The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-08

AA@~OAAk's NOANA 49,
he Shoe and Leather Workers In
iustrial Union, n Fifth Ave.
Grafton is in New York, together
With two other members Of the Bos-
ION Provisional Committee to coop
arate with the New York Provisional
Committee in the election of rank
md file delegates from the Industrial
Union to the amalgamation conven-
ion called in Boston on Dec. 10 to
oring about a merger of four shoe
Inions involving nearly $1,000 shoe
workers.
The amalgamation movement is
supported by the entire membership
and the leaders of the Shoe and
Leather Workers Industrial Union.
Other unions participating are the
National Shoe Workers Union, the
Shoe Workers Protective Union and
the Salem Shoe Workers Union, all
of New England.
I'VE, shoe workers, want one big
union TO protect ourselves against
the shoe manufacturers, declared
Grafton.
Convention Decides Policies
When asked what the shoe workers
ooked forward to as result of the
tnerger, Grafton declared that the
uture organization rests on the de-
Icisions made at the coming conven-
ition. I'VE are committed to the
principle Of rank and file CONTROL" he
said. 1.-THE sentiment of the shoe
workers is against the A. F. of l..
officialdom and against arbitration,
that much We know, but what other
policies the convention will decide
upon remains to be seen.
THE amalgamation movement will
embrace all shoe unions in New En-
gland with the exception of the
Brockton shoe workers and we ex-
pect them to Join after the conven-
tion," said Grafton in discussing the
extent OF the movement. "The Brock
ton rank and file have just ousted
the Boot and Shoe officials and are
now being held back by their new
leaders. We did not want to bring
about a split in the organization, al
though we have the support Of large
number of the rank and file"
Backed BY Industrial Union
Here in New York, there is no
such problem,sfor the leaders as wen
as the rank and file are unanimous
IN their support of the amalgama-
ton movement" Referring to his
own union, the Shoe Workers Pro-
tsctive, and the situation in the New
England unions involved in the mer-
ger plan, Grafton stated that the
officials oppose analgamation, but the
rank and file are compelling them
TO go along. after the amalgama-
ton takes place." declared Grafton,
the officials will be through. We
enter In body"
Grafton stressed the point that
local autonomy will be insisted upon
by the unions in the merger and that
al decisions will be submitted to a
referendum vote of the membership.
But how this will apply in the case
of strikes and other concrete situa-
, tons, Grafton felt would be q mat
ter for the convention to consider in
its constitution.
Many members are uniformed
and confused about the Trade Union
Unity League" said Grafton, when
asked what the conventions relation
to the TU.U.L. would be. 1--WE must
educate our members to bring them
to an understanding. There has been
propaganda used by the officials of
the unions who are opposing ANAL
gamation as a means to retard the
movement. The members must de-
eide"
Present at the interview besides
Grafton were also Frank Infelice, of
the Salem Shoe Workers Union, and
Fred Biedenkapp, General Secretary
of the Shoe and Leather Workers In
dustrial Union I'VE are in favor of
utilization with the TU.UL.," de-
clared Biedenkapp. eve Will make
every effort to convince the delegates
at the convention of the correctness
OF our policy by proving to them the
important role the TU.UL. is playing
in strengthening the fighting quality
of the workers in solidifying the mil
liant workers and aiding them In their
every day struggles and especially in
bringing together the many industrial
unions outside the A. F. OF L."