Many of the new unions formed during that period were committed to the socialist transformation of society and were critical of the conservatism of the craft unions.
Enumerating labor's grievances, it criticized craft unions for creating a skilled aristocracy, and suggested one big industrial union embracing all industries and founded on the class struggle.
The rationale behind this policy position was the logical view that members would be better represented by a larger industry based union rather than the traditional craft unions.
Industrial unionists observe that craft union members are more often required by their contracts to cross the picket lines established by workers in other unions.
