The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-12
IS.M.W.L.U. Presents De-
mands to Unite All
For Victory

For Victory
EOTE:-The following report
was presented to a conference of
labor unions in Republic steel
mills, held in Canton, Ohio, in
February, by a delegation from
the Republic Steel Local No. sol,
/ of the Steel and Metal Workers
Industrial Union.
} The reactionary leaders of the
Amalgamated Association "a. F.
of L. steel union were disturbed
by theSfact that the rank and file
Of their union in many cities voted
that the delegation of the Steel
and Metal Workers Industrial
Union be allowed to be present
and present its united front ap-
peal at the conference.
Unable to stem the growing de-
sire for unity among steel work.
ers, they opened scurrilOuS at
tack on the delegation. Every steel
worker should read this appeal for
a united front which gives the
basic problems confronting all
steel workers, and shows how or
ganization and improved cOndi-
lions, desired by all steel workers,
can be won by united action, re-
gardIess of union utilization. For
q full report Of this conference
see article by Joe ballet on this
page.
Brothers: We all agree on the
need for higher wages and better
conditions in the mills. How can
we get them? Only by united
fight of ALL the workers in the
mill
The members of the Steel and
Metal Workers Industrial Union in
Republic mills are willing and
anxious to unite with the A. A.
members and unorganized workers
in such fight. That is why we
are glad to accept an invitation to
send delegates to a conference of
representatives of A. A. lodges in
Republic mills in Canton, Sunday,
Feb. 25.
Draft Demands
The S. M. w. I. U. delegates pro-
posed that both unions and the I'M
organized workers in Republic mills
should cooperate to win the fol-
lowing demands:
ID Higher wages; return of the
1929 wage scale; minimum Of IS per
cent increases; further increases as
cost of living goes up more.
~ Full crews on all jobs; aboli-
tion of the speed-up system.
90 Abolition of the spy system
and company unions.
"a No discharge or discrimina
ton against any worker for joining
, either union.
60 No discrimination against the
Negro workers in the mill or in
hiring or laying off. Right of the
Negro worker to hold any Job in
the mill.
C6) Opposition to the N. r. A.
Steel Code-in it's place a code to
benefit the steel workers, including
the above points and 30-hour week
with $50 week for common labor,
time and a half for overtime and
Unemployment insurance (passage
by Congress of H. r. Bill No. 1893
the Workers Unemployment and
Social Insurance Bid.
% Recognition in each depart
ment of committees Economically
elected by all the workers in that
department, irrespective of union
utilization.
To win these demands we pro-
posed TO set up at once in each de-
partment (and later on mill scale)
committees including representa-
tiyes of both unions and also of the
unorganized workers-these joint
committees to work for these de-
mands and also to fight against all
grievances which arise in the de-
partments. We further proposed
that in 80 days there should be a
conference of delegates from all
labor unions and in all departments
of all mills of the Republic Steel
Corp, together with delegates from
the unorganized workers in all de-
partrnents of Republic mills-this
conference to decide on A PLAN
OF ACTION to win those demands.
The Two Unions Should Cooperate
Instead of Fighting Each Other
In other words, we don't believe
that because we are in the 8. M
w. I. U. and the A. A. members in
another union, that there is any
reason why we should fight each
other. We work together in the
mills and have the same grievances
and needs Instead of fighting each
other we should unite and fight
against Republic Steel Corporation
for our common demands. In the
Buffalo, youngstown and South
Chicago works of Republic the s. M.
w. I. q. has more members than
the A. A. In Warren, Niles, Can
ton and Massilon the A A. has more
members, but there Is great dissat-
isfaction among many of the men,
bers because of the failure Of the
International officials to put up a
fight in their interests. In our
opinion THERE IS EV E R Y
REASON WHY WE SHOULD JOIN
HANDS IN A FIGHT FOR THESE
DEMANDS NOW and why we
should work towards the end that
coma daV SON there will he onJv
one union in the industry. union
formed at mighty unification con-
vention Of the steel workers-with
a name. program and constitution
democrstically decided by major
ity of the workers and officers dem
ocratically elected and responsible
always to the rank and file. This