United Automobile Worker

Watch Conduct in Union Affairs

By WALTER HARDIN

Eloquent testimony for the need of greater clarity on the principles and politics of our International union, and the harm lack of clarity in policy invites into the ranks of our local unions, is manifest in an incident that arose in the course of an affair arranged by one of our local unions.

The incident in question was the refusal of the committee in charge to admit Negro workers among them, union members, to a dance held by the Chevrolet Gear and Axle local at Book Cadillac hotel last Saturday.

While important evidence in the case reveals a conspiracy on the part of the Reading anti-labor forces, and the enemies of the UAWA to particular, to get a 'case against' the labor slate, which is endorsed and supported by the UAWA, to be used in an attack against the union in Reading's campaign; nevertheless this does not excuse or justify UAWA members in violating one of the fundamental principles of trade union democracy and fraternity, to which our international union is pledged and bound by its consciousness of labor's needs, to carry out. The false rumors, slanders, and blackmail perpetrated against the UAWA by its enemies, and the enemies of its leadership are sufficiently numerous without any member of the union permitting himself or herself to supply a weapon within our own ranks, that the enemy has used, and will use to divide our ranks and strike us down.

Industrial administrative bureaucracy and its political counterpart that aspires to place reaction in the city hall, yearns to see the Automobile Workers of America once more, sprawled helplessly at its feet, dominated by the whims and hazards of the open shop, betrayed by the company unions, and if possible this time, bound by the "yellow dog" contracts. To this end a long range plan and policy and diverse methods of its execution, have been worked out. Any failure on our part to be vigilant is fuel to the fire of our enemies.

The next objective of our international is the organization of the Ford River Rouge plant. Just as the automobile industry was the strong hold of the open shop throughout the nation, the Ford Plant is the last retreat of that policy and practice. Hence the conduct of our union's affairs in the organized shop is of primary importance to the organization of Ford's.