Conference for Progressive Labor Action

American political organization (1929–1933)
American organization

The Conference for Progressive Labor Action (CPLA) was a left wing American political organization established in May 1929 by A. J. Muste, the director of Brookwood Labor College. The organization was established to promote industrial unionism and to work for reform of the American Federation of Labor. It dissolved itself in December 1933 to form the American Workers Party.

The CPLA was established by a group of activists in the trade union movement at a convention held in New York City on May 25 and 26, 1929. Those uniting into a common organization at the founding conference included the professional staff and activists of Brookwood Labor College, a workers' education society; the editorial staff of Labor Age magazine, a radical monthly; and members of an array of independent trade unions. Muste outlined a program for militant progressive union activists in the pages of Labor Age, a New York monthly with which he was closely associated. A new organization was sought to advance a radical agenda for the trade union movement, including the organization of the unorganized into industrial unions; exposure of the conservative, pro business National Civic Federation with which conservative AFL leaders collaborated; and the development of "a labor party based on the mass organization of industrial workers." A convention call was issued for a gathering to be held over the weekend of May 25 and 26, 1929, in New York City. The gathering was attended by 151 delegates, representing 33 unions in 18 states. The constitution adopted by the founding conference, referred to as the CPLA's "Organizational Plan", specified that the purpose of the new group was "to carry on research, educational work, and agitation among the workers, both organized and unorganized in industry and agriculture, in order to stimulate in the existing and potential labor organizations a progressive, realistic, militant labor spirit and activity " Membership was open to any individual who belonged to a labor or farm organization and was "in agreement with the aims of the association and desirous of actively forwarding its purposes" or members of fully affiliated unions.

Although the CPLA was made up of individual members of the AFL, it had no direct membership status in it. Its criticism of the AFL's leader, William Green, and leadership cut both ways, as the Executive Council of that trade union body was quick to denounce the CPLA as a dual union. That criticism drew an official response from Muste in a July 23, 1929 statement that declared the CPLA was "not a dual union or federation of labor" and criticized the Communist Party for its attempt to form a "disruptive" communist trade union center, which he deemed "totally out of accord with the needs of the workers in America today. "</blockquote> At the time of its launch, the CPLA was governed by a 26 member National Executive Committee, which elected Muste as its chairman and James H. Maurer and Carl Holderman as its vice chairmen. Day to day operations were conducted by a pair of Executive Secretaries: Louis F. Budenz and Israel Mufson. In 1929, branches were formed in 13 cities clustered in the Northeastern United States, including in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Bridgeport, and New Haven. The gatherings concentrated discussion on practical matters of labor organization, such as the situation facing organizers in the South, developments in the United Mine Workers Union and the steelworkers, studies of the development and effects of the Great Depression, and the problems facing black and female workers. The CPLA also sent speakers into the field to speak to various union gatherings, workers groups, college classes, and public forums. The Socialist Party was singled out for particular criticism for not having "a clear working class orientation": [The Socialist Party] has not, as a matter of fact, succeeded in winning the confidence of American workers. Some of its exponents have publicly abandoned Marxism as a labor philosophy, and have no philosophy to offer in its place. Others profess to retain Marxism but exhibit no militancy in carrying on the class struggle. It pursues a policy of 'neutrality' toward the trade unions which in practice amounts to leaving them in the hands of the bureaucrats and corruptionists It has lacked vigor and aggressiveness in supporting, inspiring, and leading efforts to organize the masses of unskilled and semi skilled workers in the basic industries It is confused and at times distinctly antagonistic in its attitude toward Soviet Russia. It is not aggressive and militant in the struggle against militarism. It is not out and out Socialist, neither has it yet demonstrated that it can be an effective left progressive American party. That was a left turn for the organization despite its continued distrust and ideological distance by the Communist Party USA and its trade union auxiliary. Despite its political aspirations, the CPLA remained focused on the labor movement in 1931 and worked hand in glove with Alexander Howat in support of a dissident Reorganized United Mine Workers Union. CPLA organizers sent to the region included Muste, Tom Tippett, and Katherine Pollack. The call for a new political party by the CPLA leadership began to grow in 1931, with Muste authoring a lengthy April 1931 article, calling for formation of a new political party. Six necessary characteristics were enumerated by Muste: the new organization must be organized "on a class basis" and "out to do away with the present capitalist economy" and upon the "organization of the workers upon the economic field into industrial unions." Furthermore, Muste declared that the new organization needed to offer a "sound view of Soviet Russia", with a demand for diplomatic recognition, to recognize the limitations of parliamentary action, and to "be realistic" and to "grow out of the American soil."

Convention Location Date Notes Organizational Conference New York City May 25–29, 1929 Attended by 151 delegates from 18 states. Educational Conference Katonah, New York Aug. 30–Sept. 2, 1929 Attended by 150 participants, another 40 turned away. First 1930 Conference New York City March 16–17, 1930 Second 1930 Conference New York City December 6–7, 1930 1931 Conference Katonah, New York September 5–7, 1931 Attended by "over 100 CPLA members and sympathizers." Active Workers' Conference New York City March 19–20, 1932 Textile Workers' Conference (date?) 1932 "1st Official Convention" New York City September 3–5, 1932