Introduction
THE labor movement is undergoing a most intensive self-analysis. Changing conditions brought on by the war have upset traditions and old conceptions. New problems have to be coped with.
All social movements and organizations, including labor, find themselves forced to readapt their organizations, policies and tactics to meet these new conditions. The readaptations which labor is called upon to make in view of the changing conditions is a direct outgrowth of the role it aspires to play in the readjustment of modern civilization. Because labor's influence in the course of this social transition has been assuming larger proportions it finds itself confronted with many new problems. Consequently, the atmosphere in labor circles is surcharged with discussion of aims, policies and tactics that will best serve labor in fulfilling its historic mission. During such critical periods it behooves all thoughtful participants to re-appraise the past accomplishments of labor and gauge its future possibilities, in order to more intelligently determine on a mode of procedure that will enable it to realize its objective.
Those who interest themselves in the future of the labor movement should understand the underlying forces that mold and direct trade union policies They should know the part tradition, social ideals, leaders and members contribute in determining what course a labor organization should pursue. Similarly, they should understand the extent to which technical and industrial development of the trade or industry, and the nature of markets influence tactics and policies. Other forces must also be considered like strength of the union, strength of the entire labor movement, strength of the capitalist class, and the attitude and temper of the public.
Trade unionists who aim to serve the labor movement must know the relation of each unit in the movement, as well as the functions each is performing. They should be familiar with attempts to reform and transform the present labor movement and with what success those undertakings met. Likewise, they must know what can be expected from the auxiliary branches of the movement, like the labor press, co-operation, political action, and so on.
The active trade unionist is inevitably preoccupied with the pressing daily problems of his own organization so that he has little opportunity to keep abreast of developments in the labor world. It is hoped that this brief course of lessons may serve as an aid for stock taking by reviewing the historic as well as current trade union thought and practice with reference to fundamental policies and practices.
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