Take It Easy, But Take It

This pamphlet is fascinating, but perhaps the real gems here are the preamble to the MWIU and the list of headquarters on the back page. MWIU were a militant communist organization. They were the marine section of the Trade Union Unity League who were directly affiliated with the Red International of Labor Unions (RILU). In the early 1920's the communist international's strategy was to form "red" communist run unions instead of trying to enter and radicalize existing AFL unions.  In the United States, MWIU set to work building a militant industrial union for waterfront workers. Most of their activity was in New York. They advocated industrial unionism exclusively and laid the foundation for the major surge in organizing in the mid 1930's with the formation of the Committee for Industrial Organizations. Most of the TUUL sections would transition into CIO unions. The MWIU helped establish the National Maritime Union (CIO), Likewise, the Cannery & Agricultur...

"The case was concluded on June 13th. After deliberating two hours the jury returned a verdict of guilty against all defendants on all 3 counts. The nine men were sentenced on June 16th. They are: Frank Spector, Los Angeles organizer for the International Labor Defense; record does not show that he was ever in Imperial Valley. Carl Sklar, Los Angeles organizer for the Communist Party; in Valley only a few times. Oscar Erickson, national secretary of the Agricultural Workers Industrial League; spent about two months in the Valley. Tsuji Horiuchi, Japanese citizen, secretary of the Imperial Valley Trade Union Unity League; Lawrence Emery of the Marine Workers Industrial Union; spent about two months in Valley. Danny Roxas, a Filipino, secretary of the local Agricultural Workers Industrial League; Eduardo Herrera, cement worker, Braulio Oroszco, carpenter, and Emilio Alonzo, agricultural workers; Mexican citizens. The first six men above wer...

"PARTY BUILDING IN THE NORTHWEST by Louis Sass, Organization Secretary, Northwest District In the Northwest the objective political conditions for the building of a mass Communist Party are extremely favorable. The struggle against reaction in Washington and Oregon has attracted large sections of the population to the progressive movement. The Washington Commonwealth Federation is broadening out more and more to include organizations and people holding various views on some political questions, but united on the immediate objective of defeating reaction and preserving and extending the much-curtailed democratic rights of the people. Labor rackateering, complete lack of democracy in unions dominated by the notorious Dave Beck, have created a genuine desire on the part of the majority of the members of the A.F.L. to do away with these practices and unite with the C.I.O. to represent a solid labor front against the lumber barons and Chamber of Commerce. The growth of the...

"Being fully aware that the conflict between capital and labor grows with intensity from time to time and tends to work disastrous results on the working millions unless we combine for mutual protection and benefit, and realizing fully that the struggle to better our working and living conditions is in vain unless we are united to protect ourselves against the organized forces of the employers and exploiters of labor, and Knowing full well that the old craft and isolated local forms of trade union organizations are unable to defend effectively the interests and improve the conditions of the workers, THEREFORE, WE, THE WORKERS ENGAGED IN THE CANNING, AGRICULTURAL, PACKING AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES form an organization which unites all workers in our industry on an industrial and democratic basis, regardless of age, sex, nationality, race, creed, color or political and religious beliefs, and pursues at all times a policy of aggressive activity to improve our social and economic c...