The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-14

Ilcal ana economic power passed into
the hands of the proletariat.
Naturally, the prime function is to
promote the economic and social in
terests Of its membership; but the
elimination of capitalism and all forms
Of oppression and the subsequent elm
nation of class antagonisms and class
interests has led to complete change
in the character of that task. The
Russian union works in the closest
possible collaboration with the man.
agerial authorities in the industry. It
plays real part in the control Of in
dustry and is directly concerned in
increasing the productivity of the
mines, simply because every advance
made and every improvement effected
is directly reflected in better houses,
higher wages, and more comforts for
the miners. With regard to safety
regulations, the union, in conjunction
with the management, ensures that
the lives of the miners are not unduly
exposed to the dangers of their occu-
patton. Regulations safeguarding the
miner from gas and bad air, statutes
insuring the safety of the traffic and
travelling ways and guaranteeing an
adequate supply of all kinds of timber
have been worked out jointly. And
the trade union pit committees in
sure that they are carried out to the
letter. One example will be sufficient
to show the significance of the unions
in this respect. In mines that are con-
sidered to be very gassy, the pit COM
mittee insists that water and COM
pressed air are led into all the work
ing faces and that traps are provided
on all main roadways to prevent the
spread of any explosion that may oc-
cur, and in the event of an accumula-
ton of gas in any particular section
of the mine, the men affected can go
home without losing any part of their
wages for that day.
This, however, is only one aspect
of the activities of the Russian Miners
Union. AS great or even greater
achievements fail to be recorded in
the sphere of social work. In this re-
spect the union has taken upon itself
the practical work of raising the So
cial and cultural standards of its mem
bership.
CCHOOLS for the elimination of IL
~ literacy, political and technical
schools for the more advanced, librar.
les, sport organizations, ETC., have
been promoted by the unions and con-
trolled in conjunction with the state
department. Not only in the centers
has this been done, but in every other
part of the mine field. Similar priyil.
eyes are provided for the children, the
youth and the women folk. and all Sec
tions from the oldest to the youngest
take full advantage of the facilities
now provided for them.
Still another function Of the union
which cannot be omitted is that of safe
guarding the health of its individual
members. Mansions in the Caucasus
and the Crimea, previously the proper.
ty OF the very richest of the old Russ
ian aristocracy have been converted
into rest homes. Rest homes not re-
served for the higher officials or the
sick and the manned, but for all the
miners. Here. after years. work in
the mine they are provided with all
possible comforts during their months
vacation.
Consequently we see that in every
respect the miners union plays a real
part in the political, economic and so.
cial life Of Donetz Basin, compared
with which the activities of the Brit.
tsh unions are meager and insignia
cant.
THIS fact is reflected in the un-
bounded enthusiasm Of the ordin.
airy worker. The Don Bas miners re-.
alize in full that they are now con-
trollers of their own destinies. They
are confident that thru the combined