WILLIAM Z. FOSTER

In 1927 the Russian Communist Party changed its position regarding the world union movement. Prior to that the Communists would not organize unions competing with already existing trade unions. Foster was one of the communist leaders who was the strongest advocate of this solidarity of the working class. However, after years of preaching one thing, he reversed himself. This type of adherence to party discipline led to him getting a derogatory nickname. See {592421}.

Unlike many socialists who were pacifists and against WWI, Foster and the communists were supporters of the war against fascist Germany, This was one of the reasons that Nazi Germany was virulently anti-communist later.

Ironically, this view was also held by many of the capitalist “Captains of American Industry” who believed that all unions were revolutionist regardless of the views of the union’s membership or leadership. Even today, there are some who still equate trade unionism with communism and revolution. The majority of the unions and the left never believed that, but the extreme communists and extreme capitalists did than and some do today.

The devastating and disillusioning effect of The Depression on the middle class brought a new kind of recruit in droves to the Communist ranks. The Party was used to attacking the middle class and its values not appealing to them. The party workers were blue collar and now thousands of professionals with their work styles and value system entered the ranks. These new communists were better educated, more independent, better read, and less ideological than the Party was used to. They joined quickly and quit the party if there was something they didn’t like. So they were received by the party loyalists ambiguously.

To this day, historians debate whether Foster actually believed that statement or just used it as a ploy to discredit the AFL and other labor groups who the communists then considered their foes.

The devastating and disillusioning effect of The Depression on the middle class brought a new kind of recruit in droves to the Communist ranks. The Party was used to attacking the middle class and its values not appealing to them. The party workers were blue collar and now thousands of professionals with their work styles and value system entered the ranks. These new communists were better educated, more independent, better read, and less ideological than the Party was used to. They joined quickly and quit the party if there was something they didn’t like. So they were received by the party loyalists ambiguously.

In 1927 the Russian Communist Party changed its position regarding the world union movement. Prior to that the Communists would not organize unions competing with already existing trade unions. Foster was one of the communist leaders who was the strongest advocate of this solidarity of the working class. However, after years of preaching one thing, he reversed himself. This type of adherence to party discipline led to him getting a derogatory nickname. See {592421}.

To this day, historians debate whether Foster actually believed that statement or just used it as a ploy to discredit the AFL and other labor groups who the communists then considered their foes.

Unlike many socialists who were pacifists and against WWI, Foster and the communists were supporters of the war against fascist Germany, This was one of the reasons that Nazi Germany was virulently anti-communist later.

Ironically, this view was also held by many of the capitalist “Captains of American Industry” who believed that all unions were revolutionist regardless of the views of the union’s membership or leadership. Even today, there are some who still equate trade unionism with communism and revolution. The majority of the unions and the left never believed that, but the extreme communists and extreme capitalists did than and some do today.