The daily worker., 1934-04-18

/ COllAGlSHC6' Jil6 ulllOll III GER
tain districts has taken seri-
ously the organizationaI campaign.
This has resulted in an immediate
! increase in membership and in set
| ting up Of new locals, in such places
as Cincinnati, Connecticut, St. Louis,
Milwaukee, Cleveland and various
other sections Of the light metal
industry.
However, the serious shortcoming
IN this campaign is noted in the
fact that there is very little in
I creased recruitment in heavy steel
industries, as for example, in Chi
/ cago-Calumet region; Gary. Ind:
/ Baltimore and the Pittsburgh dis
tr1et. The forces in these places
must realize that never before were
We confronted with a more favor
( able situation for organization than
at the present movement.
/ At the present time the workers
in the steel industry especially have
had many valuable lessons as to the
kind Of an organization they need
to improve their conditions. And
now we come before the workers
with a union that has glorious
record Of struggle with MANY vic
tories to our credit. Our union is
known from one end of the country
to the other. At the same time the
A. F. Of L. is being daily more and
more exposed before the workers
Every district Of our union. every
member Of our union, must be con-
scious Of this favorable objective
situation and Immediately launch
ourselves into a real drive which
will result in establishing our union
on a mass base in the industry.
Huge Strikes Loom
We are on the verge of the largest
strike movement in the history of
the United States. Our union has
correctly analyzed the factors lead
ing to this strike wave. which are
in the main: lowering of the stand
ard of living of the steel and metal
workers under the codes, and the
rising cost Of living. The inten-
sified application of the speed -up,
to the limit Of human endurance
and the accumulated grievances of
/ the workers have become unbear-
able. The experiences of the strikes
in steel and metal Of last year have
had the effect Of proving to large
sections of the workers that the
only way they can improve their
conditions is through struggle. Even
in those places where the strikes
were defeated, Ambridge, weirton,
Charlton. the workers are not de-
moralized. On the contrary. these
set have only resulted in
sharpening the temper of these
workers.
The government and the en-
ployers are desperate in their at
tempts to head off the swing of
the workers toward independent
militant industrial unions. The
masses Of the steel and metal work
ers have indicated definite re-
luctance to Join the A. A. DESPITE
all their efforts with unlimited
funds at their disposal.
True, they have organized many
thousands, estimated around $4,000
but there is a definite tendency on
the part of the new membership to
wait and see if the steel CORPORA
tions recognize the A. A. before they
pay the limitations and dues. And
the A. A. has been unable to con-
solidate its new membership and
bring it under the full control of
the A. F. of L. machine, which is
indicated in their inability to stop
the strike of the workers and the
growing sentiment toward strike at
present prevailing throughout the
ranks Of the A. A.
A Lesser Evil-
However, unless we are able TO
carry through Immediately an in
tensive organization campaign. we
are faced with the possibility Of
! Through maneuverings Of the gov
erlment to head off our movement
by pushing forward the A. F Of l..
as the lesser evil, as indicated in
Johnson's speech recognition in
some plants Of the A. A. and the
check-off which would likely result
in a swing of the masses Of the
workers into the A. A. and duplica-
ton Of what happened in the mine
fields Of Western Pennsylvania
when the miners went into the U.
NJ w A.
To meet such a danger, the en-
tire membership Of the S. NJ. w. I.
U must react Immediately and
really carry through the most in
tensive mass recruitment campaign,
bringing forward the economic de-
mands Of the workers as the main
issue and most energetic exposure
Of the A F. of L.. the establishment
of the united front with the A. F.
of L. locals now Immediately before
the battle
And most important We must i'm
mediately overcome our shortcoming
/ in not carrying through systematic
organization campaign around the
key mills in the steel industry. The
National Conference Of our union
/ has set certain objectives for the
/ organization OF various key mills in
/ the large cities.
! Never was our union faced with a
more serious situation, never was
/ the mood for the steel and metal
workers stronger for organization
and struggle than now. The pos
/ sibilities of rapid growth Of the
union are tremendous and the dan
/ ger that the A. F. of L. might
sweep the field are also great.
/ We are seriously handicapped for
finances to meet such situation.
But even this can be overcome if
/ sympathizers of our movement viii
contribute to the organization fund