The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 23, 1925, Page 8

The Mass Lockout in Denmark - IX weeks ago 50,000 workers were locked out. On the 22nd of April the struggle was extended: by the ad- dition of 100,000 fresh workers. Prac- tically all the factories are at a stand- still. This is the greatest struggle in the history of the Danish working class. And this situation has arisen in spite of the fact that the trade union bureaucrats and the social dem- ocratic ministers did everything pos- sible in order to avoid the struggle, in spite of the government arbitration commission, which did its utmost to maintain peace, and in spite of the fact that the arbitration proposals on the part of the highest authorities in the Central Trade Union Federation and the Employers’ Federation were accepted. The first negotiations regarding the prolongation of the collective treaty were commenced last autumn. The policy followed by the employers was that of waiting in order to see the effect of the Dawes plan, in order thereby to be able better to judge the competitive capacity of Danish in- dustry, and then to take a definite at- titude in the spring on the expiration of the treaty, but at the same time to make use of the preliminary negoti- ations in order to judge the attitude of the trade union leaders, OM the secret minutes of the sit- ting of the executive committee of the Employers’ Federation, which fell into the hands of the Communist Par- ty of Denmark, it was to be seen that the employers were not inclined to en- ter upon a decisive struggle in order to reduce wages, as they very much fear- ed “meeting with resigtamce on the part of the workers which they would not be capable of overcoming.” The Communist Party immediately called the attention of the workers to this favorable situation, and called upon the trade unions to put forward their demands accordingly. In spite of this the president of the Metal Workers’ Union, . A. Hansen, at the fitst negociations ‘intimated that he was prepared to accept a prolonga- tion of the old treaty on the basis of a wage regulation according to the in- dex of prices and an increase of the minimum wages which are too low for the metal workers. The Communist Party put forward the following demands: a considerable increase of wages beyond the price index, factory councils, summer vaca- tion, and securing of the eight hour day by increased rates of pay for over- time. A number of trade unions adopted these demands. The executive of the & No Miracles in Truth. To the DAILY WORKER:—Some- times when I read your paper and see things about lack of prosperity in, this country, I wonder where you are getting the news. For one never sees it in our daily sheets, tho I seldom waste my time on them. However, the editorial in The Na- tion of May 20, confirms past articles in your paper, and would recommend its quotation in’ yoyr columns. Its heading is “We Are A Bit Worried.” trade union federation, however, did not put forward any joint demands on the part of the workers nor lay dowm any common fighting tactics, but left this to individual trade unions, This of course, could only lead to shame- ful compromises. HIS lack of fighting spirit on the part of the trade union leaders, these strenuous attempts on the part of the social democrats to maintain peace at any price, rendered the em- ployers arrogant, and this arrogance was still further increased by the fact that at the decisive moment the Trade Union Federation put forward as a basis for negotiations the demand that wages be increased according to the price index and, in addition, a further increase of the lowest rates of wages only. In order to compel the workers to drop their wage demands, the em- ployers put forward the demand for a general reduction of wages by 10 per cent, accompanied by the threat of a whole lockout, After weeks of negotiations, an ar- bitration proposal was submited as regards the union of unskilled work- ers, which numbers about 80,000 mem- bers, according to which they would be granted a 30 per cent increase of wages on account of high prices, whilst the workers in the metal in- dustry would not receive a penny in- crease. When the federation demand- ed time in order to convene a con- gress, this was declared to mean non- acceptance of the arbitration proposal, and 50,000 workers were locked out, among them being members of trade unions who had already concluded new treaties. Fresh wholesale lock- outs were contemplated, with the result that isolated sympathetic strikes were declared as counter- measures, In this situation the Communist Party called upon the workers to take up a common struggle and demanded the convocation of the trade union congress in order to organize the struggle by the general strike, and in addition demanded unconditional sup- port on the part of the social demo- cratic government. iS ppathonwesa were immediately and accepted by the workers in a numbor of trade unions and met with en- thusiastie approval in many workers’ meetings in all parts of the country. | eget of the congress, however, a conference of so-called “represen- tatives” was convened, which rejected the communist proposal regarding the convening of the congress and the calling of a general strike and can- stituted a tragi-comedy, as the con- ference was only intended to cover a ers, and are inappreciative of your efforts to educate them. Your classes, where you are endea- voring to train workers for militant class conscious agitation, are com- mendable: Your efforts to give facts in your paper and omitting trash, are laudable. Of course, trade union con- troversies are at times nauseating, but I presume you are compelled to repell their vicious acts copied from parlia- mentary fillibustering carried on in our legislatures by our paid and hon: ored officials. Let every, worker tell you what he knows, and we will soon know a lot.— A Reader, Detroit, Mich. Socialist Party Local Dead. To the DAILY WORKER: new ‘manoeuyre. of the trade union leaders. Behind the backs of the workers, the executive of the Trade Union Federation negotiated with the employers and the arbitration commit- tee, with the result that a new arbi- tration proposal was worked out, This proposal was at first rejected by the employers, whereupon the BEx- ecutive of the Trade Union Federation in order to demonstrate the will to peace of the workers. This was done. The employers thereupon calmly ac- ‘cepted the proposal, but with thé pro- vision that if the proposal should be rejected by even one trade union, the lockout of all the workers would come into force and the 50,000 workers al- ready locked out would contniue to starve until everything was settled. The proposal, however, made no provision for hjgh prices, either for the unskilled or the skilled workers in the metal industry. Whilst the pro- posal was recommended by the presi- dent of the metal workers union, it was very energetically opposed by the president fo the Workers’ Union (union of unskilled workers) Lyngsie. It is worth remarking that although Lyngsie is an old social democrat and out and out reformist, he still retains some of his proletarian class feeling. N a ballot being taken, the metal workers rejected the proposal by a small majority, and this was only due to to the very energetic agitation on the part of the Communists. In spite of the fact that Lyngsie was in the minority on the executive of’ his union, he nevertheless succeeded, sup- ported by a fairly strong communist fraction, in rejecting the proposal with an overwhelming majority at the congress of the trade union. Five smaller trade unions, who had receiv-+ ed a 3 per cent increase on account of high prices, accepted the proposal. The 7 trade unions which rejected the proposal represented about 110,000 workers, whilst. the 17 trade unions accepting it represented only about 30,009 members. Thus the majority of the workers, refused to accept de- feat, and the C. P. has started a re- newed campaign for the extension of the demands and for the fight. The tremendous increase in prices and the growing unemployment forced the Danish workers to put forward their demands for higher wages, and the workers believed—and the major- ity of them still believe—that “their own government”, the Stauning Minis- try, could be an important point of support in the struggle. But the workers are being disappointed. The English branch for the past three, years. Yesterday I received a letter from a former member of Local Muscatine, Towa, Socialist Party which tells of the demise of same (which is all O. K. wit hme), and I hope you will punish the letter as I. received it which speaks for itself. = Yours for the DAILY WORKER, Lee W. Lang. see Muscatine, Iowa, May 11, 1925. Dear Friend: Will drop you a few lines to let you know I still exist. Am cutting buttons now, but am thinking of fishing and shelling this summer, but don’t know just what I recommended the conference to ac- cept the proposal for tactical reasons _etters From Our Readers By KARL V. JENSEN (Copenhagen) most important task of the social democratic government up to now has been to stabilize the Danish valuta, that means, to stabilise the capitalist order of society at the expense of the workers. For this purpose a law was passed in January which imposes fresh burdens of taxation, both direct and indirect, while a pre-requisite for the carrying thru of the stabiliza- tion of the valuta was the limitation of the purchasing power of the ‘work- ers, in other words wage reductions, and that “law and order” be main- tained. was for these reasons that the trade union bureaucrats did not wish to fight and that the social demo- crats did everything possible in order to preserve “law and order”. It was for these reasons that the social demo- cratic ministers everyday urged the workers to have regard for the inter- ests of the whole community. There must be no disturbance of the. econ- omic life of the country; there. must be no difficulties placed in the way of the government. In order not to disturb the peace of the Stauning Min- istry it is the duty of the workers to continue peacefully at work even if they only receive starvation wages. The social democratic ministers who are so much concerned with the in- terests of the whole of the commun- ity, are greatly excited because their party comrade, Lyngsie, threatened a transport strike, which would hit the export of agricultural products. and shake the whole economic life of the country. a HE fighting spirit of the workers however, is increasing every day. At a full meeting of the executive of the Copenhagen trade unions—com- posing about 2000 workers—the com- munist, speakers met with applause and a fighting speech by Lyngsie re- ceived an ovation. The meeting de- clared that the demands must be ex- tended and that the workers canot show regard for the community, but only for their own class interests. The communist demand: Trade union con- | gress and the general strike, extraé- © ted the promise from the president of the Trade Union Federation that the trade union congress will be called in the first week in May. The Communist Party of Denmark is confronted with the enormous task of convincing the Danish workers that the social democratic policy leads to defeat on the trade union front and that the victory of the workers is only possible if they abandon this policy. The Danish workers during the last few weeks have begun to think over this. will do. Well, Lee, I guess the local has blowed up. The last meeting we had there wasn’t enough there to call a meeting, so that is the last I have heard of it. Even the members ain’t interested in it enough to attend the meetings. It’s enough to digust the devil if there is such an animal. Did you hear about Joe Miller, the mayor, who is reported to be a K. K, K.? (Miller was a socialist alderman for a@ number of years). I suppose your folks told you about it. Sunday I drove my Lizzy to Wilton carrying six passengers with me and then 1 drove over to Moscow (Iowa), and back home again, As ever your friend, Charles Haney. Madison Pharmacy INC. BETTER DRUGS Light Luncheon Served 1154 Madison Street, Corner Ann OPEN DAY AND NIGHT Four Phones Chicago j