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0. B. U. has only a crude and hazy knowledge of the tactics and functions of Industrial Unionism.

If a dispute cannot be settled by a local unit through its Grievance Committee, it must be referred to the Central Labor Council or District Board. Failing settlement here, it may be referred to the General Executive Board. The General Executive Board may refer a dispute to all the Central Labor Councils and District Boards, and if a majority of them vote in favor the General Executive Board is empowered to call a strike of all affiliated bodies.

2

However, "nothing in the previous clauses shall prevent any Central Labor Council or District Board from calling a strike in their own District or industry, provided, however, that any Council or Board calling a strike without the consent of the General Executive Board, does so on its own re3 sponsibility.

According to one report, the local industrial unit
The Central Council also has

has complete local autonomy.

4

"complete autonomy in its district, but it has no power to call a strike. Any local unit may call a strike of its members comprising that entire industry in its locality, by a plain majority vote, with or without the sanction of the local Central Labor Council. Should, however, a general strike be desirable, & fifty-five per cent majority vote of the units affiliated with the central council is

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4. The Voice of Labor, October 1, 1919, quoting from the Portland Labor News.

necessary."l

A most ingenious check upon officials has been devised.

To quote further, "Full control is maintained by the rank and file, by reason of a provision in the general constitution which calls for each delegate to maintain his credentials in good standing, whether he be sent to the Central Labor Council, to the General Convention, or elected a member of the General Executive Board.

"For instance, should the president of the General Executive Board prove unsatisfactory to the rank and file of the local unit of which he is a member, they can call in his credentials, which automatically forces him to resign. This course can be followed by the Central Labor Council with which his local unit is affiliated. Should the delegates there be dissatisfied with him, they can call in the credentials which they issued to him and which enabled him to attend the convention, from the floor of which he was elected to his po2 sition on the Executive Board.'

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The term of office is only six months, and a paid officer is ineligible for re-election unless his local unit issues fresh credentials.3

Since the spirit of decentralization is so marked, it is with surprise we read that at the recent convention "a decided antagonism to the I. W. W. was displayed during the debates."4 Possibly this is explained by the following

statement made by an I. W. W. magazine: "The O. B. U. of

1. Ibid.

2. Ibid.

3. Constitution.

4. Auto Workers' News, March 4, 1920.

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