Red International of Labor Unions
Experiences of recent strikes in Northern France, the Ruhr, Lodz, etc., have shown that the reformists, when unable to disrupt the movement from the very outset, choose the most appropriate moment during the strike for strikebreakers to knife the fighting workers in the back. Taking advantage of their influence on a certain strata of workers, and knowing that the most passive elements will always follow those who propose ending the strike, the reformists systematically endeavor to disrupt one mass movement after another, and do so under the banner of socialism.
Usually, the movement is disrupted by means of negotiations carried on behind the backs of the workers, without the permission or consent of the strikers. That is why the adherents of the Profintern are faced with the task, before and during the strike, of carrying on an especially determined fight to have a general meeting of the strikers decide the terms on which the conflict is to end.
In all recent strikes, the strikebreaking tactics of the reformists led to a situation where the majority of workers returned to work (with the exception of the shipbuilders of Hamburg,) and the adherents of the Profintern were concretely faced with the problem of whether the struggle should or could be continued in those particular establishments, or in those certain districts where they (the adherents of the Profintern) still had the decisive influence. The continuation of the strike in the Vidzeff factories and in Alluen after the general strike had been broken in Lodz and in Northern France, was perfectly correct, both politically and tactically. Of course, striking under such circumstances is extremely difficult, as the workers’ strength is already shattered. The retreat effected by the strikebreaking social-democrats and the Amsterdamites demoralizes the ranks of the fighters, but nevertheless continuation of the strike in certain cases is absolutely necessary—otherwise all the strikes in the future will be disrupted by the systematic strikebreaking tactics of the reformists.
Continuation of the strike after the majority of the workers have returned, demands the utmost tenacity, exceptional solidarity, the highest degree of class consciousness, and inexhaustible energy on the part of all who remain in the battle. It is only under these conditions that it is possible, not only to carry on, but to win this partial battle.
Because some of such strikes (Vidzeff) have failed, the conclusion must not be drawn that such methods of struggle are incorrect. It is merely necessary to draw the conclusion that in similar cases the adherents of the Profintern must take special supplementary measures for the organization and mobilization of the masses thruout the country to aid those workers fighting on a small section of the socialist front.