Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-01-25
Letter Shows
Advances by
Soviet Union
Ex-TACOMA ALL WORKER
WRITES OF IMPROVING
SOVIET CONDITIONS


an American trade-unionist, Aug
ust Schultz, former member OF
Machinists' lodge No. 297, Tacoma,
who has been working in the So
Wet Union for the last ~ years.
Brother Schultz, in a letter to
the Tacoma Central Labor Coun-
ell, dated December !, 1884, an
swered the lies and SANDER
against the Soviet Union Hearst
is using as ammunition against
the working class. Parts of the
letter follow;
Dear Sir and Brother:
When / left for Leningrad, l
promised to write the boys but
it has taken a long time to get
started. Well, l landed in Russia
in 1922 and am working here to-
day.
We work seven hours a day
for six days week; | am working
as a repair man. having charge
of machine tools in a big tool
room that employs 800 men. Here
we have the three representative
system: party, union and head
OF the department. When any
thing comes up, those three de-
eide what to do. If the worker
feels that he is not treated right,
he has the way open to the kon-
tax commission and the court.
The party organizer and the I'M
ion secretary are responsible for
most anything that concerns the
shop and the workers.
Skilled Labor Shortage
In all the different shops we
have a dining room and they are
putting up a fair meal for a fair
price. The biggest trouble we
have is a shortage of skilled la
Dor. Our factory schools are
working full blast but do not
turn out enough to meet the de-
mand. We are forced to break
in what we can of unskilled labor
but even common labor is hard
to get. Our labOrers are mostly
women. This holds good for all
trades. In the building trades
there are many women masons,
plasterers and painters. Street
car motor employees and con-
ductors are SO per cent women.
THE unions here are on the
industrial basis and voluntary.
But IL you haven't your card
paid mp you are Just out of
luck when you get sick. When
sick our wages 60 on just as II
working.
If not paid up, the sick worker
is paid only half time. l was sent
to a resort in the Kaukasus, Ku-
ku Bogss (sour water) mineral
springs, for month once, with
full pay and everything, includ-
ing railroad fare, free of charge.
Three times l was in a house OF
rest, charges all paid, and l get
three weeks vacation with pay
every year as well as the sani-
forum.
Great Change
The change that has taken
place since | came here is so great
that it would take a good sized
book to put it down. The workers
settlements, which were in bad
condition, are changed. New
houses with steam heat, on good
streets and good sidewalks are
being put up everywhere and old
one repaired. Still the industrial
group is so big that for a new
conner it is hard to find housing
accommodation The people have,
to my observation, also changed
greatly. At first drunken, dirty,
half starved, they have changed
to neatly dressed and clean look
ing, although there is as much
whiskey as one wants.
Take the average worker: They
are reading a good deal and the
Russian is also very fond OF
music. We have a big shop string
orchestra. We have also some
good football players and games
We have a big park near our
factory. A sport park for football
games, basketball, tennis, run.
ming and all kinds OF sports.
Swimming in the open is always
kept UP after work and for the
winter months we have a big
club house, library, theater, pool
and casino. Our club house was
built on the place or grounds Of
a church which was torn down
could 60 on telling you of ouI
conditions forever.