NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY EVANSTON ILLINOIS r—— Workers of the World Unite! The Constitution of the Red International o The American Labor Union Educational Society =j -flUT- ■" Published by THE VOICE of LABOR November, 1921 CONSTITUTION OF THE RED INTERNATIONAL OF LABOR UNIONS. The class struggle has now reached such a degree of development and acuteness that the working class, in order to successfully conduct and complete its strug¬ gle for emancipation, must fight as a solid revolution¬ ary class power, not only on a national but also on an international scale, against the bourgeoisie, who de¬ spite the severe competition on the world market, is closely united in its hatred of the proletarian revolu¬ tion and solidly welded against the slightest attempt of the proletariat to free itself from exploitation. Since the exploitation is international, the fight against it must have an international character. All interna¬ tionals of labor unions, which existed up to the pres¬ ent moment, at best were but international statistical bureaus for mutual information. The International Secretariat of Labor Unions before the war was merely an information agency, it did not pursue any militant class aims. The Amsterdam International of Labor Unions is even less fit to deal with the issues at hand than its. predecessor. The first was but an informa¬ tion office, the latter occupies itself with politics of the worst kind, with antiproletarian, bourgeois politics. It sets forth the idea^ of class co-operation, social peace and peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism. In its essence it is an international of counteraction to the struggle for emancipation of the working class. Against this international of impotence, confusion, sub¬ servience to the bourgeoisie, such, as the Amsterdam International is, we must oppose—an international bf revolutionary vigor, of class activity—an international which together with the Communist International will organize the working class for the overthrow of capi¬ talism, the destruction of the bourgeois state and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletâriat; an international which will seize all the means of pro- duction and establish the Communist commonwealth, Such a militant labor union international! can be built up only by revolutionary class unions, conscious of the purpose and methods of the defensive and offen» 1 sive struggle against the class enemy. The problem history has put before the revolutionary unions re¬ quires the utmost concentration of power, unexampled intensity and the greatest self-sacrifice of the con¬ scious vanguard elements of the working class. I. Name The international congress of revolutionary, class- conscious trade and industrial unions, which unites the revolutionary labor union organizations of all countries, decides to create a permanent international organization under the name: The Red International of Labor Unions. II. Aims and Purpose The Red International of Labor Unions has for its aims: (1) To organize the large working mass in the whole world for the overthrow of capitalism, the eman¬ cipation of the toilers from oppression and exploita¬ tion and the establishment of the socialist common¬ wealth. (2) To carry on a wide agitation and propaganda of the principles of revolutionary class struggle, social revolution, the dictatorship of the proletariat and revo¬ lutionary mass action for the purpose of overthrowing the capitalist system and the bourgeois state. (3) To fight against the corruptive ulcer, gnawing at the vitals of the world labor union movement, of compromising with the bourgeoisie against the ideals of class co-operation and social peace and the absurd hopes for a peaceable transition from capitalism to socialism. (4) To unite the revolutionary class elements of the world labor union movement and carry on decisive battle against The International Bureau of Labor at¬ tached to the League of Nations and against the Amsterdam International Federation of Trade Unions, which by their program and tactics are but the bul¬ wark of the world bourgeoisie. (5) To coordinate and regulate the struggle of the working class in all countries and organize interna¬ tional demonstrations each time, when the situation demands them. (6) To take the initiative of international cam¬ paigns about prominent events of class struggle, to 2 open subscription lists for the benefit of strikers in great social conflicts, etc. III. Membership Any revolutionary economic class organization is eligible to membership in the Red International of Labor Unions if it accepts the following conditions : (1) Endorsement of the principles of revolutionary class struggle. (2) Application of these principles in its daily struggle with capitalism and the bourgeois state. (3) Recognition of the necessity of the overthrow of capitalism through the social revolution and the es¬ tablishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat for the transition period. (4) Recognition and submission to the interna¬ tional proletarian discipline. (5) Recognition and application of the decisions of the Constituent Congress of the Red International of Labor Unions. (6) The rupture with the Amsterdam yellow Inter¬ national. (7) United action with all the revolutionary organ¬ izations and the Communist Party of the country in alj defensive and offensive activities against the bourgeoisie. IV. International Congresses. The International Congress of Revolutionary Class Trade and Industrial. Unions is the supreme organ of the Red International of Labor Unions. Congresses take place as often as possible—at least once a year. They determine the general principles, program, tactics and statutes; elect the directing organ and decide all the questions connected with the orientation of the Red International of Labor Unions. Extraordinary congresses are called by the decisions of the Executive Bureau or at the demand of organizations representing no less than one-third of the members of the Red Internationall of Labor Unions. All trade and industrial unions which accept the pro¬ gram and are following the directions of the Red Inter¬ national of Labor Unions have the right to send dele¬ gates to the congresses. The representation is distributed as follows: Every national organization of trade or industrial 3 unions, having less than 10,000 members, receives one consultative voice on the congress; national organiza¬ tions having from 10,000 to 25,000 members send one delegate with a deciding vote; from 25,000 to 100,000 members, two delegates with deciding votes; from 100,000 to 250,000, four delegates with deciding votes; from 250,000 to 500,000, six delegates, and for each additional 500,000 members one de'egaté with a de¬ ciding vote is added. International revolutionary class organizations by trades or industries have the right to two deciding votes each. Organized minorities in countries have the same rep¬ resentation, but all the organizations of a given coun¬ try affiliated with the Red International of Labor Unions make up a single delegation, inside of which the votes are divided proportionally to the member¬ ship of the respective organizations. Organized minor¬ ities and factions have representation on the congress only in the case when the general labor union organ¬ ization of that country is not affiliated with the Red International of Labor Unions. V. Organs of the Red International of Labor Unions The Red International of Labor Unions has two or¬ gans—the Central Council and the Executive Bureau. Central Council.—The Central Council is composed as follows: England. United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Czecho-Slovakia, Poland and France have two representatives each ; Russia has four ; all other coun¬ tries having more than 25,000 have one representative with a deciding vote ; countries having less than 25,000 have one representative with a consulting voice. Inter¬ national organizations by trades or industries have one representative with a consulting voice. The Central Council directs all the work of the Red International of Labor Unions from congress to con¬ gress; makes all decisions necessitated by the circum¬ stances; represents the Red International of Labor Unions before the whole world ; acts in its name ; gath¬ ers in its hands a!l the materials and documents related to the International Labor Movement; manages all funds including the International Fund of Militant Solidarity ; publishes papers and magazines in different languages; in short, is the organ invested with the 4 power to direct the Work between the world1- con¬ gresses. v The Central Council meets at least twice a year, dealing mostly with the clearing of questions of prin¬ ciples and leaving all current work to the Executive Bureau. The Executive Bureau.—The Executive Bureau con¬ sists of seven members elected by the Central Council, including two members of the country where the head¬ quarters of the Red International of Labor Unions is The Executive Bureau directs all the current affairs of the Red International of Labor Unions. It regulates the work of the departments and sections; publishes the official organs of the Red International of Labor Unions; represents the Red International of Labor Unions and the Central Council wherever and when¬ ever it is necessary ; and prepares all the questions for the sessions of the Central Council. The Executive Bureau meets at least once a week. VI". Unity of Action and Unity of Organization Minorities of general labor unions and of national centers affiliated with the Red International and sepa¬ rate organizations affiliated with it must coordinate all their actions. In case in a given country the gen¬ eral federation of all unions affiliates with the Red In¬ ternational, no other separate organizations can affiliate with it. The revolutionary organizations endorsing the stand of the Red International must join the gen¬ eral labor union organization of their country. VII. Funds The funds of the Red International are composed of regular dues paid by the national organizations affili¬ ated with it and of special contributions. The quota of the payments is established as follows: At least 1 per cent of the total income of the organizations which receive into their Gentral treasury 50 per cent of more of the membership dues ; at least 2 per cent from those organizations receiving into their central treas¬ ury 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the membership dues ; at least 3 per cent from those organizations receiving from 10 per cent to 25 per cent of the membership dues, and at least 5 per cent from those organizations receiving less than 10 per cent of the membership dues, located. 5 Üntil the creation of the necessary fund, all financial means wili be furnished by the general labor organiza¬ tion of the country where the headquarters of the Red International of Labor Unions is located. VIII. The International Fund of Militant Solidarity For the purpose of supporting the militant revolu¬ tionary struggle of the workers in different countries the Congress decides to establish an International Fund of Militant Solidarity. This fund is composed of special receipts and spe¬ cial collections and transfer to it of sums from the general fund. Fifty per cent of a'd the income of the Red International of Labor Unions are turned over directly to the International Fund of Militant Solidar¬ ity. This fund is disbursed at the disposal of the Executive Bureau, which gives regular accounts about the disbursements to the Central Council. IX. Connections with International Trade and Industrial Organizations The Red International of Labor Unions admits to membership not only general labor union organiza¬ tions by countries, but also international organizations by trades and industries. The Executive Bureau shall, create a special section .of trade and industrial organizations for the purpose of serving the needs of separate industrial organiza¬ tions and establishing closest possible connections with them. International trade and industrial organizations establish their connection with the Red International of Labor Unions through their special representatives at the International Congresses. X. Relations with the Communist International To establish close and unbreakable connections be¬ tween the Red International of Labor Unions and the Third Communist International, the Centra'» Council: (1) Sends three representatives to the Executive Committee of the Communist International with de¬ ciding votes and vice versa. (2) Organizes joint sessions with the Executive Committee of the Communist International for the dis¬ cussion of the most important issues of the interna¬ tional labor movement, and for the organization of com¬ mon action. (3) Issues, when it is warranted by the events, joint appeals with the Communist International. 6 XI. Relations with the International of Revolutionary Cooperatives For the purpose of coordinated action and mutual information the Central Council of the Red Interna¬ tional of Labor Unions sends a representative with a consulting vote to the executive organ of the Interna¬ tional of Revolutionary Cooperatives, as soon as it will definitely constitute itself. XII. Expulsion from Membership Organizations affiliated with the Red International of Labor Unions which by their action have violated the decisions of the congresses or do not obey the decisions of the Central Council can be expelled by the decision of the Central Council, on condition that the motion of expulsion must be carried by not less than a two-thirds vote. In case the violation is done by the centra1 organs of a given organization the Central Council of the Red International of Labor Unions must ca'»1 upon the membership of that organization to consider, in a special conference or congress, the dispute at issue between their leading organ and thd Red Interna¬ tional of Labor Unions. The question of expulsion is taken up by the Céntral Council only after the con¬ ference or convention of that organization had reached a decision on the question at issue. The expelled or¬ ganization has the right to appeal from the decision of the Central Council to the next international congress, which may endorse or annul the expulsion. XIII. Internal Structure The Red International of Labor Unions designated to direct the struggle of the proletariat and to inform its members of the situation in different countries must adapt its apparatus to the work it must perform. For this purpose the Central Council develops its apparatus by creating such sections and departments as shall be necessary. For the normal conduct of affairs and close contact of the Red International of Labor Unions with the labor union organizations of different countries, the Red International must establish monthly reports of all the organizations affiliated with it and periodical trips to the most important countries by the mem- 7 bers of the Central Council, especially in connection with the arising of big economic conflicts. XIV. Magazine, Bulletin and Information The Red International of Labor Unions is publish¬ ing its official organ in four languages (French, Ger¬ man, English and Russian) and a bulletin in the same languages. Besides those two organs for systematic information and ideological leadership, the Central Council of the Red International shall turn their atten¬ tion to the system of circular letters and visiting trips to organizations. XV. Auditing Committee The Central Council of the Red International of Labor Unions elect§ an Auditing Committee of three, which supervises the correct expenditure of funds and gives periodical reports to the congresses. XVI. Location of the Red International of Labor Unions The permanent location of the Red International of Labor Unions is decided by the congress. The time and place of the congress are designated by the Cen¬ tral Council. 8 What Every Worker Should Read The International Council of Trade and Indus¬ trial Unions, by A. Losovsky 10 cents The Role of the Labor Unions in the Russian Revolution 5 cents Proceedings of Red Labor International 15 cents The above may be had by forwarding twenty-five cents to the Book Department of VOICE of LABOR 2003 North California Ave. CHICAGO, ILL. THE VOICE «/LABOR A militant labor weekly that aims to serve the militant members of organized labor. Subscription, $2.00 Per Year THE VOICE OP LABOR 2003 N. California Ave., Chicago, 111.