LESSONS OF 'FRISCO GENERAL STRIKE
White, Samuel S.
Lessons of 'Frisco General Strike Resurgence of Life in Coast Labor Movement Seen as One Result Of Great Stoppage—Value of Political Action and Need For Workers' Own Press Emphasized By Samuel...
...There la pressing necessity for further appropriation* for public "works...
...Ryan declared that the I.LA...
...NoW organised labor has returned to the struggle with renewed vigor...
...The general strike committee of 500 or more laboring men and women, gathering on overnight notice, deliberated in a fashion and spirit that left no doubt in the mind of any...
...There was practically no violence on the part of the 100,000 men and women who laid down their tools...
...The general strike was the first effective challenge to the Industrial Association, the organized tool of anti-union, predatory capital in the Bay area, since the close of the World War...
...It has seemed to me, a* I see the resurgence of Ufa in the local Mb*r movement, that a giant has Jest awakened from a kmg sleep, stretching and exercising Ms be-( numbed muscles preparatory to deing the work that must be done...
...He will demand a wort...
...The mass of workers wanted a general strike, and they called it...
...This union has an agreement with the longshoreitaen's association under which an attempt is being made to unionize all employees in the freight-handling business on the waterfront...
...It has regained a vitality, a militancy, a feeling of strength and power it has lacked for many years...
...It teamed that gigantic^ economic efforts like the general strike, !l not doomed to failure are at least faced with almost uHSurmottiitable obstacles When the political power hs "in the control of the employing class...
...They foresaw the dawning day...
...An injunction first in the state and then in the federal courts will be sought to compel freight checkers working for the ship lines on the piers to serve all shippers, regardless of whether the men employed on the trucks* are affiliated with the union or not...
...Such appropriations #111 be a partial remedy at least for unemployment and for the relief of'the Independent unemployed workers and their families...
...The general strike, moreover, was a sehodjl in labor policies and tactics for those who "participated in the deliberations of the general strike committee and the activities of the component unions...
...President Ryun of the I.L.A...
...It was a testing ground for the old and the new in labor philosophies...
...dfr clared that the international unior would go to bat with employers at a meeting Wednesday at 2 p. m The other delegates are on their way back to their cities to consult with the membership of their local unions and will return by Wednesday...
...Workers will support to the full extent of their means the labor press, including the Socialist Press...
...Importance off Labor Press The San Francisco working class movement has had burned into its consciousness the importance of s labor press...
...PRGRESSIVE IN KNIT UNION WIN A clean sweep for the "progressives" was the result of the elections held by the two knitgoods locals affiliated with the Knitgoods Workers' Joint Council of the A. F. of L., Local 165, of the I.L.G...
...The Industrial Association used the Commission as a club to drive the unionized municipal street car workers baek to their jobs, the first break in the solid ranks of the strikers...
...the company union iiriroedlately after employees evidenced a desire to form a regular labor union constituted a violation of the NRA, the board found...
...Louie Nelson, the progressive group candidate for manager of the Joint Council, defeated Shapiro, candidate of the so-called "left opposition group," which works hand in hand with the Communists' dual "Knitgoods Industrial U n i 0 n." Nelson, hitherto chairman of Dressmakers' Union Local 22,1.LG.W.U, received 76% of the vote...
...The new administration pledges itself to fight to "enforce the gains of the last general strike, to serengtnsn Ua, union and to drive ahsejd tot a*tba workers...
...W.U., and Local 155, of the U.T.W, including about 7,000 workers in the kintting and the manufacturing of knitted outerwear garments...
...They win never again be in San Francisco and neighboring cities the same docile wage slaves that they were...
...The labor relations board had ruled that a seoret"election be held after the failure of federal mediators to settle the drift rentes between the marmgement and members of Federal Labor Union No...
...If labor takes the lessons of the general strike to heart it will begin at once to build for the final conflict between capital and labor which is inevitable...
...There was no stopping that sentiment...
...The mopt important gain of"ths general strike, and one that cannot easily be evaluated, is the restoration to labor of its self-respeet...
...The sentiment for a general strike was in the air for several weeks prior to its calling...
...In an endeavor to break the held of the Truckmen's Union on freight at the city piers, the Newark and Brooklyn Chambers of Commerce are planning to institute legal action...
...The general strike threw the class struggle into such naked form that even the most ignorant or conservative trades unionist could clearly see it, and with the realization of the never-ending struggle between organized capital and organized labor, the exploiter and the exploited, came the consciousness that labor must fight its enemy not in small craft groups, but in large industrial units...
...JWS45 of the A. F. of L. The labor board held that the Kohler company bed violated secHun: m of the national Industrial recovery act in interfering with thw "free And unhampered" organization ol workers...
...test 011 whether the majority group shell let as bargaining agent for ell employees or whether the Kohler company can deal with two or more groups, including* the companyorganised 'Kohler Workers' Association...
...The general strike itself was indicative of a new spirit among the workers, for it welled up from the very depths of the rank and file...
...Will you vote for a measure providing that all codes under the National Recovery Act should contain a thirty-hour week and sixhour day...
...agreement...
...The shipping magnates refused to accede to demands for $1 an hour straight time and $1.58 overtime instead of 85 cents an)] $1.20, respectively, and a thirtyhour week instead ef a forty-fourhour week...
...Labor can truly claim that it won the general strike, for it came out of that magnificent demonstration of solidarity much stronger than it entered...
...A DECISION to stand pat 01 *^ their demands for higher ws get and a shorter work-week wa made by a committee of delegate of the International Longshore men's Association (A...
...No more will the Industrial Association have things its own way, as was generally true prior to the general strike...
...He is a member of the California State Executive Committee of the Socialist Party and Socialist congressional candidate in the fourth disttict, San Francisco.] | SAN FRANCISCO.—It is be[coming increasingly evident that !the San Francisco general strike ! marks a gigantic step forward i for the Jaior movement of that area and the entire Pacific coast...
...The American Federation of Labor, therefore, has prepared a number of questions which are being submitted to all candidates...
...Shewed lobor's Miejht The great united stoppage which turned a teeming metropolitan area overnight into a group of overgrown villages bereft of traffic, whirring mills and busy stores and offices, gave the workers a taste of the power that can easily be theirs, if they will but consciously organise to obtain it...
...Walter J. Kohler, former Republican governor, founder of this "model" town, member of the NRA code compliance authority for heavy industries and president of the strike-locked Kohler bath fixtures company, whose thugs killed one striker and wounded others, now denies the authority of the national labor rotations board to award collective bargaining rights to the majority group of hie employees...
...Ten commercial organizations in the port district complained recently to Dock Commissioner John McKenzie that the checkers, affiliated with the International Longshoremen's Association, had held up the freight of scores of shippers when truckmen were unable to prove they were paid-up members of the Inter'l Brotherhood of Teamsters...
...Cooperating with the longshoremen has been the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs and Helpers in efforts to consolidate all transportation workers along the waterfronts...
...It was not strange, therefore, (Wat oh the very day after the Strike was called off a representative 'of the Longshoremen's Association shouid introduce a resolution in San Francisco Labor Council, Which met with a great deal of'approval, calling for'establishment of a labor daily in the city...
...The letter sent by President Oreen to candidates for the 435 House and 35 Senatorial posts follows : "We are receiving requests from every Congressional district in the United States for legislative records of candidates for the United State* Senate and House of Representatives on measures of interest to labor...
...Meanwhile the matter is of interest as showing that labor is at least aware of the importance of political action and knows how representatives should vote when they get to Congress...
...The letters are sent pursuant to the federation's "elect your friends, defeat your enemies" "non-partisan" policy, which has met with so much criticism from workers alive to their political interests...
...It is therefore particularly significant that the American Federation of Labor meets this year in San Francisco, the city of the general strike...
...of the industrial and even of the general strike...
...At the forthcoming A. F. of L. convention it is expected that the question of launching an independent political' party of labor, favored by a number of recent union conventions, will be raised...
...Will you support legislation simile* to the Wagner-Connery Labor Dispute bill with amendments drafted and supported by the American Federation of Labor ? "Will you support legislation providing appropriations necessary for a public works program as a aner lor nwepinoeeit uiieuiaiuyeu Kohler Defies Labor Board KOHLER, Wis...
...A questionnaire Is enclosed in each letter...
...The present pact ex piles October 1. The workers' del egates represent 40,000 stevedor, in ports' extending from Hamptoi Roads, Virginia, to Portland, Me Deep sea and inter-coastal shii lines are affected...
...And moat of all, workers will begin at once to build their own political party, the Socialist Party, pledged to the emancipation of the working class from the-chelae whteh WsmT'H hs the »i ham.....of the ia>eells#s...
...Even the Wbhic Utilities Commission, which governs the unionised Municipal Railway, which organized labor itself established a quarter of a century ago and which it has stanchly defended against the attacks of bankers and utility interests down to this day, was found at the time of crisis to be in the hands'of he enemy...
...It reestablished itself as a force to be reckoned with in the industrial life of the communities that surround San Francisco bay...
...will continue to stand by the Teamster's Union...
...The board gave Walter Kohler five days in which to agree to comply with its ruling What it will do in event of continued defiance is problematic, but based on past experience, workers expect only that the Blue Eagle will be withdrawn...
...The horrors of petious Winters should not be perttrtteed to continue...
...There Would have been a different Story "to tell had labor controlled the city government and the state government...
...The firm's activity in organising...
...Posed Candidates are asked to answer the following questions: "Will you vote for the extension of the National Recovery Act lad retain therein Section 7A, providing for the right to organise and bargain collectively...
...Very truly yours, "WILLIAM OREEN, "President, American Federation of Labor...
...This was no strike engineered by the leadership above or stirred up constitution, of the American Federation of Labor...
...Carried to its logical conclusion, the increasing belief that industrial must replace craft unionism may remake the American labor movement...
...F. of L union) meeting in New York Wed nesday ufter having presents these demands to representative, of the New York Shipping Asso ciation for inclusion in a new !abo...
...Revolt Against Finance The strike itself was a disciplined orderly uprising against the financial influences that control every phase of our present day society...
...8, International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union...
...QuOstten...
...The workers will begin at onee to organize themselves industrially into strong, solid unions...
...it also demonstrated to the workers themselves their potential might and gave them a brief, passing vision of what the working class can do when it organises fully, on the political as well as the industrial field...
...LABOR QUIZZES CANDIDATES ON THEIR POLICIES CANDIDATES ot all parties for the United States are in receipt of letters from the American Federation of Labor asking their ttand or various industrial questions...
...What violence there was came as the result of the raids of police and vigilantes on working class headquarters...
...Will you support "legislation similar to the Wagner-Lewis bill introduced in the last session of Congress providing for unemployment Insurance...
...In both locals the entire "pregressive" slate was elected...
...Cites Need tor Program "Then there will be a social justice legislative program presented to Congress which will provide for old age pensions, unemployment insurance, work security and health insurance...
...STEVEDORES STAND PAT ON WAGE AND HOUR DEMAND...
...Practically every unionist who spoke on the floor of the general committee agreed that the day of craft strikes is at an end...
...And thus While the strike, a magnificent example of working class solidarity, served notice on the nation's exploiters that labor can and will fight back when it is pushed to the wall...
...In order that we can give the 108 national and international unions, forty-eight State Federations of Labor, 900 city central 'bodies and 80,000 local unions the necessary information I am herewith submitting to you six questions which I hope you will answer and return to me as soon as possible...
...WH1 you support social justice legislation providing for old age ¦pensions, unemployment insurance, work security and health protection...
...Organized labor, it has been unfortunately too true, has been lethargic in this area for more than, a decade, ever since the building trades unions were defeated by the industrialists in the post-war "dpen shop" drive...
...Lessons of 'Frisco General Strike Resurgence of Life in Coast Labor Movement Seen as One Result Of Great Stoppage—Value of Political Action and Need For Workers' Own Press Emphasized By Samuel S. White [Coiwade White \s manager of Cloakmakers' Union, Locul No...
...Ryan is now m Washington to confer on codes affecting harbor services, such as towing and tug operations...
...He was a delegate from that union to the San Franeiteo General Strike Committee, and sat on the executive committee of the strike committee...
...The downtrodden workers,' kicked around for these past years by the organised indusrVfarfsts, found that they still possessed manhood enough to dump their oppressors off their backs...
...the prohibition of child labor and the elimination of unfair trade practices...
...believer in a Workers' world as to the ability of the working class to govern itself and the nation...
...Vote of Politicle action And finally, labor learned the value of political action...
...The capitalist papers with their headlines designed tt 'stir up strife among the unionist.' and to Inflame pubhe opinion against the Strikers, were damned on every Bide as the hying tool of the ruling dues...
Vol. 17 • September 1934 • No. 96
