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Founding Convention A Success: National Workers Organization Formed

By VVAW

On Labor Day weekend in Chicago's Pick Congress hotel, 1,500 workers gathered for the founding convention of the National United Workers Organization. Veteran workers and young men and women of all nationalities came from every major industry and area in the country--from pineapple fields in Hawaii, from steelmills in New Jersey, from textile sweatshops in El Paso, from coalfields in West Virginia--uniting as brothers and sisters in a common struggle against a common enemy. There were workers present from every major strike line and struggle that has been waged in the US in recent times. This was the first time in several decades that a conference like this has been held.

Throughout the weekend workers exchanged experiences and discussed what kind of organization this will be, what its purposes are and what it will do. Many different workshops were held where auto workers, meat packers, garment workers and others discussed how to advance the struggle in each industry. Later workshops were held on major social questions facing the working class such as discrimination, organizing the unorganized and the threat of World War III. What became clear in all the discussion and experiences shared is that at every turn, in every aspect of society, the interests of the working class are different from, and opposed to, the interests of the class of rich owners, the parasites who do not work, but drive the working class like slaves and take the fruits of their labor.

People had come to this convention because they are fighters and because they see the need to get their battles better organized. They came to build a political workers organization--one that stands in direct opposition to the lies and attacks of rich bosses that run our society, one dedicated to fighting within the unions to pull them away from the sell-out big labor hacks like George Meany and restore them to the rank and file workers; an organization that--with local chapters in every major city--would unite workers across industry and geographic lines to hit together as one fist at every outrage, crime and injustice that the capitalist class tries to pull off.

Everyone recognized that the numbers of workers gathered to form the NUWO, though significant, were small in comparison to the millions of workers across the land; the task of NUWO members is to reach out to thousands more, concentrating its forces on the most important battles and fanning the sparks of struggle that arise into class-wide battles thereby growing in membership and influence.

To unite and concentrate the power of working people today, the convention united around two major campaigns--"Union jobs at union wages--No cuts in unemployment benefits" and "Building broad support for the miners in their upcoming contract fight." Other resolutions included fighting shutdowns and layoffs in steel, opposing union busting attempts in the meat packing industry, and building for a national Africa Liberation Day march next Spring.

An important high point of the weekend was when the delegates marched out of the hotel 1,500 strong in a militant demonstration against ruling class divide and conquer schemes and the threats of racist attacks against Black children being bused to less crowded white schools in Chicago. Buddy Cochran, the man who drove his car through the KKK rally in Plains, Georgia, and Tom Welch, indicted for "kicking the sheets out of the KKK" in Columbus, Ohio were both given tremendous applause when they spoke. Also given an enthusiastic reception was the solidarity message given by Al Canfora who had been a student at Kent State during the uprising against the Cambodia invasion and had been wounded by national guard bullets.

This two day convention forged a powerful working class weapon. If you would like to become a member of NUWO contact the National Office at 343 S. Dearborn, Rm. 1405, Chicago IL 60604--telephone (312) 663-4310.