The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
A Roosevelt Promise

president ROOSEVELT took time on from his
sumptuous birthday party to promise the weirton
Steel Co. workers doube-headed, tricky election 70
choose their own representatives.
Last September, $4,000 workers in the Weirton steel
mills struck for union recognition For the first time
in 20 years, the plant closed down. with the work
erS fighting for higher wages, better conditions.
They fought militantly and long. At that time
the whole steel and coal industry in the throes
OF huge strike wave. The Roosevelt government to
the profits Of the bosses and to keep wages
down, did everything could to smash the strike The
NR.A. Labor Board got President Weir, of the steel
company, to agree that if the strike was broken he
would let the men hold elections for their repre-
sentatives The officials Of the Amalgamated Assoca-
ton, the A F. OF L. steel union, helped the National
Labor Board to trick the men back to work on the
basis of promises General johnson took part Senator
Wagner took part. The MIRA. was bent on only one
thing-breaking the strike.
With the strike broken, and many workers fred
Mr.. Weir had free hand. When the time came for
the elections, Weir told the men they could choose
only company union representatives Workers were In
Inundated, threatened, fired, bribed and the
company union established.
But the rank and file refused to abide by this
result Agitation increased among the workers forcing
the Amagamated officials to some sort of action A
delegation formed with those who originally we're
party to the NRA. trickery as its head to 90 to
Washington They finally got audience with Roose-
veh.
WHAT DO the weirton steel Co. workers now Sace2
Roosevets promise consists Of permitting the men
to run the gauntlet OF Weirs ntmidations threats and
terrorism twice. They to have an election first
to decide If they want to choose their own repre-
sentativeS.
For month the entire plant struck in demon
stration Of this fact that they want recognition Of
their own union! Roosevelt knows that Therein lies
the dupEcity the sliiness of his promises He wants
to drag the workers them out help the bosses
to stihe the new discomfort by these means
The workers should not depend again on the good
offices" of the President and the camouaged threats
against their strike The workers can force through
real election They should take matters in their own
hands; depend their own action, their own or
ganzaton and strength. They should Immediately or
ganize their department and shop committees begin
TO propaganda for their representatives discuss
demands and ways Of unionizng the shop they should
prepare steps for future action to stop wers intiida
ton, and win their demands by their own actions when
the promises end in their usual failures BY their own
deeds, by fighting against the union ocialdom which
is party to the trickery and duplicty Of the MIRA,
they can force through union recognition.
Ill DURING this strike and the many days after
when tremendous agitation and ferment and strlg-
gle went among the workers, the Daily Worker
heard very little Of the activity Of the Steel and Metal
Workers Industrial Union rank and le opposition
in this plant
Certainly here is point of concentration The
more since the Party had concentrated here before
the strike.
Werton Is now pivotal point in the struggle
of the steel workers in the creation OF union among
the steel workers Despite betrayal and intimidation
of the severest kind the weirton Steel Co. workers
are undefeated, militant
We should see to it that we give leadership TO
these workers and take part in the momenous strug
giles to take place here against the NRA and in the
interest Of the steel workers