The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-02-03

/ Workers Industrial Union, the Ma.
rine Workers, Food Workers, Office
Workers and Teachers. A number
of other organizations such as the
Shoe Workers and Furniture Work.
ers have made some slight attempts
without any real follow up. AS tt
activities on the part of the opposi-
tons in this field, progress has beer
made; amongst the printers, ant
pocketbook workers.
Building Trades
The outstanding weakness in the
last six months has been on the part
of our Building Trades Organizations
which must be severely criticized
| considering the fact that this indus
try even more than any other has a
situation Of mass unemployment. AL
other organizations, new unions and
oppositions, have not activized them
selves to create any movement what
soeYer.
LayoffS and Overtime
1t is necessary to also state that
the struggle put up by our Red Trade
Unions and oppositions against lay
offs and overtime has been exceed
lngly week-weaker even than activ-
tiles carried on for immediate re-
lief for the unemployed from the
Home Relief BuroS, Gibson Commit
tee, etc, etc. 1t is necessary that
our unions and oppositions recognize
that the struggle against lay-offs and
overtime, while great masses are out
of work, are as important part OF
the struggle against unemployment as
any other demand, and at times even
more important.
The workers cannot take seriously
an organization, that, while putting
up demands on all other kinds OF
questions, does not itself struggle
against overtime in the shops con-
troIled by it, and against lay-offs
part Of this struggle to be carried
on by the union itself to maintain
workers on the job and obtain work
is also the systematic struggle for
shorter hours, without reduction in
! pay.
1t is around the struggle for all
these demands that solidarity be-
tween the employed and unemployed
can be realized.
PERSPECTIVES
| The conditions at present for the
development of struggle and extern
! sion of our influence amongst the un-
employed workers is far more favor
able than year ago. 1t is possible
now, because of the greater need o.
relief, to activize the masses in fal
larger numbers than last year.
While continuing the agitation fol
our major demands, such as, unem.
! ploylnent insurance, emergency re-
lief for the winter months, etc., w
| continue inside the ALL. unions Il
agitate for exemption from dues pay
ments, reductions of salaries of thu
officials and for the use of big treas
uIies accumulated by some of thest
I unions to help the most needy mem
bers
The central point to be pressed a
this time, however, is the struggle TO
immediate relief for those who can
not get by any longer and must have
help right now. This can be dont
through mass pressure against thu
Home Relief Buros, the Gibson Com
mittee, the City Welfare Commits
sioner, Taylor etc.
Rent Strikes
OF extraordinary Importance at thi
time is the struggle against higl
rents, which is already being taker
up by the masses in a spreading
movement as is manifested by tn,
size Of the rent strikes. The struggl,
against the high rents is platform
on which the unemployed, part tim,
employed and employed workers
white collar employees and ever
petty bourgeoisie can be united bet
ter than on any other issue. 1t i
essential that we popularize thi
weapon Of reducing what the land
lord takes Of the workers pay to tn
very utmost and teach the worker
the elementary methods as to how t.
organize rent strikes in the house
that they live in so that an eve
larger number of rank and file or
ganizers come forward in this move
ment and activize themselves to or
ganize struggles in their houses ant
on their blocks