The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-11
Disease, Child Labor
In Agricultural Camps

sack Of -four has Jumped from %
to 40 per cent. Earnings at the
same time decrease 50 that nov
the migratory worker, when his
whole family works IN the fields.
can earn Just about enough for a
bare existence, gas, and perhaps for
a little meat once in a while.
GO INCREDIBLE are the condi-
y tons in these migratory camps,
that even the ministerial brother
hood is shocked. Local newspapers
have been completely silent about
conditions in these camps. But the
fresno Bee, while I was there.
published an item-the only item
I saw in any paper-sbout miFrs-
tory camps, and then only because
a minister from Parlier. Calf. be
came apoplectic when he stumbled
upon one.
Conservative organized labor. like
American Federation Of Labor
unions, formed during spontaneous
revolts against living and working
conditions, is deeply affected BY
Communist organizing activities not
only in the San Joaquin Valley, but
apparently through the whole state,
as near as I can ascertain.
This may be chiefly attributed to
strikes among agricultural workers
led by Communists, a high percent
age Of which we're won during the
past year.
For clear picture of Why Cali
fOrnia has the "red filters" and fas-
cist organizations are blossoming
hopefully to counteract Communist
inroads, a resume Of the II strikes
in this state during 1888 would help.
Thirty-f1ve Of the II strikes were
agricultural The total number Of
strikers during the year was about
$1,000, and $4,000 of these were agri-
cultural workers. OF these IS agri-
cultural strikes, % were led by the
Communist Cannery and Agricul-
tural Workers Union, affiliated with
the TUUL. These % strikes in
volved some 10000 workers. Com
munists won II out Of the % strikes,
lost four and one Just petered out.
No one seems to know Just what
happened to it.
The A. P. of L. during the same
period 1889 led one agricultural
strike. that Of the lettuce packers,
which approaches the grading Of a
trade. This strike, too, was won.
There we're nine spontaneous strikes
in the agricultural field led by
workers themselves in blind revolt
after they learned Of the strikes in
the San Joaquin Valley. Five Of
these spontaneous strikes were won.
the strikes achieving the same de-
mands the Communicated organ
izations asked for. But these unions,
because Of the very nature OF their
migratory membership, disintegrated
shortly after they won their de-
mands.
These few figures and the COM
mon knowledge that Communists
are securing firm footholds not
only among the agricultural work
ers but among stationary classes
like longshoremen, fishermen. cts.
has contributed to the prevalent
fear Of reds by employers. Here the
workers do not seem to care
whether the group achieving better
wages for them are reds or puppies.
especially since the reds have
chalked up so high a percentage Of
victories.
These figures are for the entire
state. Here. in this valley, they led
the now historic Tulare and Kern
counties strikes and though Com
munist inroads in Fresno County
itself are slight in comparison with
other areas, their influence has
been unacceptable.
ITO Be Continued