Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-02-21
You Should Write

You Should WrIfe
Representatives of all international
CIO unions headed by President Philip
Murray are in Washington this week to
speak against several pieces of legislation
which are frankly intended to Obstruct
and weaken the labor movement in Its
urinary purpose for existing-tO organ
ize and collectively bargain for the
workers.
Sending union officials to Washington
to oppose anti-uniOn legislation is not
enough. Regardless how eloquent and
logical union official may be, he must
have the active backing of the people
whom he represents.
Therein lies the rub. Too many of the
people who will be affected by adverse
labor legislation sit back upon their easy
chairs and read in the papers that CIO,
AFL and other unions have protested leg
islation damaging to labor and adopt the
mistaken idea that their leaders can stop
or water down the legislation directed
against them and their organizations.
There is "let George do it" attitude
on the part of far too many unionists
which bespeaks either Incidence or indif-
ference, twin evils from which have come
situations such as that which now con-
fronts the labor movement.
RecriminatiOns are of no value now.
We are face to face with situation and
not theory. Every man and woman who
works for living must accept the reality
and assume the responsibility of doing
something to save themselves from the
legislation which is directed against them
as members of the union.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the ma
iority of the people who compose the
union can both read and write. They can
read both the daily paper and their union
paper and in reading them observe that
labor is being put on the spot by congress
sional reactiOnaries.
After reading about the bills which
are before Congress, preferably in their
own labor paper, these people could, with
but very slight exertiOn, sit down and
write a few lines TO their congressman
and tell them of their opposition to pro-
posed anti-labor legislation. It's. as simple
as that and requires but few minutes of
anyone's time.
In writing to their congressman and
expressing their opposition to various
anti-labor bills which are now before con-
gressiOnal committees, members of labor
unions would be serving a two-fold pur-
pose. They would he fOrtifying their
leaders in their appearance before con-
gressional committees, and at the same
time be serving notice upon individual
congressman that their actions in Wash
ington are being carefully watched by
thousands of voters back home.
Congressman are very sensitive to the
expressions of opinion of the people in
their districts. Any considerable number
of letters written to our congressman OPP
posing the anti-labOr bills now pending in
Washington is bound to make itself felt.
You should write You should write
now and follow the advice of your union
leaders and the Political Action Commit
tee. In doing this simple act, you give
strength to your union, to your leaders
and to yourselves.
To join in the struggle to save your
union from harmful legislation is a job
that every individual must accept. To
cling to the attitude that the other fellow
will do it if we don't is dangerous and far
from the spirit which created and built
our unions to their present strength.
Your interest and cooperation may be
the instrument needed to convince a hos
tile Congress that this is not the time to
attempt to destroy the only effective or.
ganizaion the workers have ever had in
defending and advancing their own inter-
ests-the union.
Write to your congressman. Do II
now!