The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-28
Four Years of the Marine
Workers Industrial Union
Organization Has Grown
Thru Militant Class
Struggle Program

Struggle Program
strikes in st. Louis, Baltimore and
Philadelphia and are at present pre-
pairing for action in Norfolk, Va.
The fight of the Boston longshore-
men for meal hour rates; the recent
strike decision Of the $4,000 West
Coast longshoremen organized in
the I. L. A, are all indications Of the
growing revolt Of the rank and file
against the policies of their officials.
In this period the first smashing
blow against the Blacklist system
has been delivered. The sesmen Of
Baltimore have established their
own centralized Shipping Bureau:
now controlling IS per cent of all
shipping. They are elimina tong
the power of the shipping shark and
graft; are doing away with all forms
Of discrimination and blacklist. That
the seamen in other ports will fol-
low the example Of Baltimore is
proven by the Buffalo seamen, who
have already begun a militant fight
against the Lake Carriers Associ2-
ton and for the establishment Of q
Rotary system Of shipping con-
trolled by the seamen.
THE past four years have been
period Of growing struggles, and
the Marine Workers Industrial
Union has been in the forefront Of
all these struggles. Every struggle
and strike of the seamen has taken
place behind the banner Of the NJ.
W. I. U. Successful strikes Of un-
organized longshoremen have been
led and every struggle Of the rank
and file of the I. L. A. has received
the full support Of the M. w. I. U.
The NJ. w. I. U. alone has defended
the interests of the unemployed
Tens of thousands Of workers, or
ganized and unorganized, have en-
dorsed the codes Of the NJ. w. I. o.,
and helped elect the two mass del
elgations which appeared at the
code hearings. The NJ. w. I. U. has
been the main force in the indus
try that constantly sought to es-
tablish unity of all workers The
M. w. I. U. has made serious mis-
takes; it is still not a mass organ
ization and many shortcomings
hinder 1t from rapidly becoming one
but its open acknowledgment and
criticism Of these weaknesses is the
main guarantee that these will be
overcome, and that it will be better
able to organize and lead the COM
ing mass struggles.
These mass struggles are not fer
off. The continued manouver7 Of
the N r. A show that the So
owners are determined to enforce
the wage-cutting shipowner5' code
which tens of thousands Of seamen
and longshoremen have protested
/ against Through this code, with its
infamous National Shipping Labor
Board, they will try to outlaw mill
tant unionism, company unionize
| the I. S. U. and I. L. A.. and check
the growing strike movement by de-
claring strikes illegal and making
arbitration compulsory.
IN THE coming year We must make
1 full use of the past four years of
experience. Let us organize and go
forward to militant victories.
Organize on every ship and dock.
Take things into your own hands,
elect your committees, present your
demands and take militant action, if
necessary, to enforce these demands.
Let us prepare to speak to the ship
owner with the power and authority
we have when tens of thousands Of
us stand prepared to act as one.
Let us unite the growing mood for
struggle behind one National pro-
gram We can do this if we estab-
fish organization everywhere, if we
endorse the National Conference Of
Seamen and Longshoremen for
united action, and elect delegates to
it and stand ready to back UP the
conference. Let us unite our forces
on every ship and dock, from coast
to coast. behind the National Con
/ ference, to demand q national min
imum wage.
Fight for the right TO strike and
the right to belong to a union OF
your own choosing, and against the
National Shipping Labor Board and
disqualification plan
Build up the united 'front.' Rank
and file of the I. S. U. and I. L. A.
and other unionsl Fight for the
right to control your own organiza-
tons, against the betrayal policies
of the Ryans and Furusetls, for
united action with the unorganized
and members of other unions
against the enforcement of the ship
owners slave code.
Unorganized seamen and long
! shoremen! Rally to the banner of
the Marine Workers Industrial
Union. Smash the shipowners slave
code, compel the enforcement Of the
M. w. I. U. code by building q
| powerful Marine Workers Industrial
Union. Join the M. w. I. U. On to
/ 5000 new membersl
Forward to a year Of victories
for the seamen and longshoremen.
/ and to defeat for our enemies, the
shipowners and their agents, the
labor takers!
Let every struggle be one of
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