The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-20
Fight against LGy-OGS
Begun on Chi. e N.W. R.R.

] a mass meeting should have been
made as a starting point for
struggle against the lay-off, not as
a mere protest of something which
could not be defeated immediately.
The proposal Of developing a move
ment only for a six-hour day,
meant in reality accepting lay-offs
until such time as the six-hour
day was established.
But despite this weakness. the
proposal was of great importance.
as a step away from servile accept
ance Of the attacks of the railroads.
The mass meeting and parade
would serve as a powerful weapon
Of ralying the railroad workers in
Chicago, the steel workers, the
workers Of the country against the
principle Of accepting lay-offs as the
right of an employer over which
the worker can not take action. It
should have been called immedi-
ately and would have received i'm
mediate response.
Therefore, the proposal to delay
action and bring the matter before
the local board, the proposal to wait
until the board acted to get official
sanction from other lodges, was bad.
The fact is that to date the local
board has not taken any action,
although it had a meeting after the
lay-offS went into effect. On the
other hand. the enthusiasm which
greets the proposal for some kind
Of action is proof of what the re-
Spouse of the workers would have
been to such mass meeting.
Thus much valuable time has al
ready been wasted, and it is very
likely that the matter, if left solely
to the local board, would have died
of old age.
But the Unity Graup in Garments
Lodge 227 at a meeting decided to
push the issue and complete the
first steps taken by the two lodges.
A four-point program was worked
out, combining the proposals for a
siX-hour day with the immediate
fight against speed-up and lay-offs,
with the campaign for immediate
relief for the men laid off.
1t was proposed, and accepted, at
the regular meeting Of the lodge not
only to hold mass meeting imme-
diately jointly with the other lodges
who agreed with the program, but
also to call on the other lodges to
elect three delegates to meet in con-
ference with a similar committee
elected by Lodge 227 and push the
fighting program against the at
tacks of the management.
Once again the Grand Lodge
restrictions were brought forth by
local officials, who had been con-
tent to allow the lay-offs to take
place without a murmur of pro-
test. They pointed out that the
constitution required the sanction
of the Grand Lodge. Of course
these same individuals never
pointed out that nothing could be
expected from their Grand Lodge,
which had allowed the C. and N. w.
Railroad to reduce its forces from
$4,000 in 1923 to $4,000 at the pres
ent time, without offering any re-
sistance.
These forces have attempted to
stall off action and have wasted
more valuable time in the hope of
demoralizing the militant sentiment
of the men. But they have not
reckoned with the power of rank
and file unity which is being set
up between the workers of the
various lodges through the Unity
Movement. Through this move
mont the restrictions against cir
cularization without Grand Lodge
sanction are being overcome.
While 227 is waiting for its an
swer from the Grand Lodge, the
supporters of the Unity Movement
are spreading the word about the
our-point program, modifying the
rank and file to go into their re-
spective lodges and take similar
action.
Thus, the union misleaders may
or may not sanction the program,
but the rank and file is modifying
to put it over, regardless of the
Grand Lodge. For in the growing
unity Of the rank and file is also
coming forth the idea that this
program is what the workers need
and those who opposed it are enc
| mics who must be diSco rded
Against the program of the
Brotherhood officials which leads
to lay-offs, speed-up, wage cuts, is
being forced the unity of the rank
and file around this four point pro-
gram OF acton. 1t is guide to
action not only for lodges in Chi
cago, but for railroad workers all