The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-06

leader went on to say: Eyes, the gov.
eminent is pledged to force arbitra.
ton. In view of the British company
having the international oil interests
acting for it, we will very likely be
compelled to declare a general strike
in the port Of Tampico.
when the company tried to break
our ranks by firing $50 of our men be.
cause Of the stoppage Of power in.
cured by the electricians strike, then
1t set the house on fire. The lockout
gave tremendous impetus to our agi.
tation for organization amongst the
oil workers. Continued firing of oil
workers by FL Aguila boosted our
campaign still more Soon commit.
tee of oil workers called upon the FL
Aguila and demanded that the lock.
out cease Immediately and that all
the workers be given back their jobs.
This appeal of ours fell on deaf ears.
Today from 2,075 to 5000 of the firm
are organized and striking very we'll.
Only few clerks have been left out
All other workers are organized in
dustrially.
"Our union seeks to have the Brit
ish Oil Corporation comply with the
labor laws of the country which pro-
vides for an 8-hour working day, sani-
tary conditions of employment, acct
dent insurance and three months pay
if discharged without cause We have
been fired without cause. We have
been struggling for more than a
month"
Great Solidarity Of Workers.
Thereupon the writer put this ques-
ton to Furrubiates: How do the rest
of the workers feel about your fight2
To this Furrubiates replied:
"All the workers of Tampico are
rallying to the oil laborers. A mani
festo pledging us their full support
has just been issued. Inspiring, soli-
darity is evidenced among the rail-
road workers. the red anarcho-syndi-
calists. and even the yellow unions.
Substantial material help is being
rendered us. The Tampico workers
are giving us 5000 pesos weekly. The
Butchers Union is giving us three
cows day.
"The organized workers have built
dramatic clubs giving plays, having
proletarian class themes only. The
unorganized workers are helping us
financially by patronizing these plays.
One play is given every week. This
nets the strikers at least $500 pesos
weekly. Just to show you how the
other workers feel about our fight.
let me read to you the following tele-
gram 1 received few moments ago
from my union, The Oil Workers I'm
ion Of Tampico." Furrubiates went
on to read
1--WE can sustain strike indefinite
time. Electricians are aiding 1000
pesos weekly; street car men, 700;
small merchants society, 200; the
butchers, three cows a day. Work
ers Of this port are ready for gen.
eral strike il necessary. Delegate
Central and South American organiza-
tions tell us will boycott Ell Aguila
products il strike is not settled"
"Out Of 1900 workers there is not
scab on the job today.
Force Government To Act.
"When we were tipped off that the
company was planning to fill several
of its tankers, we telegraphed Presi-
dent Obregon and demanded that he
order the Commander Of the local
military force to prevent the scabs
from handling the oil. Our demand
brought back the following telegra-
phic reply from Obregon:
"'Your attentive message received.
Have already ordered the Secretary
of Industry and Labor thru his dele
gated representative to guard the OBJ
servance of the labor laws and pre-
vent the resumption of work as long
as the conflict has not been
Terminated by the authorities in
charge of arbitration. Respectfully
Obregon. President Of the Republic {"
This telegram was sent on April
14th.
Works Completely Tied Up.
What has been the condition of the
strike since then? was my next ques-
ton. The spokesman of the oil work
ers replied:
"Since that day Ell Aguila has been
absolutely tied up. In the midst Of
the strike we learned that some Eng
lish workers were loading oil for the
firm in another port. We compelled
the government to stop this. Obre-
gon has declared that IL the manager
of the company does not present him
self before the Arbitration Commits
sion, the decision will be rendered
without him. But FL Aguila has SO
far refused to send its representative
because II continually maintains that
its case IS no longer in its own hands
but Is now solely in the hands Of the
Association Of Oil Producers.
I'VE workers expect the govern
ment to compel El Aguila to adhere
to the Constitutional provisions re-