The CIO news. (Cumberland, Md.) 1942-????, 1943-09-20
Looking Ahead
By Len De Caux


~T,HE business of the UTE is today the business Of
America"
This statement of an officer of the United Elec-
trical, Radio Machine Workers was borne out
again and again at the unions ninth convention He
might also have said the same of the whole Go.
There is separation between labor and the
rest Of the American peope-any more than between
the backbone and the rest of the human structure.
The young delegates who applauded and even
jitterbugged to Duke Elngtons music at the OPEN
ing UE demonstration were typical young Ameri-
cans.
Most of the problems with which the convention
dealt are common to most Americans.
The main business of the convention was the
main business of the whole American people-to
work out ways and means of winning this war an
speedily and completely as possible
X X 4
The UE, 1t may be added also does a mighty
big share Of the business of America these DAYS.
The 100000 American workers for whom It
speaks produce onefifth of all war equipment manu-
featured out of metal.
They have delivered nine billion dollars worth
OF such war material and munitions to the armed
forces, without any interruption of production.
The union has contributed 10000 Of its men,
bers to the armed services.
One hundred and seven government awards for
outstanding war production have been presented to
UE-organzed plants employing 10000 workers.
The UE has grown phenomenaly during the
past year.
1t has won Labor Board elections covering 49,
600 employees.
1t has initiated 29s,OOO new members during
the year.
1t now has $40 collective bargaining agreements
covering $4,000 workers.
1t represents substantial cross-section Of
America.
r X X
What do all these Americans want when thew
have their democratic say in convention?
Nothing that is not for the good of all America
They asked no special privilege for themselves
beyond the privilege of doing more than the rest
If they can, for victory.
1t is hard to imagine a more publicspirited
platform and program than that adopted by the
UE. Comparison with the platform of such groups
as the Natl. Assn. of Manufacturers, for instance
would be odous-for the NAM.
X X \
Main actions of the UE convention were for
more war production, for stable war economy, for
greater political activity for national and interna-
tional labor unity, and for maximum united effort
of our whole people to speed the United Nations
offensive to total victory.
All these are leading items on the agenda Of
the whole American people-they are 'the business
of America
For more production, the UE concentrates on
the training of the hundreds of thousands of new
workers who have entered the industry; on extern
sion and improved functoning of the 900 labor
management committees in its plants; on CONVEX
sion of the machine tool industry; and on more
effective labor participation in governmental pro-
duction planning.
For stable economy, the UE wants adoption
OF the CIO tax program, to raise the most with the
least Ill effects production and national welfare
1t wants effective price control and rationing with
rolback Of prices to stabilized wage levels.
For national unity to win the war, the UE
wants an end to racial discrimination, in industry
and OUT repeal of the potax and greater political
activity to unite the people behind the Commander
in-Chief and to end the home-front descriptions Of
the present majority in Congress