THE PAPER INDUSTRY WORKERS’ TRADE UNION

DECISION OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CC OF THE PAPER INDUSTRY WORKERS’ TRADE UNION IN SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF THE LETTER OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE METALWORKERS’ CC

TO THE LEADERS OF THE “NEW OPPOSITION”*

August 9, 1917

Having discussed the copy of a letter received from the Central Concessions Committee† and signed by Trotsky, Zinoviev and Yevdokimov, the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Paper Industry Workers’ Trade Union denounces the actions of the above-mentioned comrades aimed at disorganising 

the trade unions, actions which have compelled us to raise this question at a meeting of the Presidium; finds that the letter of Trotsky, Zinoviev and Yevdokimov is an appeal to public organisations (trade unions) to protect their misconceived, clearly untenable views, which are a Trotskyite variation of Menshevism; fully subscribes to the reply of the Central Committee of the Metalworkers’ Trade Union to the letter from Trotsky, Zinoviev and Yevdokimov and regards it as the reply of the Paper Industry Workers’ Trade Union; and, in addition to what was said in the reply of the Central Committee of the Metalworkers’ Trade Union, declares that this new sally of the opposition has neither had nor will have the least sympathy from the Paper Industry Workers’ Trade Union.

The Paper Industry Workers’ Trade Union has worked, is working and will go on working under the guidance of our leader and teacher—the Leninist CPSU(B) and its Central Committee.

Copy certified true‡

Sovetskiye arkhivy, 1967,

No. 3, p. 34

DECISION OF THE BUREAU OF THE CPSU(B) GROUP IN THE CC OF THE TANNERS’ TRADE UNION IN SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF THE LETTER OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE METALWORKERS’ CC TO THE LEADERS OF THE “NEW OPPOSITION”*

August 9, 1927

DECISION: In connection with the letter of Comrades Yevdokimov, Zinoviev and Trotsky to the Metalworkers’ CC, sent to the central committees of all trade unions, including the Tanners’ CC, and the reply of the metalworkers to this letter the Party group bureau in the CC of the Tanners’ Trade Union considers it necessary to state that today, more than ever before, the tanners regard as impermissible any divisive activities in the Party, qualifying such activities as a crime against the working class, their Party and the Soviet Union. Any factional struggle, particularly today, when the international situation has alarmingly deteriorated, is a blow at the working class, at its dictatorship, at the Soviet Union and, consequently, can only play into the hands of the enemies of the gains of the October Revolution.

The fact that every action of the opposition as a whole or of its individual representatives is eagerly grasped at and widely used by the deadly enemies of the proletarian revolution in the Soviet Union and abroad should bring the opposition to its senses and show it that it is vital to put an end to what is so irritating to the Party, hinders its extremely difficult work and most surely inflicts irreparable harm on socialist construction and the organisation of the Soviet Union’s defence.

The opposition, which poses as the champion of Leninism, must cease all activity that may in one way or another injure the cause of Lenin, his Party and the Soviet Union, and submit unconditionally to the decisions of Party congresses and the Comintern and to the day-to-day leadership of the Party CC and the Comintern Executive.

Secretary, Party Group Bureau in the Central Committee

of the ‘Tanners’ Trade Union†

Sovetskiye arkhivy, 1967,

No. 3, p. 35

*