The things we take for granted today, and as part of American life, ideas were revolutionary when they began to demand in the thirties. We wanted to unemployment insurance; wanted aid for homes, hot meals in schools, and housing for the homeless who lived in the city dumps.
At the time, who had heard of the eight hours?, If a man had had an accident at his job, do you think your employer would have given a penny for it? Why would care? There would always be another poor to replace him. Even the idea of \u200b\u200ba union was a new concept worldwide. Nobody expected decent wages. The other, privileged, had been born up there. We were in the background. The idea that we had the right to strike was difficult even to imagine.
What could we do? What could a person, a woman who does not even reach five feet in height, to change the world? I'll tell
. It's a good story, because by that time we began to organize. Unemployed councils formed. Were spontaneous organizations of people and I want that I may know and help organize from the first day. I was involved in this activity before joining the Communist Party.
would open an office in the middle of the neighborhood. Arrive in the morning, prepare coffee, donuts and people would babble. Suddenly, another person come and say "Hi, how are you?"
"I just fired."
And you should hear the cry of "Hurrah! Another fired. Barbarian. "
We would look as if we were crazy. Why do we have to conclude that he had been fired? For it would mean that no salary, could not rent would have no place to sleep, nothing to eat. So why were we excited? We said "We are glad you're here. So we have a person to distribute the pamphlets. "
This was the way that made the terrible things that were happening to this man, and all of us in a productive action. Would take control of our lives. Would no longer be victims.
It's that simple. I used to wonder why people do not see it that way too. Can not fail. Basically, failure is impossible, since by being united, have changed the personal tragedy, the despair, this hopelessness, and have become a collective effort.
Our main task was to get a congressman to introduce a law for unemployment insurance. We circulated a petition door to door, for all parcels in the Bronx.
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A typical meeting like this: I and another person would enter the building and call on the first door that we find. Someone, usually a man, would open the door. Just an inch. Then, after ascertaining that it was not the landlord, would open at all. I would say "We are circulating a petition asking a congressman introduced a bill in Congress. We want unemployment insurance and we believe we can make the government grant us. Is there anyone without a job in this family? "
" Are you kidding? Nobody has a job in this family. "Or say" Most of us are unemployed, you work but expects to get fired at the end of the week. "
We said" We are also unemployed and want Congress to pass a law that or give us work or wages. " Do not believe it and said "Are you going to ask the government to give us money without working?" People did not believe that such a thing pidiésemos.
and answered "Yes, ask the government to give us employment. If you can not give us a job, you have to stay. " "But what you are asking is socialism." "We work or money."
we organized around our basic needs. We could talk easily with people because we were also workers. I always find it strange that people do not unite us. I used to think about this because to me the organization was essential. You will ask, perhaps, because I became a communist. But I used to wonder why the rest did not. Basically, I felt that those people who joined us had no confidence or the fact that we could change the system. Are saying "we are just poor people, what can we do?" Would hear this when we called at the door.
I, on the other side, he could convince them to fight their condition. He believed in this fight. It's everything you need to be an organizer. Believe in our power.
For example: We thought one of the things he feared the system was pissed off women. We wanted milk for children. So, we brought together twenty or thirty women. We would leave early one morning. We would go to the entrance of the Municipal District. Would demand to talk to a councilor. Each of us would take a child a stroller. Nina had three or four years, always came with me.
Who could forget such an image? There was a woman in a red sweater with the sleeves rolled up. Another with a headscarf. Faces with looks of determination. And the children, one with a blue cap that he had woven his grandmother. Nina had an open face with a cheerful look. And move forward together, first a step to the left, then another right. We sang, shouted: "We want milk. Milk for children. "
'd go down the street doing propaganda for the neighborhood councils. We asked people who approached and told them to bring in what that they could share. There was always something to eat on the boards. People would go, the would get to work in a pamphlet, the involve in a conversation. Being in contact with the street in those days, between hopelessness that you could imagine the impact that the Council on them.
Women organized to observe the price of food all the time. If an item became too expensive in a particular store, they put us on strike immediately. Again, we would return with the children in their strollers. Mount a picket line with the theme: not frequent this store. Charge too much for bread . These
strikes were successful. No cross our picket line.
The same was happening in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Harlem. In Harlem starvation was legion and soup kitchens could not supply people with enough food. From the Council used to move all we could to Harlem.
The struggle of people against their conditions is where you find the meaning of life. In the worst cases these units to other people. If you had five blocks, the particles in ten pieces and everyone ate well. If someone was twenty cents, went to the corner, bought some bread and brought it back to Council.
Life changes when you get together in this So when you join. Lose the fear of being alone. You can not solve these problems when you are alone. Become unbearable. When you are alone, face to face with the pattern he has all the power and your no. But together, we feel our strength, and we laugh. Who knew how it would start singing. Others would know how to dance. There we were, the unemployed, but dancing.
In those years I was happy. "Happy, you say? "With unemployment, evictions, high food prices? But that's how I felt. Why? In those years I became what would become my whole life. And this is the root of happiness, what else?
If you are an organizer and see the satisfaction of the people who are joining you feel accomplished. We were successful in our activities. We kept the prices down, lobbied Congress, we did that people were aware of their identity as workers, and we were winning the rent strikes
... At that point the Unemployed Councils were well known: our workers were everywhere , leading demonstrations, circulating petitions, talking at every corner. So we go to a building, present ourselves and would ask people to be organized. We said "While we are doing strike since then not pay the rent. Say that the strike lasts three months. These rentals will never be paid. "
People listened, the idea appealed to them. We promised we would fight the eviction and that we would help those who end up in the street. In those days you could walk down the street and see sitting on the sidewalk surrounded by families to complete furniture.
When a building was completely organized and ready to participate in the strike, we formed committees negotiating for tenants, we placed large banners in each window that gives to the street and rode pickets. In the banner could read: Strike rent. Do not rent apartments in this building .
The landlord, of course, would rather die than accede to the demands of tenants. So the strike had begun. We knew that someday send eviction notices. But I could never evict everyone. It costs too much.
the day of the eviction we would tell the men to abandon the building. We knew that the police were violent and give them a beating. Women who would continue in the apartments, with intent to resist. Put us in the fire escape and through a megaphone we'd head to the crowd who gathered under there.
In the Bronx you can reach a hundred people gather just by looking at the sky. As soon as the police began the eviction, acordonábamos the area and people gathered. The police put their guns on the rooftops, targeting people who was in the street.
We, meanwhile, we were standing on the balcony. I would lead the crowd in the street. "People, co-workers. We are the women of the unemployed and the police are evicting. Today we are. Tomorrow will be you. Prepare and see. What is happening to us will happen to you. We have no employment. We can not buy food. Our rentals are too high. The sheriff has brought to the police to take away our furniture. Are you going to let this happen? "
Sometimes we'd head to workers who had been hired to take the furniture:" I speak to you men who have come to bring you the furniture of unemployed workers. Who are you? You, too are workers who have accepted this job just to eat. Do not blame. You are of us. Represent the Council of the Unemployed and yesterday afternoon we made a collection. We have enough money to pay. How will draw by evicting an unemployed worker? "Five dollars? "Six dollars?. We have the money. Come here without the police or the sheriff and I will pay. Look to the officer standing there. Are you working? Let him do his work. "
Arengaríamos. We could see the men faltered. Would continue: "We women are here with the furniture to be evicted. The hot water in our kettles. The doors are closed. Do not let go. "
Often, the workers would come anyway. Our doors were closed but the break. We were behind the doors, with the pots. Grab a cabinet on one side and we would grab on the other. And both would throw away. Meanwhile we would say "Here's the money. Let the furniture. "
Some would catch the money and leave. Other times they would launch the hot water. Others would beat us. And then run to the fire exit, clutch no megaphone and shout to the crowd: "We are sticking. They are great and we are sticking. But we will not let it move the furniture. Can not beat us. We will win. "
sometimes outraged by so much fighting and screaming, would remove the furniture from the apartments but would leave on the landing. That was a victory. We would be there waiting to return the men and then return to take them inside. I would change the lock on the door and the landlord would have to put a new eviction notice. Call the sheriff and everything will start again.
Our struggle was successful. Rents fell, evicted families returned to their apartments, landlords would leave us alone. Sometimes we lose and end up in the street furniture. Immediately cover them with canvas to prevent food spoilage, and then would hold a mass meeting in the furniture, using it as a platform. We were expecting him to leave the police. As soon as he went, people carried the furniture and took them back into the building. Would break the lock, would place the furniture, you'd install a new lock, and the landlord would have to go through the same procedure again.
In two years we had the control of rents in the Bronx. So things were done then.
Rose Chernin, 1949.
