NORMAN THOMAS URGES ACTION FOR CLEAN AND AGGRESSIVE UNIONISM
Norman Thomas Urges Action FOR Clean and Aggressive Unionism May 9, 1934 I Norman Thomas, Socialist national leader, has sent the following letter referring to the pocketbook union and...
...Committee of Labor to Probe Affairs of Local 308 I a J Following a series of critical events in Local :i08, Retail Grocer) Clerks' Union, a committee of th< labor movement will investigatt charges brought against Samuel Heller, chairman of the finance committee, by members of tht union, will probe other charges and will bring in suggestions for aiding and improving the union...
...general organization of the whole cannery industry...
...It is further alleged that he has spent something like a million dollars in his comparatively short administration...
...and that a vigorous compaign would be conducted to enlist all pocketbook workers wdio are Socialist Party members in the league...
...that the two remaining members of the finance committee work under ¦ the supervision of Brother Tigel *of the United Hebrew Trades...
...Plans are being vigorously pushed for organization work at the Chicago Campbell" plant and for...
...Norman Thomas Urges Action FOR Clean and Aggressive Unionism May 9, 1934 I Norman Thomas, Socialist national leader, has sent the following letter referring to the pocketbook union and the movie operators' union situations to the Labor Committee of the party in New York: To the Labor Committee, New York Local, Socialist Party...
...This wasldenied by the league and party reeoWs corroborate the statement that Kbsininan is not a Socialist Party member...
...We assure you that our membership is greatly appreciative of your efforts in helping us fight for a better life...
...that the resignation of Samuel Heller as chairman of the finance committee be accepted pending in• vestlgation of charges against him...
...The entire situation in the union requires further investigation, and every possible effort to strengthen the rank and file in their fight to make their organization a genuine and aggressive labor union and not a racket...
...that the Socialist League would continue to carry on, through regular legitimate trade union channels, the fight against the placing of Ossip Walinsky in a position of trust and power in the union, and that every effort would be made to enlighten and educate fellow unionists as to the danger to the union in reinstating a man who had proved' treacherous to their'interests in the past...
...Dear Comrades: I wish to be of any assistance that I can to your committee in two labor union matters of much consequence...
...The workers then hired the auditorium in the Forward Building and elected a committee of twenty-five to appear before their executive committee and present demands for immediate reinstatement of the business agents, calling of a membership meeting and the impeachment of Samuel Heller from his position as...
...Although there were never more than 000 dues paying members despite the very low scale of dues, 1247 workers voted for affiliation with the Cannery Workers' Industrial Union, most of those voting for the company union doing so as the result of bribes or intimidation...
...Cultural activity is doubly important in that it combines entertainment with propaganda and education...
...The young Socialist movement, which was so active in waging the militant strike carried on by the workers, can take credit for having been instrumental in building the first mass industrial union in the cannery industry in this country, One comrade (Miriam Morris, local YPSL organizer) earned for herself the soubriquet of the Red Menace among the police and deputized fascists masquerading as guards by her activity on the picket line and in scab-thwarting...
...When the rank-and-file members of the union heard that a meeting of the executive committee had been called, over five hundred of them gathered outside the office of the United Hebrew Trades at 175 East Broadway...
...An increase ia wages 'will be demanded, howei.W* BUILD YOUR UNION AND KEEP IT STRONG.' By Doris B. Preisler ST...
...The organization of the group in a measure supplements the local work so successfully launched by Rebel Arts through its dance, drama and musical sections, in stimulating the cultural expression of the Socialist and labor movement...
...The group which is said to be the first in the American Socialist movement to tour the country presenting propaganda plays before workers, will give its show before trade unions, unemployed organizations, college and liberal (dubs and party branches...
...chairman of the finance committee...
...We wish, to express our gratitude for the willingness of your committee to assist us in our struggle in unionizing the unorganized workers in our industry, supplying us with speakers and helping us in every way possible...
...Fraternally yours, NORMAN THOMAS...
...UNION GRATEFUL TO LABOR COMMITTEE The following letter has been received by the Labor Committee from the Celluloid, Catalin and Oalalith Workers' Union, Local 19,238: "Jack Altman, Secretary, Labor Committee, S.P...
...1. It is a serious blow to all labor standards to have the pocketbook workers' union restore Ossip Walinsky to any sort of power...
...Here is a union of something like 1800 members...
...They were courteously asked to retire...
...Not only has he not been cleared from the definite and unanimous judgement against him given by the trial committee of which I was chairman some years ago, but since then, according to the testimony of Comrade Hendin, chairman of your committee, he openly allied himself with the bosses in direct and specific action to defeat the workers...
...When they reported for work, however, on the same day, they were not allowed to go on the job and learned that in their brief absence Heller had been appointed business agent for Brooklyn and Wolchak business agent for the Bronx—and all this despite the fact that Manager Wolchak had been charged with incompetence and his removal recommended by the executive committee and that Heller had been charged with very grave offenses against union ethics in sworn affidavits lodged with the Labor Committee...
...So great has been the interest roused by the league's light for a (dean and militant union that a number of unionists tried to get into the meeting who were not party members...
...POCKETBOOK UNION MEMBERS DECIDE TO PUSH FIGHT At a meeting Wednesday night of the Socialist League of the Pocketbook Workers' Union (party members who are members of the union), the following decisions were arrived at by a vote of the members after full discussion: That any Socialist Party membed who had not carried out the decisions previously made by the league would he held to strict accountability...
...In criticizing the present administration of the union, we need have no sympathy whatever with any remnants of the Kaplan folowing that may be left or with any ambitious and self serving elements in the union which attacked Sherman only to get power for j themselves...
...It is not at present growing in strength and power...
...TRAVELING LABOR THEATRE WILL PERFORM MAY 30 The premiere performance of the Traveling' Labor Theatre, sponsored by the Young People's Socialist League, will he given at the Washington Heights Labor Center, ll.'IO St...
...Fraternally, Henry Yasncr, Chairman of Executive Commit lee...
...Sherman's election, but again the fact that he was elected raises some questions as to the nature of labor standards...
...Last Monday, a meeting of the executive committee of Local 338 was called, together with a committee of the United Hebrew Trades, consisting of Finestone, Tigel and Guskin...
...The avalanche started about three weeks ago, when, Heller's charges of incompetence against Samuel Wolchak, union manager, were backed up by the union's ex ecutive committee anil were supposed to be submitted to a meeting of the membership...
...that a committee from-the labor move ment take up the charges against Heller and investigate all other charges made and bring in suggestions for improving the union...
...Already it is charged that (he company is chiseling on its agreement...
...After a great deal of discussion the executive committee adopted the following proposals upon the recommendation of the outside committee: (1) That the business agents be immediately reinstated...
...Sherman, like Walinsky, was a man who had gone over from the service of the union to the service of the employers...
...MASS INDUSTRIAL UNION BUILT IN CANNING INDUSTRY CAMDEN.—Details of the settlement whereby the Campbell soup strike was ended are not yet available, but the union has hidd its lines firm...
...Attention was caled to the misstatement contained in...
...These resignations, without going to the executive committee or to the membership, were immediately accepted by the officials of the union and the outside committee...
...The two business agents were advised by the Labor Committee to go on working until an executive committee or membership meeting considered their resignations...
...See NorDOVER, N. II.—No strike will lie called in ,the Pacific and other textile mills here, member...
...2. 1 want specifically to endorse the efforts of Socialists within Local 306 of the Motion Picture Operators Union to complete the job of housecleaning which was begun but emphatically was net finished when Kaplan was removed from office...
...Unlike Walinnky then' were no charges uyainsl hint when he lift the union...
...Meanwhile, serious charges against Heller were brought to the Labor Committee of the Socialist Party by business agents and other union members...
...Without such a membership meeting, an outside committee consisting of Denise, Eastern representative of the Internationa] union, and two other labor men looked into the matter, overruled the decision and decided that an accountant should he installed to investigate the condition of the union before final action should be taken...
...This charge did not prevent Mr...
...Nevertheless other unions notably one in Perth Ainboy ad, that time, it is alleged, charger...
...Now many of his expenditures were doubtless necessitated to clear up conditions left by his predecessor, hut he has made a very unsatisfactory explanation, so far as 1 can make out, of the nature of these particular expenditures and of their continuance at t(ie present scale...
...that a,n executive committee, consisting...
...There is a legitimate rank and file interest that should be built up and increased in the methods under which the union is conducted...
...of the Dover Independent Text.Ja Workers Union voting by a small majority not to go, out as originally I planned...
...I think the matter should he carried up to President Green and possibly to the executive council of the AFoL...
...Organizations desiring performances of the Traveling Labor Theatre are urged to communicate with Hanna Geiger, 7 East 16th Street...
...that Sherman when in the employ of the Paramount as personnel director had fought his own union in that city...
...He urged them to keep up (he strength of their union, their only protection in spite of NRA machinery...
...The union is holding a dance and entertainment at the Hotel ¦Claridge ballroom Friday night (May 1H) to raise funds for organization purposes...
...M. Meyerson, Secretary...
...Nicholas Ave., on May 30, at 8:30...
...When Louis Hendin, chairman of the Labor Committee of the party, who had been invited to attend, arrived, these workers broke into cheers and applause...
...If they do not have formal jurisdiction, at least they have in this case a chance to issue a condemnation of these tactics which ought to be of influence throughout the labor movement...
...You're making a good start, but it will be a long battle anil you must build a strong, permanent organization," Leo Krzycki, national chairman of the Socialist Party, told Chevrolet and Fisher Body plant employees at a mass meeting...
...His record was known when he was elected president of Local 1100 and was even used as an argument for him...
...The strike was called off after a complete shut-down of two weeks, when the company agreed lo rehire employees according lo their seniority and the number of their dependents...
...The original grievance was that, 18 men had not been taken back after the last seasonal lay-off, because of their union activities...
...The show will consist of thre labor plays, a labor puppet show, a mass recitation and group singing...
...the socalled Labor Union Sei'tion of the Communist daily, to the effect .that Charles Kleinmann, administration member who had supported the renegade's return, was a Socialist...
...kit Comrades Meyer, Mallin, Shore, Wcich, Laderman, Itubinsky and Pasick, should carry on the work of the league...
...He was supposed to know the employers and to he a good business man...
...In order to bring the entire situation to the attention of the whole membership, the two elected business agents, Hochman and Weisberg, offered their resignations for the consideration of the membership...
...These members pay from 12 to 20 per cent in dues and assessments...
...They support the president and chief organizer who in his combined job gets the appallingly large- saia,v „f $20,000 a year, a salary which completely removes him from the group which he is supposed to serve...
...LOUIS...
...It is idle to talk of class solidarity or the class struggle or the victory of labor if we cannot get among workers a very different set of standards from those apparent from by what has happened in the Walinsky case...
Vol. 17 • May 1934 • No. 62
