Organizing Methods In The Steel Industry (Unabridged)
Jun 20, 2022
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This podcast explores strategies and tactics for organizing work in the steel industry, focusing on progressive forces, trade union democracy, inclusivity, and discipline. It discusses the importance of self-reliance and support from other workers, as well as the need for self-criticism and flexibility in organizing tactics. The podcast also explores methods such as publicity materials, media platforms, and mass meetings for successful organization campaigns. It emphasizes the role of active workers and organizers in individual recruitment efforts and highlights the importance of organizing different groups of workers, including skilled workers, black workers, foreign-born workers, and youth.
Collaboration of progressive and left-wing forces is crucial for successful organization of steel workers.
Trade union democracy and involvement of as many workers as possible are key principles for building a successful union.
Deep dives
Importance of Progressive and Left-wing Forces in Organizing
The success of organizing 500,000 steel workers relies on the collaboration of progressive and left-wing forces in the labor movement. These elements possess the necessary vision, flexibility, and courage to confront the powerful opposition of the steel trust and its capitalist allies. Right-wing reactionary forces, represented by the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor, are not capable of organizing the steel workers due to their sabotage and obstructionist attitude.
Emphasis on Trade Union Democracy
The organization campaign must be built upon the principles of trade union democracy. It is crucial to involve as many workers as possible in the leading committees, organizing activities, and the overall workings of the union. By fostering democratic participation and systematic mass involvement, the goal of building a successful union can be achieved.
Industrial and National Scope of Organizing
To effectively organize the steel workers, the campaign must encompass all categories of workers in the steel industry, transcending just skilled workers. Simultaneous and energetic organizing efforts should be conducted in every steel center, rather than sporadically in individual mills or steel centers. A comprehensive and wide-reaching approach is necessary for successful organization.
The Necessity of a Fighting Movement
The organization campaign in the steel industry needs to be a fighting movement. While utilizing political institutions and individuals to defend the workers' rights and interests is encouraged, it is crucial to understand that relying solely on capitalist politicians to organize the steel workers would be a mistake. The probability of establishing a union and securing worker demands lies in a great strike led by the steel workers themselves, with support from other workers.
This is an unabridged audiobook-style reading of William Z. Foster's 1936 pamphlet 'Organizing Methods in the Steel Industry,' the first known how-to guide for organizers. In the years following the violently-busted 1919 steel strike, of which Foster had been a lead organizer, steel organizing in the USA had ground to a halt. After the signing of the National Labor Relations Act by President Roosevelt, a new generation of organizers were ready to give it another go and Foster shared what he had learned through the previous failed drive, carefully politicizing the courses of action that would be required in order to achieve union militancy.
Reading by Megan
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