Communist industrial policy new tasks for new times

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COMMUNIST

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TRIAL

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THE COMMUNIST PARTY of GREAT BRITAIN ■
1 6 KING STREET : CO VENT GARDEN ^ W C 2 g

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Communist Industrial

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Foreword

The sub-title "New Tasks for New Times " aptly
expresses the spirit of the following statement o^n Com-
munistTndustnal Policy.

Standing firmly upon the declared policy of the
Third Communist International the Party in Great
Britain at the same time must endeavour to meet the
problems that face it as they are presented in tll^
country.

_ The reader is accordingly reminded that a Commun-
ist Industrtal Policy— like every other phase of Com-
munist activity— is not an unalterable statement of an
idealistic objective. It is an examination of the laE^s
before us and the guiding lines to pursue. Such a
statement, however, is bound to partake of a general
character.

It suggests the recognition of the existing trade
unions as the Labour Organisations of the majority of
the masses and seeks to transform the unions from
bemg mere benefit associations into organs of revolu-
tionary struggle. The following statement is neither
tinal nor complete. It is a general guide to our atttitude
to the great Trades Union n^^^vement, and indicates
now the Communists and revolutionary workers must
tackle the problems of union organisation and activity
1 o-day the rivalry m the unions is becoming acute, and
the union bureaucracy prefer splitting the unions rather
than be subject to revolutionary influences within them

lo become the Party of the masses the Party
cannot ignore the unions. The character of the
struggle . they are compelled to wage becomes in-
creasingly revolutionary, in spite of air the desires
ot the 1 rades Union bureaucracy to prevent it
i he,,, Communists must therefore join the unions

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But the Communists must set themselves against
splits m the union movement. Whoever adopts
this pohcy of splitting the unions are weakening the
masses m their hour of greatest need. We must unite
the working masses i£ we would save them from further
defeats and disasters. There is therefore u|^nt need
^^\^''jy,^''^^^^^^^ to study weU the lines mdicated
in the following statement of policy and get busy right
away. Direct representation of the workers affected on
ail kx:al and national bodies and the strengthening of
Communist leadership locally and nationally, is the
urgent demand of the movement. We must have Com-
munist guidance Jor the workshop activities, Commun-
st guidance m the local branches of Labour Organisa-
tions and Trades Councils, Communist guidance 'in the
national activities of. the working cl&s towards the
consolidation of Labour's march tf the conquest of

§ I,,

rMnrS^T^r^'^^P^^^ONS TOWARDS AN
INDUSTRIALTOLICY FOR THE COMMUNIST
PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

mu'^f c^arfv''nn''f "^?^ ^°.'^' Communist International
work amoL.t X^V^^^'^^i^c^nd persistent Cominunist,
%orK amongst the masses of the proletariat

Particularly must this wotIc be carried on- in the
factones workshops, pits, railways, etc., ^d especiX

ees TradTuT'°''"r''^^ ''''^ ^^ *^ Works'coS
tees, irade Unions, Co-operative Societie'^ anrl ^n ^il
class-organisations of the workers ^"SJ^f ^^^^ all the
isations are a direct product of fh.I.^ ^^^^^^^
strugglewhich tlTw^S^^Si^ •: SS^fe^^^^^
against the systematic efforts of the eSovSl H.'^T

guard, of the proletariat iTSone se^sl^ tiie bSf'-
.s^tions of the ^KS^iS?^:^Lg=SS:,

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lions uniting all the workers m a. given branch of
industry. They not onl}- include the class-conscious
Coininunists, but all the backward sections of the work-
ing- class who have been drawn into the trade unions bv
virtue of their experiences with and the struggle's
against the employing class. The trade unio^ns repre-
sent a wider organisation uniting a greater mass of
people Uian the Party. Hence the principal task of the
Party is to win over the confidence and support oi the
majority of these masses to Communism, for without
their support the proletarian revolutio-n is impossible.
Iri other words, the Communist Party must become the
Party of the masses.

In-order to equip them for the suppression of capital-
ism, and for the triumph of Communism they must
initiate the form of unio^ns where these do not exist..
All voluntary withdrawals from the industrial move-
ment arici every artificial attempt to organise special
unions represent a great danger to our Communist
movement. Such acts play into the hands of the
reactionary leaders, and lea\'e the workers at the mercy
of the bourgeoisie.

Voluntary^ withdrawals or. the setting up of fresh
unions are only permissible when compelled thereto by
acts of expulsion of voluntary groups or branches on
account of Communist activity, or where a narrow-
minded aristocratic craft policy excludes large sections
of so-called unskilled workers. ,.„..

" The lukewarmness and theoretical indecision of the
masses and their tendency to yield to the arguments of
the opportunist leaders can be overcome only during the
process of the ever growing smuggle by degrees as the
wider sections of the proletariat learn to understand by
experience, by their victories and defeats, that human
conditions of laboui: are impossible on the basis of
capitalist production. And as the advanced Commun-
ist workmen learn through their economic struggle to be
not only preachers of Communism, but capable and
determined leaders, so will the Communists be able to
take the lead in the trade union movement and make of
it an organ oi the revolutionary struggle for Com-
munism. ^

It is necessary to bring home to the working class that

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-economics and politics- are closely connected. .That
there is scarcely' ah important issue to-day. affecting, the
trade unions, but also affects the political labour 'move-
ment and vice versa. The. cry of " Noj>olitics in the
iinion "-as a principle is fostered by - thccig-pitalists and
the reactionary leaders with .the object of ^3rej.udiQ.ihg
the working class against Communism. Tfaere cgin' be
no such thing as " neutrahty " on the political issue.'
This, the Communists must prove ins-ide the union
organisations by their untiring propaganda efforts and
examples from the daily struggle. Communist activity,
howeiyer, must be based upon the rebognised immediate
prdblems.before the working class, prior .to the conquest
of power. This involves a recognition of the tasks with
which the existing labour unions, seek to grapple. These
tasks are the immediate organisatioo of the workers on
an economic basis to fight for immediate improvements
in the conditions of labour. Ever)n^here the work of '
the Communist lies in formulating the concrete
demands of the moment, initiating action, and above
all seeking to transforin the battles of the workers for
better conditions into a conscious struggle for the coot
quest of power. But since the Party sedks to organise
the masses; aiid hand in hand with them go ft>rward to
the attack on iand overthrow oif capitalism with the
object of laying the foundations of the social reyolu-
tion, i.e., the organising of production on a sid^bialist
basis in the traiisition" to Commimism, Communists
everywhere must oppose the narrow craft' spirit and
support every movement towards the transformation of
existing unions into efficient Orgaiis of the struggle for
the suppression of capitalism and f or thp triumpih of
Communism. ^ ,./..,,,.

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OBLIGATION S OF PARTY MEMBERS IN
WORKS. FACTORIES; MINES, RAILWAYS ,
AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERT AIRINGS
GENERALLY: '

The paramount duty of Party members is to win by
their Communist activity, by exemplary conduct ana
courage in the workshop, the leadership of the organ-
ised masses for the Communist Party. The support of

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the masses ^an only be won by taking part in- the every-
day struggle^ of -the working class, particularly at their '
place of qcai^iipn-. In 'every 'matter that concerns the- ■
working clas^ffibv^^ver tdvial the question may appear,
no oppoi^gjgi^^'slifivilci ^'^e lost to give the Communist
le5i^^:]OT^ in this v;ay can we get close to the non-
class-cbnscioiis masses. By close identification with the
concrete demands of the workers, by formulating and
expressmg these demands- with the workers where they ..
are employed, the Communist will at the same time fi.nd
himself in a rnore- advantageous' ^fjosition for exposing
and fighting the reformist and reactionary leaders of
labour. While the attention of the workers and shop ,-
conmittees- •'is- slowiy being crystallised round the k
deiaaiid; for workshop control, this, it must be
explaineci, can Only be-, possible in the interests of the
>A^Hcei*s %h§€^ strong, hand of proletarian dictator-
ship- prblcee'f^'^^ to. the suppression of capitalism, and
towa.r^s. the Communist Organisation of society. For
the>^et^ive conduct of our. propaganda a Communist
mdu-sMal nucleus or group embracing the Party mem-
bers fherein should be established in 'every shop or
>vbrfcp, etcV Such Communist' rtudlei must not assume
tb'at %h^7 are works eommittees %■ the real sense of the
word. ,

Wotkshop. factory, "or pit eommittees embrace all or
the majority of thfe- workers m a given plant, including"
.^%-party workers- as well as party- members.

, They |ire wid'^r' organisations thin the Communist
nuclei . TH^y ^rise when coifditioris cofnpB the workers
— the-biaek,w'ard'-as Well as the advanced sections— to
foige ;the necessary weapons tq^fight against the t>ar-
ticular grievances. of capitalism whjch cannot be tadcled

by the: official bureaucracy bf the trade unions.

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, Tiie -Communist li^cleus has^a part to play in under-
taJ^ln> responsible -Wo^k ori siicK committees, .and lead-
iri^ tfiem in a cle,ss /defection. .Where no factoj-y com- ;
mittefis* exist, ti^e p^pt^ut^i^t nucleus must carry on a ^^
campaign in favour of -the establishment of such com-
mittees, but it must never assume itself, to be such a
committee. It must be borne in mind that the estab-
lishment of works or factory committees embracing all

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the workers in anyijone, establishment is becoming a
more difficult problem^ due to the growing Volume of
unemployment and the' ever presenjt^f ear of victimSation

follow iug.-. upon open activity m.tiie.wcarkshpp. 'THe timid
workers . shrink f roiii responsibility j.^d'l.'Jffierfiais^
scious workers are thrust into tlfejjcSc^iEfe^e njiem-

ployed. The Communists inside tS^^faK^ps''^st
not be daunted^ but must endeavour tt>--;iGi€et' all such
difficulties in a practical way. By accepti^ the duties
of shop steward, b^^ides helping, to fi^ht in .the labour
strug^es against the ei^ploying class> tliey will 'use that
position for carrying put Communist W0rk. • EVen
though some ' of the duties involved may- be:*distast;efui
to them, yet by accepting such positieins andby figliing
loyally on behalf of. their workmates on every questibh
'affecting their interests, they will liot only get the back-
ing 6f their fellow workers, but may ocGiigy ^ import-
ant place for Communist activity duriiig=- av^riod of
crisis. Where the principle of works committeeSrfOTms
a part of the structuire o| the labour unions, atlillltionai
protection is afforded%|)aose-^omniunists wHo in^yyi^^^^^
active on such committees by virtue of the :powef and
influence, of the enirM%, union, wliich can Tbe rallied in
defence of its. own Constitution in the event of asrattack
%y the employers. ' ■ '• " ■'

The main forms of Communist activity, in ,addition
to. the setting up of works committees are to assist the
workers, m their trade unions in th^ir- struggles against
the .employing class, to. initiate common action for
e-conomic improvement, and draw .the symp^ttbetis^ele-
ments in tlie shop towards Communist activity-.- This
ina;y be. done by verbal pr6|)aganda amongst tfife-Mdi-
.wr.ard workers by the distribution of all forms of ps^thf
literature, by meal hour' talks, and the.p.articipation' in
^yery form of orgaiiisation cbnneclrcd with WDiksiiof^
l^fe The eo-ordination of^all ,^l^op ja«clei and works
m^^^^ secured through their cij-m^tion with thelacal
Communist branch or leadiri^ paxty ^mmittee^^s &
responsible controlling body t^p^fli^ei^ii^ theindaistrial
clepartment of the Party. • ' - '^ ■

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.§111

OBLIGATIONS OF PARTY MEMBERS IN THE
.... TR.ADE UNION ORGANISATIONS.

Recognising-; the existing labour unions' as the mass
organisations. 6f the. proletariat, the task of the Com-
muriist Party in the trade union movement is that of
transforming $uch unions into revolutionary organs of
struggle.

It is, therefore, obligatory on all members of the
Co'iiununist Party to join the tra,de union catering for
their industry, participate in its daily activities, and
aid in the recruiting of the unorganised workers to tie
tinions/ Side, by side with; the .daily revolutionary
Communist work the activities of Party members in the
trade uiiipns, branch must take the direction of assum-
ing responsible positions. Communis;ts must not adopt
an atfifude of doetrinaire purity and hold aloof from
the activities of their trade union branch because that
;branch is under the domination of local yellow labour
leaders, or because the work , activities and demands
made by the branch are not always of a revolutionary
character, but may often be of a reformist nature. The
duty of the Communist is to take part in every petty
struggle in every local activity, seeking by assuming
responsibility to fight down ^he Opportunist and
reformist elements, and to wrest the. leadership for
Gomnaunism. No opportunity ■ should be lost to
emphasise the revolutionary nature of the struggle con-
fronting the workers. Communists working in their
trade unions must endeayour to utiHse every oppor-
tunity for discussion, and seek to extract the maximuih
practical value out oi m&ry daily'^^situation. Commiin-
ists who are trade uniop officials must remember that
the winning of official positions by Party members can
only be of value for Communism when Party members
holding such positions use them to the advantage of
the Party. --.

The main forms of Communist activity in the trade
unions are: —

(a) Participation by the working groups in all
braiich affairs in district committee and national
activities.

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(b) The org-anisation of. groups of sympathisers to

the Party for organised action,

(c) The promotion of aggregate meetings O'f the
■ union locally and nationally for the proper dis-
cussion of general industrial grievances, and
particularly the relation of these to the union.

(d) The org-artisation of the election of ^^»nmunists
as officials or union representatives — failing
Communists, then sympathisers to Communism
— ^either to positions on the local Trades Council
or to the Union or Trades' Conferences.

(e) The formation of a trade union press to counter-

act the capitahst newspapers and to distribute
Party literature,

(f) Active opposition to the narrow sectarianism' of

the aristocratic organisations, and the trans-
formation of the unions into revolutionary
organs' of struggle 'on the basis of industrial
unionism. •-

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RELATION OF COMMUNISTS TO TRADES

COUNCILS.

Trades Councils to-day in most cases in no way
organise the workers and prepare the masses. locally for
struggle. This is largely due to the absence of delib-
erative powers being vested in the delegates, and the
fact that in most cases the Councils are dominated by
reformist and' reactionary, leaders, who do not desire
any forms of militant action, but rather . oppose the
same. In many cases they are dominated fey the labour
leaders merely as a nieans to advance their personal
•progress towards municipal and parliamentary- posi-
tions. . '

Attention must therefore be given by the Commun-
ists to the Trades Councils towards revolutiohisihg
their character and makiiig them real organs of struggle
capable of mfassing the workers locally for conflict with
the employing class; For this purpose Communist
fractions must be formed on such bodies.
„ But'to make the Trades Councils real fighting organs
of the proletarian class struggle they must have some

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vital touch arvci contact with the working masses. This
can be best achieved by having direct representation
from the works committees, as well as from the trade
union branch or district committees of the unions. The
structure of the Trades Councils must be enlarged for
this purpose. The Communists ever}-where must seek
to gain control of the Trades Councils, and b}' ousting
the reactionary leaders, transform these Councils into
real councils of action, ready to fight every issue that
affects the workers, and with power to call die workers
into action whenever necessary for the defence or
advancement of working class interests. Experience
teaches, however, that it is not enough to declare a
strike. ■■ It is just as essential to be able to maintain the
strike when it is declared. Contact with the local
co-operative societies, therefore, provides a useful
method of maintenance, and direct representation from
the co-operative societies m conjunction with the repre-
sentatives of the workshop committees and trade union
branches with powers to take direct action would trans-
form the Trades- Councils from being mere hunting
grounds for political careerists into real industrial
fighting organs of the class struggle, capable of taking
direct action and at the same time ensuring mainten-
ance during such struggles.

For the better representation and organic contact
between localities nationally the Trades Councils
should have direct representation on the Trade Union
Congress.

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NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS •
CONFERENCES AND TRADE CONGRESS.

The question of Communist activity throughout the
national organisations and a common policy will be a
matter for the Party members in the particular unions
working through their .fractions in conjunction with the
lea^ding Rarty committees. It will be the. furiction of
I such national fractions to cq-ordinate the Communist
activities and organise the various groups for common
action during national congresses under instruction of
the guiding Party committee. The agendas of all con-
ferences should be discussed beforehand by the bloc

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:| ' -gfoups SO as to ensure a commo'n une oi aciioii. ic go<:;s
I , without saying that Party members are obliged to con-
• test the official positions m the national unions that are

f ' held by the enemies of Communism. Particular atten-
tion must be paid towards securing the election ot
Communists or S)'mpathiser5 to Communism as dele-
{ gates to the national conferences and to the Trade

.Union Congress.

As with the Trades Councils, so with tlie Trade
Union Congress. The latter must be transformed from
being a mere debating assembly into a real organ of
,' proletarian struggle under the guidance and leadership

of a real general staff. But to make the Trade Union
Congress a rqal council of action its structure must be
enlarged. It must be made up of —

(a) Direct representatives from the workshops on a
given numerical basis:

(b) Direct representatives from -the National
Unions.

(c) Direct representatives from the Trades Councils.

(d) Direct representatives from the Co-operative
Societies.

From these representatives a general council should
be elected, and from the council a small but real gen-
eral staff should be elected with deliberative and dis-
ciplinary powers to take direct action on matters of
vital concern for the working class. In all Communist
activities our object must ever be the acquisition of as;
much power as possible, to develop the ability to lead
the widest sections oif the masses in thd Comm'unist
direction, and organise them for the final! conquest of
power from the hands of the present capitklist class.

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RELATION OF COMMUNIST PARTY TO THEl
RED INTERNATIONAL OF LABOUR UNIONS.

Through the medium of the Internatibnal Lahotir
Conferences, organised by the capitalist govemment,
the Imperialists seek to divide the working class, and
to defeat the' efforts of the Communists to organise the
trade unions under the banner O'f the Red International
of Labour Unions.

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In this the go\^ernment are supported by the reacticm-

'ary yellow leaders, who act as tools m the hands of the
bourgeoisie, and by means of their Amsterdam Inter-
national lend strength to the designs of the Imperial-
ists. The Communists must utilise' their in-'fluence m
the branches of their respective organisations to win
them away from the influence of the Amsterdam Inter-
national, and to unite under the banner of the R.LL.U.

This work can be done progressisfely in the foUow-
mg manner: —

Utilising, through speakers to the branch, dele-
gates to the Trades Councils and to the '"Dis-
trict Committees every opportunity afforded
by these bodies to raise the question and press
the agitation for such a.ff!iiation.

By pointing out the designs oi the Amsterdam
Internatio'ital and its close association with
the capitalist governments, and securing the
adhesion of the branch to the Red Inter-
national of Labour Unions,

Putting all possible pressure on the national
executives of the unions for the same purpose.

The formation of Red trades unions committees in
any locality or district in no way cfevia^tes the n^^essity
of working through or seeking to capture Tra.des Coun-
cils or National Councils. Red Trade Union Commit-
,tees must not be assumed to be rival organisations
either to the works committees. Communist nuclei in
the trade union' branches or local Trades Councils. Nor
should the Central Bureau be regarded as a rival body
to the Trades' Congress, the immediate purpose of
such Red trade union committees is the task of securing
the affiliation of the trade unions and labour unions,
generally to the Red International of Labour Unjons,
and to make of them instruments under the effective
leardership of the Communists for the realisation of the
dictatorship of the proletariat.

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