The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-03
Party Lite
Some Pointers
For Work Inside
The Company Unions


IN OUR section there is a large
steel mill, never fully organized
At present there is no union, ex-
cept company union.
We recently organized unit in
the mill.
Last week a ferment started in
the mill. Two departments were
circulated against the efficiency. A
recently elected company union
shop committee dominated by pro-
gressives with a progressive chair
man is backing up and leading the
agitation.
The question arose what should
the Communists do? We did the
following: We had a meeting at
which were present the Section Or
ganizer. Shop Unit Organizer, Com
pany Union Shop Chairman and
two company union shop committee
members. There we agreed on the
following line:
l. Broaden petition movement
to other departments.
2. Organize outside plant de-
partment meetings.
8. Company union chairman to
lead struggle against intimidation
of signers of petitions.
4. Pave the way for an outside
A. F. of L. union, while not leav-
ing company union.
When we reported our action to
the Section Committee division of
opinion arose. Most of the members
of the Section Committee feel that
if we gain concessions through a
company union we strengthen the
company union and make it more
difficult to organize an outside
union.
We would like the Party Life to
comment.
SECTION ORGANIZER.
Editorial Reply
This is an important question
upon which the Party has def
mite policy, which has been dealt
with quite fully in the Daily Work
er and in the October issue of Labor
Unity. Concretely our task in the
company unions is to develop &C
tivity among the masses of workers
in the shops, around the immedi-
ate grievances of the workers, with
the objective Of converting the
company unions into shop commit
tees, through a struggle against the
company unions and their DONNA
ton by the bosses. We shall carry
on our work in the company unions
for the purpose of destroying them
by winning the workers in the
company unions for the revolu-
tionary trade union movement.
1t is quite clear that the Section
Organizer has in general the cor
rect position in the situation de
scribed above. To rally the work
ers against the efficiency system
creating a broad movement around
this grievance, can be the means of
laying the basis for an opposition
movement within the company
union. through which it can be con-
verified into a class struggle union
Certainly it is incorrect to take the
position that we cannot work with
in the company union because by
doing so we will strengthen it.
The comrades, however, should
guard against creating the illusion
that the mere presenting of petit
ton to the company will gain the
demands of the workers. A cam
paign should be developed around
this issue, leading to struggle for
the enforcement of this demand.
The second point to be considered
is the safeguarding of the signers
Of the petition, not only through
struggle against their intimidation
but through safeguards, for example.
an effort should be made to have
all the workers of the various de-
partments sign the petition, second.
the leaders of the movement, the
most militant workers should not
sign first, so that they can be picked
upon for discrimination.
In regard to the End point of the
program worked out, the organiza-
ton of outside department meet
ings. if by this is meant meetings
of the more advanced workers of
the departments to work out plans
for carrying on the work within the
company union, this will no doubt
strengthen the work. The COM
rades should not, however, substitute
these outside meetings for meetings
of the company union within the
plant, which would at once narrow
the base of activities, and confine
them within the limits of the more
advanced workers.
We would suggest that the Sec
ton Committee initiate a discussion
on trade union work, including work
within the company unions, utiliz-
ing the article in the November
Communist by Comrade Stachel, ano
the article in Labor Unity by Com
rade Gebert as basis for this dis