Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-01-04
M.London Obi. Speaker
States He's "Too Busy"
For Initiative 4 Debate
Ting things around a table in
stead of on a picket line.
Not Attacked Membership
We have never attacked

we urged them to leave their or
ganizatiOn but to remain in it
and fight for control by the rank
and file and for a program that
is in their interests.
There are those who try to
prevent united action by saying
that unity is impossible with a
dual or rival organization"
This sometimes confuses many
workers who sincerely desire,
not only united action, but one
union in the industry. The Mar
inc Workers Industrial Union is
not responsible for the fact that
there are a number of unions in
the industry-nOr do we-desire
it!
Who is responsible? Those who
caused the defeat of the 1921
strike, who carried through mass
explosions of militant members
of the ISU and who fought
against rank and file control.
l0O,0O0 seamen dropped out of
the ISU because of these things.
The further pursuit of these
disastrous policies left the sea-
men unorganized for years, and
the lack of democracy in the ISU
and the inability and unwilling
ness of the ISL leaders to reOr-
ganize the unOrganized and lead
them in the fight against the
shipOwners forced the seamen
to organize a union which would
enable them to resist the at
tacks of the shipowners.
Leads Struggles
During its existence the Mar
inc Workers Industrial Union
has lead hundreds of ship strikes
as well as the coal boat and
MunsOn strike, the recent At
lantic strike and has a splendid
record in the Pacific Coast strike
where it was the first to rally
the seamen for action. 1t has
constantly fought for the de-
mands of the unemployed, in Sc
attic forcing the Federal Emer-
gency Relief Administration to
give three meals per day, tObac-
co, razor blades, etc, concessions
which Agnes, relief head, admit
ted were forced by the union.
These facts admit no argu-
ment that the Marine Workers
Industrial Union has justified
its birth in 1880. And since its
birth the MWIU has stood, not
only for united action but for
the uniting of all forces in the
industry into one union based |
on a program of struggle against |
the shipowner.
In order to remove all stumbl-
ing blocks to united action for
the defeat of the proposed agree
ment, and to force action on ar
bitratiOn Immediately, the Ma
tional Committee of the Marine |
Workers Industrial Union stands
for the merging of the two I'M
ions, and is ready to propose to
its membership the merging of |
the MWIU with the ISU.
PROGRAM
Force action on arbitration.
Rank and file control Of hiring
halls through the ISU hall. All
locals to go on record for i'm
mediate action on arbitration.
That the proposed agree
ment be Immediately submit
ted to the seamen for a COM
plete report and the widest
possible discussion.
That it not be accepted or
enforced until submitted to a
referendum vote Of all seamen,
union and non-union, scabs ex-
cepted.
In the event the agreement
is rejected by such a vote, ne
gotiations shall be reopened
and carried on by a democratic |
ally elected negotiations COM
mittee.
If the shipowners fail to re-
open negotiations or refuse to
meet the demands then immed-
late steps shall be taken for
strike action.
If the membership of the ISU
agrees to such a program of
immediate action against the
we believe that a
could rapidly be accom-
plished on the following basis
and guarantees:
TERMS
a. Transfer of membership
books without discrimination.
All members of MWIU in good
standing to have same status
in ISU.
b. Officials to be responsible
to the rank and file; full guar
antees of democracy. Right of
members to express and fight
for their opinions. Right of
election to all positions.
c. The carrying through of
general elections and the call
ing of a national convention
within a stipulated period of
time.
The MWIU stands ready to en-
ter into negotiations with the In
Iarn afionaI bodiac of tho 1871 |