Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-04-14
How's Your Juiifsu?

TUJITSU is the trick of using an oppo-
~ nent's weight and strength against him.
A small man who knows jujitsu can
toss big man in corner every time
and the bigger he is, the easier it is to
throw him.
There's only one flaw in this: il the
big fellow knows jujitsu, too, the little
man is right back where he started.
There is also, today, form of eco
nomic jujitsu used by union-busters.
1t is the same principle. 1t uses the
weight and strength of the union against
itself to toss it in the corner. The more
powerful union is, the easier it is to con-
fuse the membership, and make its con-
tract negotiations futile.
But again, there's an answer to it: II
the union membership knows the trick, it
doesn't work.
That brings us to Toledo, and the eco
nomic jujitsu being tried against Local IL.
Everything is just right for the appli-
cation of the trick in Toledo.
Local IL, UAW-CIO, is big, strong
union. Those who want TO wreck 1t and
make It's contract drives futile failures
know their economic jujitsu thoroughly.
Let's examine the tricks, slowmotion,
and see IL we have defense
First-confuse the membership. Get 1t
all lathered up over something else, so that
its attention is diverted.
Second-sow the seeds of distrust Get
the membership in a suspicious frame OF
mind, doubling It's leadership.
Third-spread the distrust to the con-
tract. Get the membership half convinced
that even the contract demands will hurt
the workers.
Fourth-rsfuss to bargain. II your
work has been well done, the membership
will strike half-heartedly, or not at all; or
will notify the leadership of its indiffer-
snce And, having waived its most power
ful weapon, 1t can be licked.
How far has this thing been applied to
Local IL to date?
The fact is, the whole stunt Is now In
motion.
Let's not be mealy mouthed about 1t;
let's call a spade a spade. Here's what's
been done so far:
The newspaper has helped start huge
fishing expedition, a series OF deposition
hearings, in which a lot of sly questions
have been asked. (No facts proved-just
questions asked)
This Is Step One. The membership is
supposed to be confused; to have confused
questions with answers, charges with con-
vctions, and smears with truth.
The anti-union forces have spread the
allegation that the leadership of the local
Is bunch of crooks and thieves, and are
always thinking first of themselves and
only second of the working men.
This is Step Two. The membership is
supposed to begin to believe that no matter
what the leadership recommends or spon-
sors, 1t is somehow a sneaky selfish end
they seek.
The anti-union forces have attacked
the area pension plan as something that
will cost Toledo jobs, will close down fac
tories, will hurt the workers.
This is Step Three. The membership is
supposed to believe that if they WIN their
pensions they LOSE-and that the only
way they can avoid losing, is to make sure
of not winning.
Finally, the anti-union forces have be-
gun talking about refusing to bargain
about closing their plants and leaving
town-about losing their competitive po-
sition."
This is Step Four. The situation they
hope to have created is that the member
ship, confused, distrusting its leadership,
suspecting its motives and convinced that
II they win what they are after, they'll
lose, will refuse to stand back of the pen
sion drive.
This is economic jujitsu-the trick of
making a big, powerful union lick itself.
But it won't work in Toledo, because
Local IL, UAW-CIO, knows jujitsu, too
and is big enough and smart enough to de-
fend itself.
Q-I am the widowed mother of de-
ceased World War / veteran who died of a
service-connected disability several years ago.