The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-01

ltIG OIIC oGl Inc oCAlG41IACAAG 40
posal were the adherents and SYM
pathizers of the Conference for Pro-
gressive Labor Action, the leading
element Of whom Is the same afore-
mentioned Brooks.
In this strike again the National
Textile Workers Union is calling
upon the workers to unite their
ranks. To organize one strike COM
mittee, to unite on one set of de-
mandS, to establish one united picket
line-in a word to united for the win
ming of the demands Of the workers.
There exist great possibilities for
actually making this strike a ma
tional silk strike. This Of course will
not be done by Mr.. Mcmahon Of the
United Textile Workers. AS the
workers will recall he accepted the
bosses codes and only recently he
acted as strikebreaker in Salem
where after a successful strike con-
Quoted over the heads Of the UTW
Officials the 1900 workers withdrew
from the AFL and organized an in
dependent union. This can only be
done by the workers themselves.
In establishing this united front
and a national strike the NTWU is
an important factor not alone be-
cause of the policy Of united front
for which it is fighting but also be-
cause of its influence and organiza-
tionaI strength. Aside from its mem
berShip in Paterson which is not
much less than that of the AFL
union (the bulk of the workers are
unorganizeO the NTWU has thou
sands of members in Rhode Island,
Philadelphia, and influence in AL
lentoWn among the silk workers. The
NTWU therefore in this fight for the
united front is fighting for a real
strike. Only in this way can real
silk strike be developed.
FURTHERMORE there are many
L other unions in the field-inde-
pendent unions. 1t is clear that the
AFL organization here can have no
claim to monopoly of the field. The
unions outside the AL number many
more workers than those in the
AFL. 1t would seem that in such a
situation even those who are not in
agreement with the policies of the
Trade Union Unity League but who
profess to be for the united front
could have but one road-to fight
for the united front of the workers
in the various organizations for the
struggle And especially important
is the establishment of this united
front in Paterson. Paterson is look
ed upon by the silk workers through
out the country as the one to give
the lead. What then should one say
when A. ]. Music voted for the
united front manifesto in Cleveland
and fails to come forward and fight
for the united front in this first
struggle after the conference. What
explanation can there be for this?
When the struggle of perhaps $4,000
silk workers throughout the country
is involved one must give a political
explanation for the failure to come
forward in Paterson and state his
position. This becomes especially
important because those who claim
to be adherents of the CPLA refuse
to fight for the unity of the silk
workers in Paterson.
The meeting did take place with
out Music. True, we heard no COM
plants from any of the workers why
he did not appear. And the attend
ance was very large. Some 1900
workers were present. The majority
were non-members of the National
Textile Workers Union. Among the
speakers we're, Moe Brown, local Or
ganizer of the NTWU., Ann Burlak,
National Secretary of the NTWU.
and the writer. The speakers were
well received.
The workers voted for the united
front policy proposed and elected a
| strike committee of so workers. This
committee is to go to the Associated
and ask for unity for one strike
committee, for one set of demands
to be decided by the workers on the
basis of the various proposals made
by the different unions. The work
ers are ready for a real militant
struggle. One of the features of the
situation is the feeling among the
workers that was expressed that the
UTW officials may again call off the
strike the last minute thus dividing
the ranks of the workers.
There are weaknesses in the work
of the NTWU in Paterson about
which we will deal in another article.
But one thing is clear. The TUUL
unions who voted for the Cleveland
Manifesto are organizing the united
front Of the workers, organizing the
fight to defend the interests of the
workers.