The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-24
Auto Workers Union
Rallies Men To Fight
Company Unions
BOSS TOOLS ACTIVE
Sunday Conference To
Be Center of
United Action
BY WILLIAM WEINsTONE

DETROIT, March %. - A.
F. of L. officials in Washing
ton have sent kilograms to the
auto locals here and in Flint
indefinitely postponing strike
action, as predicted by the Auto
Workers Union. The so-called one
dav postponement is being pro-
longed in an effort to defeat strike
action
At the same time local A. F. OF
L. leaders are preparing the ground
here for acceptance of a "compro-
mise" which would be sell-out on
the question Of union recognition.
These n1isleaders are working in the
direction of spreading demagogic
and chauvinistic propaganda to line
up with the President, and to fall
in with the policy of no strike. They
follow the policy Of deliberately in
flating the workers hopes on what
to expect from Washington.
At the Briggs local A. F. Of L.
meet last night this method was
used. Today's capitalist press car
ries a telegram from Greer, Presi-
dent of the Hudson Local, and one
of the A. F. of L. delegates in
Washington, saying: Have been in
! conference with the President for
four hours. Definite and important
results. Feel elated." At the same
time, kilograms were sent to the
locals, delaying strike action.
Company Union Not Abolished.
Though the exact terms of the
sell-out are not yet clear, the fol-
lowing, however, is already evident:
The workers will not get the right
to freely organize into unions of
their own choosing and to elect
committees in the departments and
plants with power to negotiate with
the employers on all questions OF
wages and hours. It is also clear
that the company unions will not
be abolished. The manufacturers
will stand pat on the question of
company unions, and the A. F. of L.
leaders will, in fact, accept them,
but to cover up their betrayal, may
make some arrangement to enable
the A. r. of L. leaders to say that
some recognition" was achieved.
One proposal along these lines is
the industrial relations boards
with representation from the men
to investigate" discrimination,
which will be dominated by the
manufacturers, and will have no
power to enforce any action against
the discharge of union men, This
the manufacturers will gladly ac-
cept.
Another form of surrender may
be an arrangement similar to that
made in regard to the captive mines
owned by the steel trust, where
company unions remained, and the
A. F. of L. leaders put their seal
on them.
But whatever the trick may be,
it is clear real union recognition
Yill not come from Washington.
tuto Workers Union Urges Fight.
The Auto Workers Union today is
distributing leaflet explaining to
the workers the danger of company
unions, and for what kind Of recog-
milton they must fight. The leaflet
says in part:
"A company union is cage with
the workers inside. The men are
made to feel that they are free to
move around, but they can't go
beyond the bars. It's locked and
bolted, and the key is in the COM
pany's pocket. The superintendent,
foreman, company dicks and stools
are there to keep the men in their
place-inside the cage. Where COM
/ pany unions exist, wages are low,
speed-up is great, and the manufac-
! turers rake in huge profits"
The leaflet then sets forth what
real union recognition means, and
warns against the surrender in
washington, which the A. F. of L.
leaders will try to play" up. as a
big victory.
1t urges the men to stand for
real recognition and demands re-
parding wages and speed-up.
Arrangements for the united front