The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-13

The recent experiences Of our sec
ton in carrying on correctly the
activities of the Unemployment
Councils are interesting and valu-
able from several points of view.
First, the results of our most re-
cent work as contrasted with the
results of activity by the Party be-
fore our section stepped in; second,
the orgs nizational structure that
has been developed to carry on the
struggles of the Councils; third. the
existing defects in activity and or
ganization and the necessary
remedy.
Two months ago there were in
North Philadelphia three Councils,
one very young and very small, an
other five years old and in dis
migrating condition, and the third
fairly large with much fluctuation
in membership. There existed no
organizational relationship between
these Councils, although all received
their relief from the same relief
agency. Plans for struggle were
separately drawn up and separately
carried out. Consequently, improve
mentS in the lives of the unem-
ployed were few and far between
not only for those workers not in
the Councils but for our member
ship as we'll Unemployed and
needy workers and the relief agency
were largely unaware Of the exist
ence of the Councils. The relief
agency certainly never considered
the Councils in its daily malprac-
tees.
Upon undertaking unemployed
work our unit considered that two
steps were Immediately necessary to
lift the work of the Councils to a
higher level. The creation of a
Council in our own territory, which
was also served by the same relief
station, was imperative. The CO.
ordination of all the Councils was
considered even more imperative.
A fraction was established for
the development of the new local.
Today our Council has IS members
and has given birth to another
Council with about 30 members.
All the Councils were called to-
gether for a general meeting at
which section organizer was
elected and the idea of a section
committee to serve as the political
guiding and organizing body for the
whole territory was unanimously ac-
cepted. Two representative from
each Council and the section or
ganizer were to constitute the Sec
ton committee. The committee was
to meet each week.
The functioning of this plan has
brought about radical Improvements
in the Councils and in the lives OF
many of the needy workers in our
section. The attitude of the relief
station to the Councils has under
gone complete metamorphosis.
Several very important demands
have been won through the united
strength of the Councils. Discrimi-
nation against the many Negro
families in our section is steadily
being done away with, relief has
been won for separate family units
who are forced to live together, food
orders have been won Immediately
for q fo r0Nilioc orAI
lief agency now recognizes the I'm
employment Councils as the sole or
ganized representative of the I'M
employed and needy workers. We
are receiving immediate considera-
ton of all cases that we bring be-
fore the agency. Once every two
weeks our Councils send commit
tee to meet with group of super
visors of the agency to take up the
problems Of the needy workers in
our section.
The coordination of the Councils
has strengthened each Council, in
creased their membership, and given
them new healthy spirit. The re-
lationship between each local and
the section committee is clear and
strong. The two delegates from
each local are leaders and we'll de-
yeloped politically. This strength
ems both the section committee and
the local. These comrades serve
as we'll on the executive committee
of their own locals, to which they
report the plans of the section COM
ID q r.