The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Auto Workers! Strike!

EVERY auto worker in the United States
IA is now faced with the most momentous
decision. The class battle lines are being
drawn for the most gigantic strike strug-
gle the auto industry has ever seen in this
country. The bosses have modified their forces.
Helped by the criminal delays Of the A. F. Of L.
leadership they are striving to gain the advantage
through the N.R.A and with the aid of the Roose-
welt government.
With tremendous strides the auto workers
moving into action. Almost unanimously 1000
Chevrolet Motor Co. workers in Flint on Sunday
voted for strike. The Hudson A. F. Of L. local in
Detroit on Sunday voted to strike Wednesday at
nine O'Clock Tens of thousands of more workers
all over the auto industry have already expressed
their firm determination to strike. Over $4,000
workers are involved in this industry, and in
a position to win their demands by the proper ac-
tlon and by avoiding the pitfalls set for them by
the treachery of the A. F. of L. officialdom.
Now is the most favorable time to strike. That
rs why the bosses with the help of the government
and the A. r. of L. leaders frantically trying
TO stop the strike or to stall it along to time
more favorable for the bosses. Action to be VIC
torious must come now. The height Of the season
rs here. A stoppage would hit the bosses when
they do not want TO be hit. This is the trump
card IN the hands OF the workers
With this favorable situation, united action is
imperative. The A. F. of L. leaders are following
the policy of trying to split the workers ranks
The Auto Workers Union has warned the workers
against this policy. They point out that in every
auto plant every worker regardless of whether he
is in the A. F. of L., Auto Workers Union, or the
Mechanics Educational Society must knit his force
along with his fellow worker in one united struggle
All workers must act together, and not allow their
power their mighty struggle to be split along Or
gani1ational lines Strike committees should be set
up in every plant, with representatives from every
department, unfying the workers, and representing
their interests, preparing to lead them into the
great battle that will win them the victory Of higher
wages and real union recognition.
THE A. F. of L. leadership is trying to build up
all sorts of illusions about what President Roose-
welt will DO for the auto workers at the critical
moment at the zero hour. The very sharp and
bitter attack of the National Automobile Chamber
Of Commerce, supposedly against the A. F. OF L.
leaders, is one Of the tricks of this game 1t is
made especially sharp in order to give room for
apparent bargaining and later conciliation-which
would leave the workers nothing.
The auto workers must beware of the usual
talk and proposals for election. This is defeat
for the strke it is defeat for the workers demands.
Remember Budd remember Ford, remember Weir
ton These workers got elections" And with what
results The workers were driven into company
unions. They were fired. They are now worse off
shan ever before. Elections" under the N.R.A.,
with the bosses fortified by the merit clause" of
the N.R.A. CODE is playing into the hands of the
bosses Only strike can win what the workers want
md every step should now be taken for this road,
for unifying the workers for action.
The A. F. Of L. leadership is ditching the work
Gs' real demands, such as higher wages, against
speed up. William Collins declared to you that
strike would not fundamentally be for better work
ing conditions pay increases, but for the enforce
ment of Section Ia Of the NR.A. code" This is a
ghastly piece of treschery. The bosses were able
through Section Ia to build their company unions
Collins does not want the workers to strike against
the rotten conditions imposed on the auto workers
by the auto code, and kept shackled on them by
Section 7a
Not only should the immediate action be the
setting up of strike committees composed of those
workers in your shops you have confidence in but
all auto workers, in every factory, in every union
local should send delegates to the huge united
front conference called by the Auto Workers Union
THIS conference, already endorsed by thousands
OF auto workers regardless of their union affiia-
tons will take place in Detroit on Sunday March
rs, at 10 am. in Carpathia Hail. $500 Elmwood Ave
The purpose of this conference is to rally all
auto workers, whether in the A. F. of L. Mechanics
Educational Society Of America, or the Auto Work
ers Union, to discuss their demands to get down
to real action, to take up the actual questions of
forging united front of all workers which will be
the guarantee of victory in the strike
Every auto worker should make himself
fighter for the conference. Bring it up in your