Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-28

worst elements of the AFL bu'
reaucracy both national and 10
cal.
Bureaucrats Expose Selves
1t is a fight in which the ten.
thousand dollar a year bureau
Gratis in Washington, and the 10
cal labor politicians have com
mitted such blunderingly open
acts of violence and fakery that
they have thoroughly exposed
themselves.
Briefly, this is the history OF
the matter. The international
Brewery Workers Union is the
oldest industrial union In the
country, having effective organ
ization OF the industry before
the American Federation of La
Dor was formed.
They entered the Federation
upon the written agreement that
their integrity would be respect
ed. They have had jurisdiction
over their teamsters, firemen and
engineers employed in their
plants for over so years.
Organized Efficiently
When prohibition ended they
ably and energetically organized
hundreds of new locals covering
almost the whole industry.
The large percentage of new
and financially weak organiza-
tions in the International offered
the officials of the teamsters'
union the opportunity they had
been seeking.
Here was easy pickings. In
stead OF organizing the million
and more unorganized teamsters,
they would attack and dismem-
Der the Brewery Workers I'm
ion. AFL cannibalism and all the
viciousness of a bitter jurisdic-
tional fight began.
The teamsters counted on their
superior voting power in the
Federation, on the cooperation
of the official bureaucracy who
saw profit in it for themselves,
but most of all on the help and
financial aid which the employers
in this industry would give them.
These employers, in fact all an
ti-labOr groups in the country,
wanted to see one of the most
powerful industrial unions in the
country crippled, and this form
of organization discredited.
Seattle Witnesses Cannib alism
Here in Seattle we are a wit
ness and victim of some of the
worst aspects of this cannibalist-
ic fight of the labor takers. Brief
ly this is the local history of the
case.
Dave Beck, teamster boss,
went to the brewery employers
and made a bargain with them to
reduce wages, break up the
brewery union, and use his un.
ion and his gangsters to main
tain the price of beer at the fig
ure the Brewers Association de-
sired.
In return we know he was to
receive the employers support
In the jurisdictional fight, and,
we presume, large spot of cash
along with it. The terms of the
deal having been worked out,
Beck sent his assistants into the
breweries. With the CO.
operation of the employers and
with a gang of hired thugs and
gun men he forcibly took, not
only the teaming work, but the
entire operation of the plants.
The brewers themselves were
driven from their jobs or forced
to take out cards in Beck's I'M
ion. Today Seattle's brew is made
by men that Dave Beck has put
in the breweries and organized
as Transfers helpers.
Paid Lower Wages
They are paid lower wages, and
they are tied with a Beck-made
contract, which places around
their neeks the burden OF main
tanning the wholesale price of
beer for the employers.
These men are contracted
through Beck with the employers
to go out on any strike in any
plant where the price of beer
is dropped below the association
set figure.
The Beck-dominated teamster
organization controls the Seattle
Central Labor Council. They have
the votes. They are able to pass
out the profitable jobs.
The labor politicians of the
Council know their masters voice
and are back of Beck to a man.
Doyle, Harlan, Early, Levine,
Frederickson and others control
the council majority, and never
fail to back their teamster boss
on every issue.
Illegal Union Label
When the employers, for bus
mess reasons, needed a union
label on their beer, the council