The daily worker., 1934-07-30
.RepublicCo
Threatens
Warren Steel Workers
Locked Out for Over
Three We ks
By JOSEPH DALLET
youngstown Dist. Sec'y sMWIUl


WARREN, Ohio, July 29-Ths
Republic Steel Co., where the work.
ers have been locked cut for over
three weeks, is circulating petitions
in an effort to force the men back
to work without the union. The Re-
public workers struck following the
refusal of the company to renew
the union contract, for the first
time in over seventeen years.
The Republic Co. is organizing
company union meetings in houses.
A previous attempt Of the company
to hold a company union meeting
in the armory was broken up by
by the strikers. The company
threatens to blacklist every worker
who refuses to sign the petition and
accept the company union.
Workers Victimized
The action of the Republic Co, in
refusing to deal any further with
the Amalgamated Association Of
Iron Steel and Tin Workers CA F.
of L. and declaring it will deal
only with the company union, is a
part Of the present offensive Of the
steel companies on the workers,
This steel trust drive against the
workers includes mass layoffs thru.
out the industry and increased VIC
limitation of the workers, as in
Weirton, and the Republic Co. lock-
out Of the union members. In Weir
ton, active union men have been
taken for rides and beaten up, and
Amalgamated Association h alls
dynamited.
The officials of the Amalgamated,
the Mike Tighe-Leonard machine,
backed by William Green, and tie
Committee Of Ten leaders Forbeck,
Long, etc), have paved the way for
this offensive. In the special con-
vention Of the A. A. in June, they
called off the steel strike which had
been demanded by the rank and
/ file. They surrendered to the Roose-
velt arbitration board and to the
company union drive of the steel
! trust.
The fruits of this surrender are
now seen in the Republic Steel Co.
lockout in Warren. Many Of the
A. A. members here, seeing the fact
that the reactionary leadership Of
the Warren lodge as well as Tighe
and the International A. A. officials
have done nothing to transform
| the lockout into militant strike,
are saying, ITO hell with the A. Al
4 But this is an incorrect policy. To
allow the Republic Co. to smash
/ the A. A. in Warren and Niles
means a setback for the whole
union movement and the disarming
of the workers before the company
union. The officials of the A. A. are
promising the Republic Co. fight
on the reds" and a reasonable
agreement and are not fighting. But
the company fears the rank and
file Of the 4. A. and are determined
to smash the A. A. lodges.
S. NJ. w. I. U. Proposals
The Steel and Metal Workers In
dustrial Union advanced the fol-
lowing slogans: Turn the lockout
into a strike. Elect a rank and file
strike committee. Post pickets at ell
gates. Call out the other depara-
mentS (Which although organized
in the A. A., have been allowed to
Worl.-these departments never had
an agreement). Demand relief for
those who need it. Demand strike
benefits from the International Of
flee. Accept the unity proposals OF
the S.MWI.U. and call dele
! gated conference OF representatives
Of all bona f1de unions in all Re-
public mills. Don't wait. Delaying
only helps the company. Make a
fight of it. We're with you"
1t is safe to predict that the dele
cation Of A. A. officials now in
Washington will advise, GO hack
to work and leave things up to the
Labor Board" It is still safer to
predict that, if this advice is fol-
lowed, the Labor Board will decide
definitely against the union 1t is
clear that every effort must be
made to mobilize the rank and file
to fight down this reactionary pro-
posal when it is made, to establish
mass picket lines and keep the mill
closed down until the company
signs with the union.
To be effective the strike may
have to be spread to the plants Of
Republic Steel in Canton, Massilon,
Youngstown, Buffalo, South Chi
cage, Newton Falls and Monroe.
A. A. lodges in several of these
mills have adopted resolutions of
support, and there is strike senti-
ment even among uno-ganized
workers in these plants.
The key to the whole situation
lies in the development of a mills
tsnt rank and file movement in
Warren and Niles Immediately. II
the forces OF the rank and file are
/ organized and an effective fight
pus up on the floor Of the lodges.
within the next few days there may
we'll deYelop not only militant
strike in Warren not only militant
strike movement in other Repub-
lie mills.