The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-09
Steel Workers ShOW
VIII To Fight For
Conditions in Mills
A. F. L. Leaders Hiding Behind Radical Phrases
AS Workers in Plants Demand Action

cent have joined the Amalgamated.
During the period when the A. A.
was supposed to be preparing a
steel strike this spring, meetings of
the lodge each time attracted 400
or 500 workers. The sentiment of
the men was strong for action and
they were trustful of the union
leaders.
Now, however, Tighe's betrayals
have brought about a condition
where only 20 or so attend lodge
meetings. The workers should, Of
course, attend meetings and fight
the Tighe machine. Most Of the
members have suspended their dues
payments as one form of protest
against the policies of Tighe and
his machine. Continued demands
have been made that the company
recognize the union, but the COM
pany'S consistent refusal has been
met with folded hands by the Of
ficialdom.
No Illusions About Steel Board
The workers have no illusions
regarding the N. R. A. labor boards
despite all the ballyhoo connected
with the Weirton suit which has
been disseminated by the mislead-
ers. They are still strong for the
union as an organization, but are
disguised with its officials, so chat
the beginning recently of a rank
and file movement should find
fertile field. Most important of all,
the workers appear to realize the
necessity of a general steel strike II
the industry is to be organized.
In Monessen, where plant OF
the American Sheet and Tin Plate
Company employs around $500 men,
the A. A. lodge includes almost rs
per cent of the working force. The
general sentiment of the lodge is
one of disgust at the reelection of
Tighe and the continued delaying Of
direct action by hearings before the
Steel Labor Board.
Some time ago request was flied
with the board for an election in
Monessen to determine who shall
repsesent the workers in collective
bargaining" The hearing on this
request has been postponed by the
board, with the approval OF the A.
A. attorneys, until Nov. Is.
Workers claim to have definite
information now that, under cover
of this delay, the company plans to
distribute company union ballots,
hold company union election
without any interference by the
Steel Board, and, when the board
finally hears the request, confront
Judge Stacy and his colleagues with
documentary evidence that the
workers favor the company union.
This, as described, is a maneu-
yer greatly similar to the one en-
ployed at Weirton, when the COM
pany disregarded the N. R. A. Board
to hold it's own election with all the
coercion and intimidation which
are part of every company union
election"
Workers Demand Conference
Meanwhile, the pressure against
the A. A. officialdom is forcing them
toward the calling of national
conference of district committees
in Pittsburgh within month.
Tighe is doing his utmost to avoid
any move such as this, which has
the character of large meeting of
possibly rank and file elements in
the union and consequently might
prove difficult to handle.
In the first district conference
next Sunday in Charleroi, an cleo
ton of district committee officers is
scheduled to take place. Opposition
to Forbecks reelection as district
chairman has been growing stead
lily during the past weeks, but un-
less it is organized behind one rank
and file candidate, the Committee
of Ten leader who supports Tighe's
policies may be renamed.