The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-28
AFL Chiefs Fearing
Struggle Hold Up
AutOSellOutRepOrt
Continued from Page y

A. F. of L. delegates, with the Of
f1cials preparing the ground to
stampede the workers into accept
ing the sell-out agreement. Arthur
Law, President of the Flint Fisher
Body A. F. of L. local, is reported
in the Detroit News yesterday as
having said: This settlement is not
what the boys wanted originally.
But they expressed themselves as
willing to wait till they hear from
their delegates before acting. The
officers will talk it over with the
men in the meantime"
The sell-out nature of the Wash
ington agreement becomes ever
clearer. Not only did the workers
not get recognition but they got
domination of the company unions
thrust upon them. They got no
wage increases; no abolition of
speed-up. They are now threatened
with the blacklist through the
agreement to turn over membership
rolls, and on top Of it all they get:
"a works council" which the De-
troit News openly admits in its story
from its Washington Bureau, cree
ognizes the principle of the open
shop"
The correspondent also states that
the works council is a scheme for
heading off any further labor
troubles in the open shop industry
All of which means that union or
ganization of the workers is now
put at the mercy Of company unions
and will be chopped to pieces by the
manufacturers.
The mediation board being set up
will give no protection TO the work
ers Disseminated against for union
activities. This is clear not only for
the purposes for which it was es-
tablished, but also from it's compo-
sition, especially the labor" repre-
sentation that has been selected.
Richard L. Byrd, secretary of the
Pontiac Group Of the A. F. of L.
local, was named by the A. F. of L.
ofticialdom as labor" member.
Yesterdays Detroit News gives his
autobiography: Was lieutenant in
the World War; and safety director
in the Fisher Body plant at Cleve-
land; and before that safety direc-
tor at the General Motors plant No.
%. The safety director is regarded
by the workers as a man who Of
flcially whitewashes the companies
when accidents occur. With Byrd as
labor member of the grievance
board the manufacturers will have
three aces, with fourth, the black
list, up their sleeves. Thus the cards
are being stacked against the work.
ers.
Much of the agreement remains
yet to be explained and it's final
terms are not yet announced. I'm
doubtedly when the final details are
announced. they will contain many
trick proposals which will nail down
the company unions even more
firmly and bring out in clear relief
the antiuion character of the A. F.
of l.. and the Roosevelt betrayal.
Strike Movements Grow
Movements for strikes are con-
tinuing in the shops manufacturing
accessories and parts. The work
ers in the Fitzsimmons Co.. manu-
facturers of auto parts, decided on
Sunday to demand increases in
wages. workers in the Long Man
ufacturing Co., motor and auto
parts, are demanding fat day
rate, and no company union, rec
ignition of the Mechanics Educa-
tional Society, and a place to hang
their clothes. At the Michigan
Stove, 1000 workers are demanding
fiat day rate, and so cents an
hour for women workers. In these
shops the workers are organized in
the M E. S. A.
Workers in the Thinner Steering
Gear Co. organized in the A. F. of
L. are also demanding wage increase
and shorter hours. This is one of
the poorest paying plants in the
city. They also demand the aboli-
ton Of the bonus system, equal pay
for women, and other demands. A
meeting is being called to decide on
action.