The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-26
DEVELOPING, FOLLOWING
UP CONTACTS IN SHOP

IL
HOWEVER, 1t goes back to the
Al same old point-the lack of per-
Sonal contact inside of the mill, the
inability Of our comrades to weld
contact with other workers, made
the shop paper something that was
just gotten out, the grievances
raised in the bulletin were not de-
Veloped, no action could be deyel-
oped since our comrades did not
form an integral part inside the
mill to take up these grievances.
However, comrades, there have
been some highlights and these
highlightS can be regained through
the correct methods. At one time
we had $50 workers to meeting.
We have had 80 initiated members
in the union. The high spots in
the union membership generally
developed when our union reacted
TO the attacks against the wage
cuts, etc, or for instance, just re-
Gently, when We Immediately popu-
larized the Warren strike.
Another weakness which express
sed itself in not our organizations
and is in retaining a constant
form of organization. We have
gone from very general meetings of
all the members of the union over
to department meetings and then
shifting back, with the result that
the workers themselves felt there
and no stability in the union even
so far as the organization form was
concerned, and left the union.
They felt that their grievances
were not adequately taken up with
these shifting forms of orgsniza-
tional structure But this has al
ready been overcome.
OUR fraction Of the Party and the
" Y. c. L. isn't a shock brigade
fraction in the union. Naturally
with the Party nucleus in this con-
dition, We also didn't have AHneri-
can workers. The union did not
develop any new forces and most
outstanding of all our trade union
center is so weak, that it was not
able to give the proper leadership.
There was not sufficient discussion
on what is happening in Warren,
what is occurring in Gerry and other
mills-no exchange Of experiences
on important questions.
We must have a different ap-
proact to concentration. Unless
the Party leading committees and
functionarieS give more constant
and serious attention to shop work,
unless there is organized most
intensive study Of our experiences
in shop work, We will not be able
to take the proper steps. If there
is going to be concentration, let
there be concentration and not just
talk about concentration.
How are we beginning to move
out Of this rut? Our system down
there now m the mills is the old
reliable grape vine system--that is
like they have in iailS-contact
with one man, seeking out the trus
ted or best man as a means of
propaganda and developing organi-
rational contact all along the line.
We have some real good examples
in this connection.
We are establishing rigid
check-up on the work inside the
mill. At every unit meeting and
union meeting, comrades get up
and report on their weeks activi-
ties, report on their assignments,
what they have done during the
week, whom they have handled,
what contacts they have secured,
etc. Already, although this has
taken place now within the last
month and a half, we are begin
ming to see tremendous results
and possibilities that will come out
of this method of check-up.
TAKE, for instance, Comrade H,
L who has four friends. He is a
Negro worker who came to our
dance and was quite impressed in
seeing so many Negro and white
workers together. 1t was an LID.
dance. Our section organizer set
the example to the unit and went
over and started talking to differ
ent workers who were in the hall
and he picked out this Comrade H,
who proved to be very interested.
He stated that he worked in the
mill and the section organizer went
to his house and talked with him
and made friends with his wife and
children. Then CoD1rade H took
the section organizer to four other
workers. From 3 o'clock to IL
o'clock they went to visit these
workers. III this way, group is
being formed around Con1rade H.
This is just what we want.
TAKE, for example, Conlrade B.,
L who came in through Russian
organization. We have been check
ing up on this comrade constantly.
For weeks he failed to make any
report. Finally, by putting pressure
on Comrade B., we got him to
make an appointment with three
American workers whom he knows.
went with Comrade B. up TO these
three American workers homes.
There we began to talk about
farming, ETC., and pretty soon it de-
yeloped in roundabout way into
a discussion on organization.
1t happens that Comrade B.
knows that one of these American
workers likes playing checkers.
Now, comrades, do you know what
happened? Probably this does not
apply to every situation. But it
did work here. Comrade B. knew
a comrade in Baltimore who was
a champion checker player. He