Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-10-05
LUMBER WORKERS MUST
ORGANIZE, PREPARE
FOR STRUGGLE

SEATTLE, Oct. 4-The past
five years of the economic crisis
in the lumber industry have en-
abled the lumber operators to
become as wealthy as any other
group of industrialists.
Since 1929 over 50 per cent of
the lumber workers have been
thrown out of the industry with
out any means of support other
than the starvation relief that
is given from forced labor.
Millions of dollars have been
saved in payrOlls for the Operat-
Ors. Production has increased
IS per cent, thus one worker is
doing the work previously of
three.
The mad desire of the operat-
ors to accumulate ever increas-
ing profits, is taking heavy
toll of life and limb of the lum-
Der workers. Obsolete and an
cient machinery is being speeded
up to a breaking point.
State laws to protect the lives
of the workers are Over-ridden
rough shod by the operators, and
not even a protest is made by
the state officials of the labor de-
partment and safety commission.
Every day workers with fami-
lies are manned for life. If they
do receive compensation it does
not cover the doctors bill, medi-
cine, etc. These officials, sup
ported by the operators, are
hirelings that make the mills
and camps actually death traps
for the workers.
AL and Al Officials Endorse
Operators Actions
The mills and camps that are
organized by the Sawmill and
Timber Workers Union, Int.
Single Weavers Union, Al or
CARNATIONS and the leadership
of the IWW are not raising one
finger in organizing the lumber
workers to struggle against these
miserable conditions that exist
on the job.
At the same time these mis-
leaders of the lumber workers
are intellectually supporting
the NRA, which enmeshed the
workers in snare that has re-
duced their living standards to
those of the down trOdden work
er.
NLWU Correctly Analyses MIRA
The National Lumber Work
ers Union was born out of the
struggle in 1929. 1t is the only
union In the industry that has
been instrumental in organizing
the lumber workers to struggle
against wage cuts, speed-up.
1t pointed out very clearly
when the Lumber Code was be-
ing put into effect, that it was
another weapon enacted by Con-
gress to protect the Industrial
lists profits at the expense and
misery of the working class.
Strikes led by the NLWU are
directly responsible for wages
being as high as they are at pres
ent.
The wrath of the operators
and NRA officials has been dem
Onstrated against the militant
leaders elected by the workers
in camps and mills. Through
action fighting for better work
ing conditions, higher wages, we
have been able to tear the mask
from the face of the Lumber
Code Authority, and to expose
all the viciOusness of the operat-
Ors and their agents.
Lumber Workers No Longer
Under Illusions
Under the Code, workers were
led to believe that their living
standards would automatically
be increased, without any effort
on their part.
The operators hoped this n.y.
pOcracy would stifle the fast
rehabilitation of the lumber
workers and keep them from
organizing into the NLWU.
When the Code did not carry
out its promises to the workers.
mass struggle began to take
place.
All of the resentment of the
lumber workers was being cx-
pressed in organizing locals of
the NLWU. any tactics were used
by the operators and the ohieial-
dom of the AFL, Al, et,., IN es-
tablishing company unions and
stampeding the lumber workers
into the class elaborated locals
of the AFL.
Due to this constant split up
of the ranks of the workers the
operators have been able to a
certain extent to pile up higher
profits than ever before.
The lumber workers have ex-
pressed their willingness to
fight back at the operators in
numerous occasions during the