The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-10
Tampa, Florida = By Joseph Freeman
I'VE HAD WONDERFUL PICKET LINES"

1T was tough" young Gomez said. TO have the
union smashed after the magnificent strike Of 1881.
We had wonderful picket lines The Labor Temple
was crowded every night and speeches went out
through loud speakers to overflow meetings in the
street We few the red flag on the roof of the San
chez Haya factory. The terror is very bad
now, but guess We made some mistakes in the
conduct Of the strike. We must avoid those errors
in the future -
Mrs Gomez comes into the open kitchen door
way peeling platanos Plumply smiling through the
glasses, she says; And the bosses own the cafe
teras near the factories. and the workers got to
eat there or get fired. They take your food bill Of
your pay you got 10 eat there whether you like
1t or not
In 1888 young Gomez continues. a new union
was started the local independent union-Union
Local independents de Ia Industrial del Tobacco,
with about 5000 members It had left-wing pro-
gram militant class struggle, solidarity with the
workers of the world. But many Of the workers
had illusions about the NRA they we're taken in
by the Roosevelt demagogy. At its own expense
the union sent delegation to see General johnson
in Washington about code for the tobacco workers
A YOUNG, fat, dark, good-looking girl came in;
n we we're introduced to her q daughter of the
Romero family She corrects Gomez: The union
sent two delegations"
That's right; there were two DELEGATIONS and
both Of them got nothing In Washington. But here
in Tampa the police started vicious terror against
the union, and against the Unemployed Council
which We started last year. They were especially
vicious against the Council because it drew in
many Negroes for the first time in Tampa many
Negroes Joined with white workers in one organiza-
ton We never saw 50 many Negroes in the Labor
Temple When conditions became intolerable the
union began discussing a strike. The police came
to union meetings and ordered: there must be no
strike; the city of Tampa does not want a strike
But the union voted for strike despite these warn
ints. The police retalated with series Of brutal
raids on the union and the Unemployed Council
Many white and Negro workers were arrested one
Negro had his ear cut off in the police station; the
cops told him this was a sample Of what would
happen to all Negroes who listened TO the Reds
Mrs. Gomez, coming out Of the kitchen said:
And when a boss or foreman likes woman, she's
got to give in to him If she don't, he will fire her
and sll her friends and relatives"
THE STRIKE MET WITH DIFFICULTIES
The strikers demanded union recognition, Young
Gomez went on the restoration of the readers
abolished in 1881; 80 per cent wage increase
bringing wages back to the 1929 level, with addi-
tional increases commensurate with the rising cost
Of living, The strike met with lot Of diff
culCles; some OF the union leaders were young and
inexperienced; they were afraid of exposing the
NR.A. for what it is the worst form of exploita-
ton we have had yet. These leaders played into
the hands Of the manufacturers, who used the
MIRA. for all it was worth Rank and-hle commit
tees led by Communists had to issue leaflets criti-
Ching these leaders.
From the kitchen door Mrs Gomez said. II
don't know what they pay in all the factories. but
I know that in the Hav-a Tampa owned BY that
bloodsucker Woodbury., the average wage is about
IS week"
tTO BE CONTINUED