ORGA~ISATION. OF LABOUR interests are. And their interests are identical, as against the employer and the system of exploitation. Consider .yourself how foolish and inefficient is the present form of labour organisation in which one trade or craft may be on strike while the other branches of the same industry continue to work. Is it not ridiculous that when-the street car workers of New York, for instance, quit ·work, the employees of the subway, the cab and omnibus drivers remain on the job? The mairu purpose of a strike is to bring about a situation that will compel the employer to give in to the demands of labour, Such a situation can be created only by a complete tie-up of the industry in question, so that a partial strike is merely a waste of labour's time and energy, not to speak of the harmful moral effect of the inevitable defeat. Think over the strikes in which you yourself have taken part and of others you know of. Did your union ever win a fight unless it was able to compel the employer to give in? But when was it able · to do so? Only when the boss knew that the workers meant business, that tqere was no dissent among them, that there was no hesitation and dallying, that they were determined to win, at whatever cost. But particularly when the employer felt himself at the mercy of the union, when he could not operate his factory or mine in 'the face of the workers' resolute stand, when he could not get scabs or strikebreakers, and when he saw that his interests would suffer more by defying his employees than by granting their demands. It is clear, then, that you can compel compliance only when you are determined, when your union is strong, when you are well organised, when you are united in such a manner that the boss cannot run his factory against your will. But the employer is usually some big manufacturer or a company that has mills or mines in vari0us places. Suppose it ·is a coal combine. If it cannot operate its mines. in Pennsylvania because of a strike, it will try to make good its losses by continuing mining in Virginia or Colorado and increasing production there. Now, if the miners in those States keep on working while you in Pennsylvania are on strike, the company loses nothing. It rnay even welcome the strike in. order to raise the price of coal on the ground that the supply is short because of your strike. In that way the company not only breaks the strike, but it also influence~ public opinion against you, because the people foolishly believe that the higher price of coal is really the· result of your strike while in fact it is due to the greed of the mine owners. You will lose your strike, and for some time to come you and the workers everywhere will have to pay more for coal, and not only for 67 Biblioteca G no Bianco
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