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


Basin exceeded the normal demand.
and it is interesting to note how the
problem was dealt with. In the words
of an official report, 1.-THE restriction
of output was carried out not by a re-
duction in the number Of miners, but
by allowing them longer leaves"
Wages.
NORMALLY, the average wage Of a
- miner in Donetz Basin is approx
imately so per cent less than the pres
ent wage of British miner. This, on
the face of it, looks exceedingly bad.
But again there are other factors to
be considered. Here in Russia the
miners pay no house rent. Coal and
light are also free and in addition the
first essentials in the food list, namo-
ly, bread meat, milk, eggs, ETC., are on
an average less than half of the Brit
ish prices.
1t would be mistake, however, to
say that the Don Bias miners enjoy
ideal conditions or that they are sat
isfied with their lot. Housing condi-
tons are very bad. Those dwelling
places erected during the old regime
are symbolic of the rate at which tho
Russian miners were exploited by
British, French and Belgian capital
and held in subsection by despotic
czarism. But it is in this respect that
the visitor meets the most inspiring
feature. In almost every village hous-
ing schemes are being carried out,
communal restaurants, communal
houses and ordinary family homes are
being erected. Those already finished
are mansions compared with the
novels into which the miners of pre-
war days were herded by capitalism.
The cultural side of life is being
tended to by the erection of schools,
proletarian theaters, clubs, and librar-
ies. All of these developments taking
place amongst the ruins of the old sys-
tenn are a real manifestation of the
creative power of the freed proleta-
riat. The harmonious method in which
the Communist Party, the trade
unions and the administrative machin-
cry Of the industry work together for
the common good is sure sign that
the working class are conscious of
the power they WELD and that they
will succeed in spite of all external
opposition, in working out their own
complete emancipation.
The Role of the Trade Unions.
HERE again it is necessary to have
IL a clear understanding of the
fundamental differences between the
Miners Federation of Great Britain
and the Russian Miners Union before
we can hope to appreciate their diff.
ferent functions.
1t is understood everywhere that the
British working class were the pion-
GERS for the world trade union move
ment, and that the miners organiza-
ton is one of the strongest sections
in Britain. The mining industry, in
comparison with other industries, is
exceptional free from craft and sch,
tiOnal barriers, and this fact has tend
ed towards making the M. F. G. B. a
powerful organization. During its life
it has engaged in several heroic strug-
giles against the employers and en-
joyed reputation as one of the fore
most sections Of the organized labor
movement. Yet, despite it's record, ex-
perience and mass character, its
achievements are meager.
Beyond the loose support given to
the independent working class educa-
tional movement in some districts, the
miners unions and the declarations can
boast of no other activities on the ed
ucational and cultural field that def
initely equips its membership for the
every day struggle or improves their
social conditions.
Politically it has been content with
afiliation to the national labor party