The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
United Front Meet
Rallies Auto Men
For Strike Action
(Conttnued from Paqe u

D y
shop.
In his report, Reno analysed the
situation facing the auto workers,
showed how real wages had been
cut sixty-five per cent while speed
up had increased 1855 per cent since
1929.
"The struggle of the auto workers
against the employers attacks on
living standards was started over a
year ago in strikes led by the Auto
Workers Union which had won bet
ter conditions and increased wages
for thousands of auto workers"
Reno pointed out the significance
of the militant strike of the tool and
diemakers organized in the Mech
anics Educational Society last fall, as
we'll as the Ford, Chester and Edge
water strikes. He also referred to
the strikes in Toledo and Wisconsin,
and the wave of department strikes
and stoppases in the Detroit area
embracing practically all plants in
Guiding Fords.
He took up concretely the present
strike situation and showed how the
treacherous A. F. of L. nisleaders
helped the manufacturers and the
government to halt strike action,
ditching the demands of the work
ers. He exposed the Washington
maneuvres as meaning no recogni-
ton by putting the stamp of ap-
proval on company unions and on
the open shop auto code with its
vicious merit clause.
what did we get from Washing
ton?" Nothing but Sellout in the
biggest capital lettersl The A. F
of L. leaders may claim the A. F
of L. is recognized but we know the
manufacturers will bring economic
pressure to bear to drive workers
into company unions. The griev-
ance board means representatives
of the manufacturers, of the N. r
A.. headed by open shop employers
such as Swope and Teagler-that Ii
two representatives of the employers
and a so-called labor representa-
tive. The agreement to hand over
the names of the A. F. of L. mem
bers means a blacklist for militant
workers.
at is clear the cards are stacked
against the workers. The only way
to fight this sell-out is to unite all
auto workers for action now!'
Reno exposed the role Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who approved the
auto slave code, and did the work
of the manufacturers in delaying
the strike when the workers were
ready to go out.
The conference elected Robert
Eicher of the Auto Workers Unior
as chairman; Bernert of the Me-
chanics Educational Society shor
stewards as vice chairman, and 6
worker of the A. F. of L. as secre.
tary.
The conference was stirred by g
fiery speech calling for united &C.
ton by John Anderson, delegate o.
the M. E. S. A., organizer of Local
of that organization and one of thu
rank and file leaders Of the too
and diemakers' strike. Steve An
derson, who was frequently inter
rupted by applause, supported thu
proposals that the A. w. U. and thu
M. E. S. A. Jointly organize actor
of the auto workers against thu
sell-out.
Workers want unity Any in.
dividual or group of individual
who stand in the way of unity ART
enemies of the workers, and are al
) tarred with the same brush. WI
, of the M. E. S. A. extend our hanc
! to the A. w. U. as a fighting union
The A. w. U. led the auto workers
, of Detroit in the Briggs strike t.
) better conditions.
1.-THE bosses have not only pol.
} ished our chains. They have silver.
e plated them. But they are chain!
: just the same. Give me the fight.
ing men and to hell with the bosses
t Give me the fighting men of thu
: working class and by god we vii
= win!"
A call for unity was also echoed
e by Bernert Of the M. E. s. A., WHIT
: pointed out the mistake made il
the tool and diemakers' strike il
: failing to unite with the production
workers. Bernert called for a solit
front of all workers to defeat thu
A. F. of L. leaders betrayal anc
, win better conditions.
Other M. E. S. A. delegates sup
! ported the statement made tina
= Smith, leader of the NJ. e. S. A
had wired the National Labo
Board that strike would be g
national calamity"
: M. E. S. A. members on the reso
: lutions committee have agreed t.
a resolution calling for united &C
= ton, and declared their intention
to go back to locals and to tn
q executives of the M. E. S. A. an,
: fight for it.
e Another rousing speech for unit
: was made by Hoffman, delegate Q
: the Association organized by tn
: victimized Ford, Chester, strikers
Y Hoffman, huge ex-sailor, toll
Il with biting sarcasm how the A. I
e of L. leaders, together with the \
: R. A., smashed the Chester an
+ Edgewster strikes and how victim
= lied workers we're given the run
around in Washington.