8 SOCIALIST APPEAL October 9, 1937 Opposition Fights Fur Browder: One of my best friends.
Union Bureaucracy BEST FRIENDS IS JEW. the ato as tions JUDGE BLACK Daily Worker BLACK UP HOLDS RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL FREEDOM ER OP With the expiration of the ied by an Association representpresent agreement at the end of atie. Strikes are ruled illegal.
this year, the furriers will face serious situation. The future Heavy Price Paid of the Furriers Union and the nature of the new agreement is did not apply to the trimming These outrageous conditions to a large extent dependent upon and independent shops. The attitude and policy of the rights of the workers there were Stalinist administration. To retain better preserved. But the and improve the working cond pressure of the union against in the Fur Industry the fur these shops increased they rushed riers must abandon the present into the Association. The most opportunist and class collabora active furriers were then caretionist line of the Communist fully removed from their jobs.
Party.
The most active furriers were The Fur Manufacturing Asso then carefully removed from their ciation with whom the furriers jobs. This disgraceful state of will deal is the sole boss organ affairs, made possible by the ization in the trade. The Associa. Stalinist boss victory agreetion has become powerful and ment. was the price paid by the threatening not without the as workers, sistance of the union bureau It would seem that enough eracy. The method of the Stal damage had already been done.
inists in dealing with the Asso. But there is no limit for the Stalciantio was even more harmful inists. It is clearly stipulated in to the union than that of the the agreement that there shall right wing leaders who preceded be no overtime, contracting, them. Three years of Stalinist no floor boy is to do productive control of the United Furriers work and only one employer is Union is marked by regular con permitted to work in a shop. It cessions of a most disastrous was imperative that workers kind to the bosses. So serious committees were organized and have been these concessions that empowered to enforce these rethe Furriers Union may have to gulations. The administration reenforce their table conversa, instead commissioned this work tions with the Association by de to the Impartial Chairman, As BROWDER claring a General Strike. a result active workers were dismissed, speed up flourishes, overElementary Demands time is widespread and floor hoys do the work of the regular furIgnored riers, slowly replacing them. The During the period when the disgust of the furriers with all vote on the 1937 tax. At the past two taxes? Since the uni political field, so in the trade present agreement was negotia this was not slow appearing meetings of the Board of Direc fication, the furriers have expe unions, the Stalinists cannot ted the furriers demonstrated the The first expression of protest tors and of the Joint Council, a rienced their third tax. Also, the brook slightest criticism. It highest militancy and morale. against the administration was tax of 25 was decided upon. furriers contended, the adminis is true, they do not yet put opNevertheless the communist rep shown in the last elections and Knowing that the figure was a tration did not have the right positionists to the wall, as they resentatives of the union failed also in the voting on the 1937 high one, it was decided to ap to spend the money collected have been doing in the Stalinist to insist upon many elementary tax.
pear before the rank and file previous taxes for the special paradise.
demands for which the furriers without a specific recommenda strike fund, which was used for have strived to gain many years. Democracy Flouted tion on the sum, but only for a other purposes. They therefore Opposition Group They willingly agreed to requests substantial tax. But in the voted for a one day pay tax, made of them by the Association As is the custom, the furriers fur market, it was already known roughly equivalent to 10. AcContinues but did not fight for the just and hold their election of officers that the 25 had been decide on cording to the financial report, Yet, the opposition is contiburning needs of the workers. every year. The administration, by the administration, and the there is only 119, 000 on hand. nuing its activity. The opposition The bosses, on their side were which is dominated by the Com furriers came to their meetings The rest of the money was spent does not yet number hundreds, well satisfied with the agree munists, conducts 100 bureau for the purpose of voting down to pay the back wages of the to be sure; the reason being that ment. most criminal concession cratic elections. Even the most the rceommendation.
former Joint Council officials, many furriers, no matter how was made to the bosses when reactionary unions can learn from and the union agreed verbally Thelp them. At the local meetings, the Heavy Tax Voted Down poses of which the furriers know nistration, fear to come out in smashed the small association and Stalinists impose election objecThe Stalinists and their admi nothing.
open conflict against it. Although independant shops, forcing them tion committees of their own nistration have always boastful As to democracy, our union is composed entirely of rank and to join the Big Association. At choosing. Before the election ob claimed that the majority of the not behind hand. Those acquaint file workers, and without any the time of the signing of the jection committee, meets they al furriers stand with them and ed with the democratic pract prominet leading personalities, agreement two years ago, two ready announce when the dele that everything they do or say is ices of the Communist Party, es the opposition has made sufficient Fur Associations existed in the gates should appear. Thus, the with the approval of the ranks. specially after the events in the progress to compel the bureauindustry. The first was the Fur whole election is carried through to prove that the fur workers Soviet Union, can understand the cracy to begin discriminating Manufacturing Association which in one week time. The opposi are with the administration, kind of democracy we have in against critical spokesmen at the embraced the large coat houses. tion is not even allowed to come letter was sent out to the mem the Fur Workers Union. The offi local meetings, by refusing them The second was the Trimming As near the objection committee. bership, in which they were warn cial organs published by the union the floor.
sociation. Aside from these there Nor is the opposition allowed any ed that unless they appeared at are the exclusive monopoly of As to how the opposition conwere several independant shops. watchers at the polls. And this the local meetings, they would the Stalinists, who systematically duets its activity, its relationA struggle of the two associa is what they call 100 demo each be fined Such a warning exclude any writings by those ship to the Stalinists and other tions raged for many years. cracy. As a result of this sys would hardy be necessary if the having different opinions. More elemens in the union, and the When the Stalinists, coming to tem, the administration was prestige of the leadership was than that, the official organs are question of its job in the coming the aid of the large association, caught red handed stealing votes what they claimed it was. They used to slander any and all op period. these will be dealt with forced the smaller one to dis from the opposition in the last had to send out such letter be ponents and critics. As on the in coming issues of the Appeal.
solve, all of its members entered elections. Regardless of the fact cause the local meetings, which the larger body for protection that the opposition did not have are held every three or four The system used to bring the sufficient time and forces to con: months, instead of the monthly trimmers and independent shops duct an effective campaign, and meetings provided for by the into the association was as fol though the elections were exclu. union constitution, are not atlows: sively under the control of the tended by the members.
The settlement made by the Stalinists, the opposition neverThe left wing of the Socialist! SundayOctober 10, P.
union with the Fur Manufactur theless polled 2, 000 out of the that if the thousands of furriers County announces The administration believed Party of Chicago and Cook Cafe Idrott, membership meeting, ing Assn. was the only recogniz. 6, 000 votes cast.
the opening party and YPSL members only.
would show up at the meetings, of headquarters in Room 504, ed collective pact in the trade. That this is a heavy blow at it would be able to push through 189 North Clark Stret (telephone: Housewarming and coming out Saturday, October 16, P.
An agreement was not signed the administration, is known to any proposal. How surprised Deaborn 7562. together with the Party, Cafe Idrott. 3206 Wilton with the Trimmers Assn. Instead every furrier. The administration they the furriers signed with indivi also suffered a defeat when one voted down the 25 tax! Not even Socialist League office. book 35c at door.
when the furriers Chicago District Young Peoples Ave. Admission, 25c in advance; dual trimming shops only. This of their nominees for business Gold, who, relying enabled the union to exercise di agent was defeated by an inde popularity, was brought down to ary publications from all over Cafe Idrott. 3206 Wilton, Glothis past shop with radical and revolution Sunday, October 17, P.
rect control over cach trimming pendent candidate. The defeated swing the vote, succeeded in ac the world is maintained in con zer speaks on the Sino Japanese and independent shop But not Stalinist later proved to be a complishing his aim. Here it juction with the office.
for long!
racketeer, extorting money from should be explained that the fur are invited to drop in, read and War. Admi According to the terms of the workers, and as such he had to riers did not vote down the tax discuss.
Saturday, October 30, P.
Fur Manufacturing Assn. con be expelled both from the Com because they do not believe in a Cafe Idrott, Halloween Dance tract, any dispute that arises is munist Party and from the union strong union, or because they events for the next period is The following calendar of and Carnival. Admission 35c.
settled by an impartial chai only after repeated rank and file failed to realize the seriouness herewith announced: Sunday, November 7, P.
man. This Chairman is invari demands and in order that the of the situation, but because they Celebration of 20th Anniversary ably to be found acting for the might save face.
Sunday, October 10, P. of the Russian Revolution. Cafe regarded the 25 tax as too high Corinthian Hall, a Capitol Build Idrott. Admission 50c.
bosses. Further a business agent The second defeat of the Stal a sum under present conditions ing, 159 State: Erber, Gould, of the union is forbidden to visit inist administration was suffered in the trade. Secondly, the fur Glotzer speak on Youth and the Welcome Dance for Delegates Wednesday, November 24, P.
any shop to investigate com at the last local meetings, where riers argued, what has happened Workers Face New War. Ad to National Left wing Convenplaints without being accompan the furriers were supposed to to the money collected in the mission 15c.
tion. Cafe Idrott.
a New Headquarters in Chicago were