OBJ
tain conditions for the skilled adults
at their expense. The opposition
groups must seriously take up the
youth problem, understand the meth
DDS used in exploiting the young
workers, their disfranchisement, the
abuses prevalent in most of the ap-
prentice schools, and include in their
program the defense of their inter-
ests as well as ways to organize
fhay11