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poison. The elimination of the left-led unions only weakened the labor movement. Anti-communism divides the ranks of the workers and diverts them from their real enemy, the monopolies. Notwithstanding the changes in the international situation, most top labor leaders still single out Communism as the main enemy of the workers. This was the nature of Hays' speech on Labor Day, Meany's remarks at the AFL-CIO convention, and Reuther's manner at the Khrushchev dinner. Only recently Reuther and Carey have once again indulged in the lie that CPUSA are foreign agents. One of the significant weaknesses nationally of the labor leaders has been to impede the full development of the Negro-Labor alliance. This is a most serious weakness because the American trade union movement cannot advance significantly without a solid Negro alliance. The Negro workers are in the forefront of every great struggle in the labor movement today. The coke open-hearth workers in steel, in large numbers Negro, are noted for their militancy. In auto the forge and foundry workers are in large part Negro workers. This area is noted for its militant struggle. The hospital strike in New York was another example of this.

The three basic decisions of the founding convention of the AFL-CIO have gone virtually untouched. The organization of the unorganized, especially southern organization. The shorter work week, and decisive independent political action, was abandoned in the name of keeping up with the Soviet Union.

The maintenance of undemocratic practices is the labor movement has had a deadening effect on the working class. It stifles membership activity and prevents the workers from organizing most effectively against the bosses. Whenever the labor leadership have deemed it important or have been pushed to enlist the members in struggle, such as the fight on the right to work laws, the workers have responded magnificently.

The expulsion of the teamsters from the AFL-CIO and the subsequent singling out of that union and Hoffa by Meany as the main enemy to the AFL-CIO, or the call to raid that union by Reuther and Carey was detrimental to the AFL-CIO as well as to the membership of the teamsters' union. One wonders whether Meany can recognize the main enemy at all.

The coming period is going to be one of the most difficult periods in the history of the labor movement. The present leadership must be made to lead more effectively in order to prevent further attacks and to move onto the offensive. The greater pressures from the membership are needed to exact this. The inability of the labor hierarchy to play a powerful, effective role in this period around the great issues of our time -- peace, Negro liberation, defense of working conditions and the union -- has led to a great extent to a certain amount of isolation from the American people. This has enabled the ruling class to push forward boldly on their plan to weaken the trade union movement as a powerful democratic force.

In this present difficult political situation the American workers have demonstrated time and again their utmost loyalty to their unions. They have indicated this graphically during the great Westinghouse strike in 1955 when the company instituted a powerful back-to-work movement which was crushed by the workers. It was demonstrated in 1958 when the UAW worked without a contract, without checkoff, and the men more than preserved the union and it is being demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt now during this steel strike. They are demonstrating in a most militant way, Negro and white together, that they are going to preserve their standard of living and their working conditions, despite the mounting attacks from the bosses. Today, coast to coast, one million workers are on strike or just returning. The steel strike was the longest in its history. To be on strike in 1959 with its high cost of living for four months indicates the highest form of guts and courage. This is a working class to be proud of. The sharp struggles in Henderson, N.C., packinghouse, Mine Mill, the Longshoremen in New York which forced their leadership to strike in unison with the Southern Longshoremen, the courageous hospital strikers in New York and the splendid labor day turnout in New York are all indications that the American workers will not roll