Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-06-07
It's News
To Me
By O. J. Pecord

Washington
leaders are completely up with both the Democrats and
Republicans and toying with the thought of launching
third party composed of labor farmers and all who are
in sympathy detectives which such party would have
1t opinion of most progressive labor leaders and
social that the labor in this country is not
going to 90 very politically it has its political
party lot of merit and truth in the idea but the
ideal reality apart labor afford to let
its wshbone run away with its of reality,
Looking in America today, find
that it completely divided of the jursdctional
tlre of the unions involved.
We discover that both the CIO and organizing the
South the struggle not only involves fighting the
dictionary indusass below the Mason and Dixon line but in
fighting prove the workers that each is the
best union.
John L. Lewis organzatonal has taken his
United Workers back into the AFL while the Interna
tona Machnists because of urisdcona dispute in the
AFL, took their union out and became independent.
UNIONS AND UNIONS
In the railroad industry discover that there 20
unions involved and that working
the division the rail unions that Pres
dent Truman strike with
in the knowledge that the only who could
break the strike the railroad unions them
selves
What worked in the railroad strike will not and did
work strike miners while
posed of different crafts united in strong industrial
only who could the strike the
Realizing this the miners able to ignore
government seizure and win their points
Independent unions such the MESA and others,
years formed confederation independent unions for the
of uniting their forces for joint economic and political
purposes Today, the apart with each
union going its separate way.
And the this division in the ranks labor
asked to believe that the unions of this country uniting
themselves with the farmers bringing about
political unity and effective political party
Such contention, while it is deaistic definitely not
realistic the face of the labor cannot
succeed in uniting in its important consideration its
economic interest
EDUCATION NEEDED
What what some unions are making sim
give members is political education
which the only possible to the problem of labors
political disunity.
which has been initiated and continued by the CLOS Political
Action Committee The fact that CIO
ing for united labor political action living proof that the
education campaign beginning to work for those who study
the political situation affects labor help but
tuay reach the point where they realize independent
ca action is futile unless all of labor united behind the
movement.
independent political action by labor
united Since this obviously far at the present time
not and cannot succeed when labor still
organizing unorganzed and consolidating their gains
THERE HOPE
Nor is the to the problem of labor in the political
field be found in mXbreed type political organiza
tion for it human its other
the door as 1t enters upon program with other unions and the
divisions which exist organizations would
be carried over into the political field
Despite the many obstacles which impede the organiza
on and of Independent political action
there still hope There always of reaconaries in
Congress and state legislature reactonay
force labor to unite from time
interest These the people who will eventually to
pull the major which will actually wipe jurisdcona
lines sufficiently drive the workers into type of unity
that must prevail before political possible.
the meantime educational program for work
must be undertaken by all labor unions acquain their
members with the fact that their economic and
a interests not separate and distinct things but and
nseparable If considerable number Americans
reach that point and it will probably be long time before
they do, will need worry about independent political
labor 1t will surely night
nothing labor leaders themselves will able to
prevent it.
While waiting for the labor movement to reach
political unity should do part by joining and
tribute political education of our
work. both In ando of