Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-01-07

had been appointed coordinat-
or of the UAW-CIO coopera-
tive campaign.
Let us discuss exactly what
that means.
1t means that it will be my
duty in Region 2-B to work
with Howard Seren, recording
secretary Of Local II, who is
presently doing everything he
can do to advance the drive
of the Toledo Consumers Co
operative, Inc. 1t means that it
will be my duty to work with
each and. every coop commit
tee any local union sets up,
and every committee set up
by any unit Of an amalgamated
local union.
It means that regardless of
race, creed or religion 49, and
regardless of union politics,
too - l will do everything in
my power to see that the coop
drive succeeds. / will speak at
meetings of local unions, units,
or committees. / will give all
of my time to work and plan
with them, and try to answer
their questions. / will do what
they want me to do, to help
the coop.
Now if all this doesn't make
sense, let me explain that bit
of misunderstanding or
should | say misinterpretation
- crept into the lines or be-
tween them when a few peo-
pie read the newspapers. And
that is alright with me. think
politically, too, but not when
thinking of the coop, because
that's for everybody, includ-
ing non-union people.
The new coop supermarket
is being built to save the con-
sumer money and bring him
quality merchandise without
profiteering. So far as know,
there Is no money being made
out of it by any particular in
dividual, and there won't be.
The coop doesn't belong to
Vice President Gosser, to yours
truly, to its president Bob
Parkinson, mot a union men,
ber, so don't cruelty him
please) nor to its vice presi-
dent, Virgil Barnhart. It be-
longs to everyone who wants
TO join, and the work involved
also belongs to those who will
quit bellyaching long enough
TO do little of it.
When Vice President Gosser
appointed me he did il at nv
request. There is no pay in
volved,, either. 1t is an instru-
ment which gives me the au-
thority to try to help the coop
people among our own UAW
ranks. The executive board OF
the coop wanted to hire me
for the full-time job of COOP
organizer, but when | heard all
the hubbub | turned it down.
| nope this covers the subject.
Wen let 1t rest right here.
This weekend will find Bob
Pickus in Toledo to help with
the drive. II is going to be a
"blitz" If we ever saw one.
You know, Toledo started this
whole warehouse supermarket
business, then almost let the
fire go out This time there's
going to be a lot of doing, and
a lot less talking. Many units
nave already given a dime per
member to the organizing fund.
but those that haven't NAV do
so at their next meeting, if
they Will, and they'll be "in
the swim" After all, the COOP
is such a good thing, and so
much has been written and
spoken about 1t already, that
not much further explanation
should be required,
The first store will be in
West Toledo, but If we get the
Kind Of response we plan on
getting we will be able to open
stores in the Lagrange Stick
ney district, in the North End
near Auto-Lite, in Birning-
ham, In the l4th Ward near
Champion and Acklin, and out
by Libbey- -Owens-Ford and
Unitcast, not to forget all the
smaller plants in South To-
ledo.
The AFL and MESA are 60
Ing TO do as much in their own
way as we will in ours. The
coop is not a UAW project |
repeat. 1t is for everyone who
wishes to join, with no one ex-
cluded, regardless of any rea-
son whatever. It's the greatest
movement we've run across
and 1t will protect for organ
lzed labor the hard earned
dollar It won in many negotia-
tons across various confer
enee tables in the past ten or
twelve years.
There will soon be a rallv
open to all, and coop fairs
and exhibits. Come and bring
the family. The coop is for
them. In the meantime. If you
haven't Joined, call Mrs. Mar
tina Gosline Smith at LA 9Sl3,
and she'll see that Won GET an