The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-26

Unions Hit
Injunction
Rank and File Action
In POlishers' Local
Starts Struggle
By a Worker CORRESPONDENT

NNAAAA4NA@ ANEAL L4kog ANAASAAs L "
have the rank and file of the
unions turn militant and demand
leadership in strike activity is not
only embarrassing, but dangerous
to the A. F. of L. officials. For
how can they be expected to be
looked up to by the bosses as safe"
labor leaders if they cannot keep
their following from demanding
decent conditions?
Six weeks ago. the men of the
Interna ional Polishers and Buffers
Union Local No. walked out on
strike for the fulffllmsnt of an
agreement made with the bosses of
the Winters and Champion hard
ware manufacturers at Grandville,
Mich, and we're followed by the
machinists in the plant. The lead
ers did not object to gentle pick
citing, but when the boys COM
menced to interview the scabs
rather roughly and the injunction
Judge Verdier plastered down an
injunction, the leaders said in eff
feet, that it was too bad, but the
only thing that we can do is to
appeal to the Regional Labor
Board-that instrument of the
bosses to kill strikes by withhold
ing action against the guilty till
the strikers have died Of starvation.
Rank and File leadership
The strikers couldn't see it that
way altogether, and some of the
militents got mad and came to
these terrible" Communists, who
helped them to draw up plans to
continue picketing and broaden out
the interest and sympathy of the
strike. Committees we're formed
and a rank and file leadership was
set up. Explanations we're made
that the officials of the A. F. of
L. would do everything within their
power to wean them away from
Communist leadership-that the
Red Scare" would be raised and
that even Communist headquarters
might be raided by hoodlums in
the guise of patriots, and q host
of other things.
The strikers did not believe that
their more or less A. F. of L. lead
ers would do anything dishonest,
but it was no time at all before
they found themselves weaned
away from militant strike activity.
And very cleverly, too.
That is just what happened, but
before this an Anti Injunction Con-
ference had been called at which
80 delegates from a wide variety
of working class organizations
were present and certain resolu-
tionS shattering the peace and
quietude of the A. F. of L. Off
'cials, we're passed. That same day,
the Regional Labor Board rendered
/ its decision-that The management
of the Winters and Champion plant
be fined $1,000 or a spell in Jail.
Needless. to say that the case was
carried to Washington, where it
will rest in somebody's wastebasket
till long after the strike has been
forgotten; then it will be likewise
disposed of.
Vote Mass Demonstration
This did not smother the realiza-
ton among other workers for mill
tant action to smash the injunc-
tion," with the result that week
later motion from the floor was
made for mass demonstration at
the plant and carried almost
unanimously in the Central Trades
and Labor Temple, much against
the shakey CUTS of the A. F. Of L,
officials, especially the president
Brother Claud Taylor, who came up
to the Trade Union Unity League
and disclaimed that he was a
leader, but just a rank and filler
in the position of leader, that he
was just a common person, no diff
ferent from Debs.
In the meantime, the Executive
Committee of the Anti-Injunction
Conference arranged for another
conference. They tried to get the
use of one of the numerous rooms
in the Labor Temple, but of course
that was impossible-although the
rulers of the Temple blah con-
stantly that they are against the
injunction. An amusing side touch
occurred when one chap was hand
ing out calls for the conference tc
the men outside the Temple; one
of the officials came out and COM
menced bawling at him for hand
ing out that red stuff"
Blu exclaimed the other
don't you believe in this?p
NO" snarled our heroic leader
"its lot of bunk"
what" asked the lad with the
leaflets in amazement, aren't vol
against smashing the injunction?
The rest of the story is like The
one of the yellow dog with tn,
long yellow tail.
But long yellow tails and shaking
CUTS of labor leaders" will avail
them but little, for from the mex
Anti Injunction Conference, which
will be held Friday, July 81, at
pm. in the Flurer Hall, at :5heldor
and Oak Sts., should come a de
termined stand to come to grip
with the injunction menace and t.
/ arrange organized action 10 NEE
it head on, 10 smash it and con
tinue militant picketing till th
strike is won.
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