THIS is a big day in the Podolsk machine plant. For several weeks flaming banners, stretched along factory and club walls, hanging from rafters above the machines, have called, "All out to the Trade Union Elections!" Eleven thousand workers, in their section and department meetings, have thrashed out their union's work and leadership, this past year, written up their suggestions for their wall newspapers, drawn up their plans, and, finally, chosen and instructed their delegates to today's conference, where the annual elections of the factory committee will take place.
The factory band plays revolutionary airs as the delegates, six hundred and forty-two in all, gradually fill the ground floor of their club auditorium. Walls and stage are hung with banners, in the galleries are several hundred who have come to listen in on the proceedings.
Our old friend, Andree Budnikov, is one of the delegates from the foundry. We spy Jack's red head among the youth. There are many familiar faces among the mass listening with dose attention to the report of the trade union secretary, Comrade Buklov. No one interrupts him, yet it is clear, that his listeners are not satisfied with his report. True, there have been several successes during the last twelve months, like the opening of the new foundry, the building of apartments and barracks in the new workers' town, and the completion of the factory's large dining hall which will serve, when running at full capacity, some twenty-five thousand hot meals a day.
Put why does Buklov dwell on this? What about the other side, the tasks that still lie ahead? Surely he knows that things are not going as they should with the production of "Number 31," the new industrial type of sewing machine; that many union members are behind in their dues, clamouring for more nurseries, and the union committees in some departments have gone to sleep on the job! Why doesn't he practice more self-criticism bring forth his proposals on how to meet the problems uppermost now in every worker's mind?
Well, Buklov is a good fellow, and has done his best. His job has proven too big, for him. It is clear that he must go back to his machine and another worker more fitted for the post be chosen in his place.
There are other reports and greetings: from the chairman of the regional metal union to its Podolsk local, from the factory committee's control commission on the audit of union books. Comrade Kleminson takes the platform. As the delegates see his solid frame, clothed in his familiar khaki outfit with belted jacket and high boots, his black eyes alert, gleaming at them, they lean forward. This is going to be more like Kleminson, hard-working, capable secretary of the factory's unit of the Communist Party, has the confidence of every worker, both Party and non-Party.
He speaks quietly, yet his voice carries easily to the farthest corner. "Comrades, we have come here to practice real bolshevik self-criticism of ourselves and our union work this last year, and to find the means of doing better work in the next." One after another, he takes up problems, making his points in a direct manner. Soon he comes to production. "In our struggle to master technique, to place our plant on a hundred pet cent efficiency basis, we've made much progress. Is it enough? Only about sixty per cent of the plant has gone over to the new wage system. And what about the quality of our products? Yet we know every sewing machine we turn out is a propaganda weapon for us, for socialism--good or bad.
"When a machine works well, the village woman using it says,'Aye, there're good workers for you. We'll have to match them.' When a machine works badly, breaks down soon through some fault in its make, what then? The peasants say,'Yes, you tell us to do our work on the collective farm as well as the factory workers. What sort of example have they set?' "
This strikes home. In his report to his department each delegate will repeat this to his fellows: we want better and more products from the farms: it's up to us to furnish them with more and better machines. In that way, everybody's living goes up. It's up to us, the workers, to show the peasants in practice how to build.
Ivan Semenov, a small, wiry man speaks with animation. "This is direct worker's criticism I'm going to make, straight from the bench. In our department, organized a short time ago, where No. 31 is produced, things are far from good. We're short of materials and measuring instruments. We lack enough skilled hands. Above all, the work is poorly organized. This must be changed. Everybody knows these industrial, machines--the means of production--are our most important work. Why should women, stay at home, sewing on foot machines, when we can free them for industry, develop more clothing factories, and meet the demand for machine-made clothes? Workers on No. 31 want to turn out bolshevik machines, without defects, and our full quota. We say to the union, Party and factory administration see that we get the help necessary to do ~this. Then you'll find what can be done."
Anna Krasinova's hoarse voice rushes across the hall. "Is our union paying enough attention to women workers? Why, hasn't the factory committee seen to it that the new nursery is open long before this? We got to have more places to put our kids."
Questions written on countless slips of paper are passed forward to the platform, for the factory committee go read and answer. A factory committee member, from he department of technical propaganda and workers suggestions, challenges: "Do you know that damages and waste in the factory amounted to neatly two million rubles! With his sum we could build six more dormitories. Since the November holidays," he continues, "absences from work have increased. Is this the way to fulfill our program? Union mass work needs to be strengthened. About seven hundred taking part in the club's cultural activities: that means many departments have only a few who join in."
Criticisms and demands come, hour after hour. The conference continues through another evening, so that all who want to take part can do so. Resolutions giving the union's program for the coming year, are adopted and the factory committee elected; consisting of forty-nine men and women workers, eight of whom are freed for their term of office from work at the machine. In Buklov's place is elected a fitter, Peter Sergeyev. After supper in the new public dining hall, delegates return to the club auditorium to see a Moscow troupe present Armoured Train.
On the way home we two Americans agree that this has been a real experience for us in working class democracy. Certainly unlike any A. F. of L. union meeting or convention had ever taken part in! In them the fakers had always put the lid on discussion, railroaded through their slate, and tried to browbeat or throw out any who dared criticize or bring forward good programs.
But then, as my companion comments, this is at business unionism as promoted by Green and Woll, but unionism with a clear, working class purpose.
Before us still glows the scarlet runner which had hung over the club stage: "Our Trade Unions are Training Schools in Communism."