The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-24
Roosevelt New Deal
Becoming Target OF
Broad Strike Wave

front movement against the ter
ror and for the right to strike and
picket, TO assemble and speak -
the inclusion of all sections or Cn~
working class in mass struggle II
support the strikes - will defeat
the fascist terror.
The strike wave is clearly taking
on more and more Of political
character. with the movement for
I sympathetic strikes. and with the
/ strikes more frequently directed
against the no-strike orders, and
strikebresking decisions Of the Mr.
/ A. Labor Boards. with which are coe
! operating the A. F. of L. leaders.
The workers are now engaged
in struggle for the right to strike
itself-a struggle against the ate
tempts of the Roosevelt govern
ment to outlaw all strikes by fas-
cist terror which backs up Labor
Board DEGREES.
Although the A. F. of L. leaders,
cooperating with the Labor Boards,
have been powerless to prevent the
swelling strike wave, numerous Of
these strikes have been betrayed by
these A. F. of L. officials, support
ing N. R. A. decisions, and driving
the strikers back to work
In some cases. where only moder-
ate concessions have been won. rec
ignition and more substantial wage
gains could have been made. If the
rank and file had been sufficiently
organized to kill the sabotaging in
/ fluence Of the A. F. of L. leaders.
In Minneapolis, the Farmer-Labor
Governor, with the other high A. F.
of L. officials, succeeded in keeping
the street car men at work, and
keeping the st. Paul truck drivers
across the river at work, thus weak.
ening the strikes.
In order to prevent the A. F. Of
L. officials, together with the La
/ Dor Boards. from ending these
strikes in defeat-in order to de-
feat the fascist attacks and the
arbitration decisions-it is neces-
sary to organize at once the OPP
position inside the A. F. of L.
unions. Most of the present strikes
are led by the A. F. of L. unions,
but with militant left wing forces
playing an increasingly important
role.
1t is not enough though that
! Communists and other militant
workers are active. and in many
cases on the executive committees,
of most of these strikes. 1t is not
enough that the T.UUL. unions,
and the A. F. Of L, opposition and
the Communist Party give the strik-
ers the correct line in leaflets These
leaflets have had a great effect in
most of the important strikes. The
influence of the Communist Party
and the militant opposition has
grown in all centers.
But unless there is organization
on the inside of these unions, the
strikers will be split up and de-
feated, or will gain only slight
concessions.
In this connection, the enlarged
national board of the A. F. of L.
Rank and File Committee in WASH
ington, Saturday and Sunday as
sumes great Importance. The work
of organizing the rank and file OPP
position inside the A. F. of L. must
keep pace with the growing strike
wave.
The A. F. of L. opposition must
take the initiative in the calling Of
Support the Strike" Conferences.
They must take the initiative in the
fight against fascist terror. They
have to lead the fight for the eco
nomic demands of the strikers, and
against tbs betrayal policies Of the
A. p of L. officials.
The unity of the rank and file, no
matter what union they belong to.
or if unorgsnized, can be achieved
only if an organized opposition Is
functioning inside the A. F. of L.
unions. The strikes cannot be knit
together Cbuiding trades in Phila..
Minneapolis, Washington unless the
rank and file opposition inside the
A. F. Of L. initiates rank and file
conferences to achieve this unified
action
The strike wave Of the workers L
rapidly spreading in spite of in=
functions, fascist terror, and no
strike orders Of the NR.A.. backed
by the A. F. of L. officials The
Communists and all other militant
workers must take the lead in de-
veloping the strike movement still
further, of organizing the broad
united front to fight against terror,
for the right to strike and for ths
economic demands of the workers.