The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-05
Calumet Steel Men
Vote for Strike At
Unity Conference
Delegates From A. F. L.
Steel Union Pledge
Their Unity
By BILL ANDREWS
Special to the Daily Worker

These were the keynotes Of
the United Anti-Company
Union Conference of the steel
workers held in Indiana Har-
Dor Sunday. Workers from every
major steel plant in the Calumet
District and most of the minor ones
worked out a program of Joint ac-
ton to lay the basis for a strlks
apparatus to fight for the workers
demands.
Delegates from the Steel and
Metal Workers Industrial Union, the
Amalgamated Association Of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers and two
independent unions such as the
United Roll Turner's Joined with
representatives elected by groups Of
unorganized workers in the mills
to set up a joint committee Of ac-
ton charged with responsibility for
strike preparations.
Local Conferences June g. 10
The conference instructed the
committee Of action to prepare for
steel strike, with a tentative date
Of June 18th set, the committee was
also instructed to prepare action be-
fore that date where discrimination
against union members in indi-
vidual mills might make plant
strikes necessary, Every recon-
mendation Of the committee Of ac<
ton is to be referred to the workers
concerned for final approval
Local conferences will be held
next weekend. June 9th and 10th,
in Gary, South Chicago, Indiana
Harbor, Chicago Heights and West
Pullman, at which local committees
Of action will be elected.
The principle of Joint action
through elected committees, repre-
sentatives Of all unions and unor-
ganized workers was approved and
resolutions for the election of joint
shop committees were adopted.
The need of drawing the Negro
workers into these committees was
especially mentioned.
United parades and mass meet
ings to popularize the strike we're
recommended.
Demands Approved
The demands drawn up at the
Amalgamated Association conven-
ton and approved by the Steel and
Metal Workers Industrial Union
we're approved as the basis Of strug-
gle. These demands are for the
30-hour week. one dollar an hour
minimum wage. abolition, Of the DIFF
ferential between North and South,
union and shop committee recogni-
ton, equal rights for Negroes, and
the Workers Unemployment and So
cial Insurance Bill (H.R. 1899.
Joe Weber of the Steel and Metal
Workers Industrial Union made the
opening report for the arrangements
committee. He sharply exposed the
role of the Mike Tighe leadership
Of the A. A. and made a stirring
plea for united action Of the rank
and file of the A. A. with other
workers.
Steel workers in disc sion
brought out the rotten conditions in
the mills today and unanimously
spoke for militant strike action. A
delegate from the Amalgamated AS
ISOLATION stated:
we want solidarity: some of our
leaders don't, But I'll be the first
to turn the spotlight on anyone that
interferes with unity in the coming
strike
Guardsman Speaks
A Negro worker from the Youngs-
town steel plant told of q stoppags
of work for two days in his depart
ment, which employs largely Negro
workers, against slave-driving fore
men. He told the delegates that
they did not have to worry about
the Negro workers becoming scabs.
Nineteen nineteen was our last time
for breaking strikes" he said as the
crowd cheered.
A National Guardsman from lie
linois, disguised with dark glasses,
told the workers of the rising SEN
timent am ong the guardsmef1
against doing strike duty. especially
since the recent events in Toledo.
Fraternal greetings and pledges of
active support to any steel strike
we're brought by members Of the
Marine Workers Industrial Union
and the Railroad Brotherhood Unity
Movement.
We'll be with you even though
We may have to wallop some grand
lodge chiefs to do it," stated a
railroad worker.
Every decision Of the conference
was unanimously agreed upon. COM
plete unity of purpose was one of
the outstanding features Of the con-
ference.
Two hundred and thirty-nine deli
egates we're registered. Twenty of
these we're from the Amalgamated
Association and eight from other
American Federation of L Dor
unions. Seventy-nine represented
Steel and Metal Workers Industrial
Union locals. Several independent
unions and shop groups elected del
egates and workers organizations
sent thirty-one. Eighty EIGHT work.
ers came as individual delegates.
Resolutions against the Wagner
Bill and all other forms of arbitra-
ton. against the participation of IL
linois and Chicago Federation of
Labor officials in mobilization plans
of the National Guard, as well as
greetings to the marine workers on
strike on tina West Coast. we-,
passed. Special resolutions emplnss
sizing the Importance Of drawing
youth and Negro workers into thc
struggles were adopted.
A delegation WIS elected to go TO
Washington to the hearing Tuesday
to lay before the government Off
Gals the demands of this confer
ence.