Executive Board.-- A. Demos, J. Antonion, A. Holmes, S. Frey, F. Shultz, J. Anderson, S. Weiss, A. Mueller. Lunchroom Workers' Section. Secretary-Treasurer, H. Koenig. Executive Board. Bodak, Slobodjin, Jery, Pytlar, Greenberg, Wheeler, Budny, Koch, Salomkai. From all of the foregoing it is quite apparent that this Federation of Hotel Workers is in all respects a revolutionary organization based upon the One Big Union principle, having for its objective the establishment of a new social order, and the seizure of industry. It is also evident that its propaganda is calculated to stimulate the so-called "class struggle," and to point out the "Principle that the worker has only one enemy, that is, the boss." (See p. 3, October 5, 1919, issue of the "Hotel Worker.") CHAPTER IV Journeymen Bakers' and Confectioners' International Union of America The growing tendency to transform trade unions into revolutionary industrial unions which is being affected by diligent and continuous propaganda of Socialists, Communists, I. W. W. and other allied groups, is well illustrated by the record of a conference of Journeymen Bakers' and Confectioners' International Union of America which took place on October 25, 26, 1919, in the Labor Temple, in New York City. On the second day of the conference the record states: "At two o'clock Comrade Dieners called the meeting to order again. The credentials of the I. W. W. delegation were read. The conference decided to admit the committee and to allow it to take the floor for ten minutes. George Speed explained, as the speaker of the I. W. W. delegation, the objects of the industrial union which are recognized by the whole working class movement. There was no debate concerning this point. "Then a vote was taken on the resolution and the motion of Local Union No. 164, which was the most far-reaching proposals on point 5. (This point dealt with 'Our Attitude on the Question of the Industrial Union.') They were carried, in the following form: "Be it decided that the Journeymen Bakers' and Confectioners' International Union, as an independent organization, resolves to accept the principle of industrial organization but that it, at the present juncture, shall not join any existing industrial union. For the time being, the efforts of the union shall, on the main, be devoted to the organization of the bakery workers; as soon as this work is completed, the organization of an industrial union shall be started." (Page 4 of the official organ of the union known as the "Free Voice.") This was the first convention of this organization. There was a proposal to get in touch with the International Federation of Workers in the Hotel, Restaurant, Lunch Room and Catering Industry with a view to determining the advisability of merging with that federation in the organization of One Big Union for all workers in the food industry organized on an industrial basis. A committee consisting of August Burckhardt, secretary of the organization, Gus Ritter and Herman Gund, was appointed on behalf of the central committee. The report of this committee is printed in the February, 1920, issue of the "Free Voice." This committee had a conference with the Hotel Workers' Federation and summarizes the report as follows: "If a big union shall be formed it can be done only by the amalgamation of the two organizations at present existing, the Federation of Hotel Workers, and the journeymen bakers, which are closely related and are pretty similar also in their management and their kind of leadership. "It must be mentioned that this amalgamation once it becomes a fact will of necessity exert a great moral pressure on those separate unions which are still undecided- but which are considering the question. These unions feel that here is the only solution of the problem, but, as explained in the foregoing, there is still indecision in their ranks on account of certain antiquated notions." This report shows that progress is being made towards the organization of One Big Union along I. W. W. lines to control all the workers in the food industry in this State, as well as in a greater part of the country. The attitude of this organization toward other elements of the radical movement is further illustrated by certain resolutions which were adopted at the first annual convention above referred to. They were proposed by the general secretary, August Burckhardt, and unanimously carried. The first of these resolutions reads as follows: "In consideration that the New Yorker Volkszeitung,' the only workingmen's paper of the Germon tongue, always and fearlessly stands for the interest of the progressive working class in all its fights. "Be it resolved, that we indorse the editorial attitude of this newspaper to the full extent, and that we recommend to our German speaking members to regard the New Yorker 'Volkszeitung' as their official organ, and to work for its circulation among all workers of the German tongue." The text of the second resolution is as follows: "In consideration that our best friends and advisors are being martyrized by the capitalistic system, in the present period of worst reaction, and have been thrown into jail for long terms. "Be it resolved that the Journeymen Bakers' and Confectioners' International Union of America, assembled in its first convention, does everything in its power in order to open the gates of the jail to those comrades, men and women, and particularly to Comrade Eugene V. Debs." The membership of this organization on December 31, 1919, is reported in their official report as 4,621. A large portion of the membership is apparently German, the official paper being published both in German and in English. CHAPTER V Brotherhood of Metal Workers' Industrial Union In 1909, a split occurred in the International Association of Machinists and the disaffected group organized the Brotherhood of Metal Workers which has since been organized into an industrial union, having for its motto "The One Big Union for All Workers in the Metal Industry." The organization publishes a monthly paper entitled the "Metal Worker," edited by F. G. Biedenkapp, general secretary and treasurer of the organization; the associate editors are Stephen Bircher and Morris Sorkin. The organization's present headquarters are in the Rand School Building, 7 East 15th street, New York City. In the November 1919 issue of this paper there appears an article which states: "The long delayed plan for the amalgamation of all Inde pendent Unions within the Metal Industry is now being completed and will soon be submitted to the rank and file of the different unions represented in the conference now tak ing place. "Those present at the various meetings held represented either officially or unofficially the following organizations: "Brotherhood of Chandelier, Brass and Metal Workers' Union. "Brotherhood of Metal Workers. "Dental Mechanics' Union. "Engineer and Firemen's Public Service Organization. "Inside Iron Workers' Union. "International Association of Machinists. "International Tinsmiths' and Metal Workers' Union. "With a number of changes made in the Tentative Plan submitted by the Committee it appears as if the delegates were very well satisfied with their work up to date and they expect to complete it at the next meeting, which is to take place on Saturday, November 8th, at 2:30 P. M., in Room. 409, 7 East 15th street, New York City." |