From International Press Correspondence, Vol. 3 No. 51 [30], 19 July 1923, p. 532.
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Our struggle for the united front in the trade union movement aims at the re-establishment of trade union unity. This must be made clear to all communist organizations. Here we have obstacles of two different natures to overcome: on the one hand, the resistance offered us by the reformists, who sabotage all unity and are anxious to expel the revolutionary elements from the trade unions at any price; and, on the other hand, we encounter resistance from a section of our followers, who are of the opinion that they should remain for ever in the independent revolutionary unions which necessity compelled them to form.
With regard to the resistance of the reformists, this can only be overcome by the utmost activity of the Communist Parties within the trade unions. Today it is no longer possible to paralyse the whole opposition in the trade union movement simply by expelling a few communists The opposition has increased to such an extent, it has adopted so many different forms, and it comprises such large numbers of workers of the most diverse tendencies, that it is no longer possible to set it aside. The reformist leaders themselves have given up all hope of suppressing the opposition, but they continue to try and disorganize it. This object is served by the expulsion of individual comrades, of groups, of whole organizations, and by the bureaucratic pressure exercised by the trade union leaders. The reformist leaders, otherwise so enthusiastic for democracy, would like to transform the trade unions into barracks. They throttle any initiative among the workers, and, in pursuit of their reformist policy, carry their centralism to such a pitch as to deprive it of all proletarian democratic character. The history of the German Labor movement during the last few years shows that the heads of the trade unions have violated even the most elementary principles of labor organizations. They are opponents of the class dictatorship of the proletariat, but, in place of this, they are in favor of the personal dictatorship of the bureaucracy, regardless of the wishes of the masses, it is therefore our task to oppose these tendencies by reviving the initiative of the workers organized in trade unions. We must awaken their energies, we must force the bureaucrats to pay attention to the opinions and wishes of the working class. Every question of interest to the working class must be discussed in the trade unions. The ossified bureaucrats must be compelled Io account regularly for their actions. The more the masses participate in the life of the trade unions, and occupy themselves with the solution of urgent questions, the more the possibility of splits and expulsions is removed.
The struggle against schism, and for trade union unity, must be carried further, into the factories and workshops. The very broadest strata of workers must be drawn into the struggle. We must not close our eyes to the danger which still exists. The more the opposition in the trade unions increases, the more the reformists incline to a split. They are willing to risk the life of the working class rather than acknowledge their defeat. The number of expulsions has somewhat decreased of late, for the reason that the expulsion of the revolutionary elements aroused the dissatisfaction of the masses. At the present moment the trade union bureaucrats have adopted another line of action; they are trying to reach the same goal by another route. Here, as elsewhere, the Communist Parties must hold fast to the rules laid down by the last Congresses: No concessions to the splitters, exposure of the bureaucratic machinations, and a determined fight against them. Trade union unity despite the bureaucracy!
As already mentioned, we have also to combat the opposition of a section of our own party comrades in our struggle for trade union unity, These are the comrades who would rather live alone in their little unions than participate with the reformists in great common organizations. The split brought about by the reformists in France, in Czecho-Slovakia, and in a number of other countries, has generated such intense hatred that it appears to be absolutely impossible to remove this. We must remember that our comrades in France acted correctly from the very beginning in giving out the watchword of trade union unity. No doubt, the "Committee for Trade Union Defence”, and the Frossard Party, composed of all sorts of odds and ends, shriek the same watchword to the world. But the workers are not in the least impressed by these shrieks. They see that all these speeches of intellectuals are purely platonic in character. On the other hand, the systematic struggle carried on by the C.G.T.U. for trade union unity, and its constant efforts towards the formation of a united front, have extraordinarily increased the respect fell for this organization by the masses, and have at the same time drawn to it the attention of the bourgeois reaction.
In Czecho-Slovakia the revolutionary trade union federation has hitherto carried on no such systematic agitation for the restoration of unity, and this is a decided error. In Czechoslovakia, just as in other countries, the working masses passionately desire unity. If the communists do not seize the initiative, it will pass into other hands. The International Trade Union Federation of Czecho-Slovakia, and the Communist Party of Czecho-Slovakia, must draw the attention of the workers of their country to the question of unity. In a country where the national struggles penetrate even into the ranks of the working class, the struggle for unity is of peculiar importance; for only by unity will it be possible to emancipate the working class from the inheritance bequeathed to it by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and by reformism. The Congresses of the Communist International and of the Red International of Labor Unions have carefully considered this question, and corresponding resolutions have been passed; but, unfortunately, the principles on which our tactics are based have not yet sufficiently penetrated the minds of all the followers of the Communist International and of the Red International of Labor Unions. There are many excellent revolutionists who do not yet understand that the increase of our influence in the trade unions is entirely dependent on the energy and determination with which we carry on the struggle for unity.
Last updated on 2 September 2022