The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-29


Labor Unions. President Smith spoke
In part as follows:
Comrades: According to British
customs. l should first address the
chairman, but following your custom
address you all. l convey to you
the greetings OF one million British
miners. came here to become ia
miliar with the conditions and life OF
the miners of Soviet Russia
Il believe and think that you all
agree with me that all the miners,
as well as the workers of other in.
dustries, should be organized in one
great international union. United we
stand, divided we fall This old
maxim of the labor movement is OF
special value to the workers of all
countries today, and particularly to
the workers Of Great Britain.
"In Juno our collective agreement
expires. In negotiating for a new
agreement we shall demand better
conditions Of labor and life for our
miners. However, this viii be no
easy task. The mine fields are con.
trolled by private capitalists organ
ICED in about 1900 companies and
trusts. These companies or trusts
have a common center, and they fight
the miners in close contact with the
united capitalists Of our country.
"All sorts of rumors and lies are
spread among the British miners
about the life Of the Russian miners
I am very grateful to the oficia
representatives of your union who
have given me quite substantial infor-
nation on nearly everything pertain
ing to the work and life Of the Rus
sian miners. / thank them in ad-
vance also for the supplementary in
formation which they have promised
to furnish me shortly. suppose
that the information received by me
here may be used in England upon
my return.
II hope to become even more
closely acquainted with the life and
work Of the Russian miners during
my visit to the biggest coalfields of
your country. ! intend to visit the
various places chiefly for the follow
ing reasons: first, / am myself a
practical miner, and have spent rs
years in underground work before
came to be union official. Secondly
now and turnout my period of office
spend about two days per week in
going down in the mines in order to
keep myself in touch with the ques
| lions agitating the men and to take
the necessary measures. l have q
good knowledge of the situation OF
mining in Great Britain. l desire to
learn your conditions in Russia.
1--WE intend to press for number
of reforms in order to improve the
conditions Of the British miners, and
want to collect material and infor.
nation to enable me to benefit by
the experience of the miners move
ment in other countries, to work out
the best possible schemes of such re.
forms.
Here In Russia you have moved
ahead in some reforms, especially in
the matter of insurance and labor
protection. For instance, you miners
may leave the pit whenever they find
an accumulation of about three pei
cent gas and he is paid full wages
We have no such rules.
"a miner in Russia leaves his work
when short Of timber, ETC., without
loss OF pay If he finds that things
are not in order and that there are
conditions that represent menace
to him and to his work. This is 8
considerable achievement, and It en-
ables you to prevent many accidents.
"The principal cause OF England's
large number of accidents is for want
OF proper safety appliances, otc., not
being supplied by the private employ
ers who control the mining industry.
IF / can learn in your mines any.
thing that will prevent accidents
and how you protect your labor in
general, and IL the experience gained
could be applied even in some meas.
ure in Great Britain. my trip to Russia
would already be justified.
However. would like to become
acquainted not only with your ACHE.
vements. but also with the difficulties
standing In your way. would like
to help you In whatever way I might.
to overcome the obstacles and din.
culties confronting you.
I'VE in Great Britain have been
struggling for many years for the mn
tionalization OF mines. We base our
claims upon the following reasons
First. we hoped thus to facilitate our
struggle for safety OF labor, for. better
protection Of the miners. Secondly.
we hope thus to obtain better condi
tions OF labor for the miners, and
finally, to produce cheaper coal for