The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-21
BRITISH STRIKE
is VELVET FOR
CZECH OWNERS
RefOrmists Opposed
Struggle to Help Miners

the SITUATION IN the CZecnO-SlONaklan
mining industry considerably inn
proved. But this Improvement, Of
course, expressed itself exclusively
in the increasing profits Of the coal
barons. The Czecho-SlovalSia mine
owners utilised the situation to the
fullest extent. This is clear from
the following figures en- the Ostrav
coal district;
Hundred weights
In October, 1926, output per
man per day was 1913
According to contract, output
should have been 7,57
Excess output of 3,16
l cwt. Of coal costs 20 CTS.
crowns 3,16 CTS. $3.50
Additional wage received
by miner for increased
production CTS. 9,42
Overhead expenses on
3,16 cwts. 7,Ss 1880
Each workers shift of "a hours
leaves a net profit of CTS. AZ
Therefore considering that in Oc-
tober 3s,449 miners worked, the sur
plus value per day due this increased
productivity amounted to 1907, JOB
CTS.
With % shifts per month, this
gives S9,76,266 CTS.
Such was the position when the
British miners strike was at its
height. Nevertheless, the Interna-
tional General Trade Union and
Communist Party of Czecho-S lovakia
conducted a stubborn struggle
against increasing productivity Of
labor in the mining industry, strug-
gled against exporting blackleg coal
to England, demanded wage in
creases for the miners, etc. Claim
ing that the Czech miners had suf-
fered long from unemployment and
that they would now at least receive
breathing spell, the reformists in
tentionally disrupted this campaign
Signal For Mine Owners.
In vain the Communists warned
the workers that a victory of the
British mine owners would be sig
nal for mine owners in other coun-
tries to attack the miners, and that
this applied no less to Czecho-
Slovakia.
When the British miners strike
ended, the situation changed. The in
science of the mine owners increased.
Their incredible provocation, cou-
pied with drive on the part of the
miners to create a united treat,
forced the reformists at last to agree
to meeting of representatives of
all miners trade unions, which in
cluded also the Miners Section of
"One Big Union"
Question of Increased Wages.
This meeting was held on the 9th
of December, 1926. The reformists
recommended that a demand be put
before the government that they
should take up the question with the
mine owners Of increasing wages.
The reformists limited themselves
just to this resolution. The Miners
Section of One Big Union did not
agree with such a policy ard insisted
that a single fighting frcut Of all
workers organizations should be set
up, and that 20 per cent wage in
crease should be demanded.
This suggestion was turned down
by the reformists. They passed q
resolution asking the government to
appoint arbitration commission. The
representatives of the Zone Big
Union" were firmly against any COM
promise and insisted that on no ac-
count whatever should the workers
reject the demand for 20 per cent
wage increase. All the motions put
forward by the One Big Union were
rejected by the meeting. The o. B.
u. agreed to submit to the decisions
of the meeting in order to preserve
unity among the miners in face of
the onslaught of their class enemy.
All the fears of the Communists
were realized. The participation Of
the government in the settlement OF
the dispute only encouraged the mine
owners in their attack upon the
workers. The negotiations were car
ried cut at an official meeting of
trade union representatives and
mine owners, held in the Ministry of
Public Work on the 18th of January.
The mine owners firmly rejected not
only the idea of increasing wages by
20 per cent, but even to demand of
the reformists for single-bonus to
the workers to the amount of one
weeks wages. The representative of
the Ostrov mine owners even threat
ened to discharge all miners who are
dissatisfied with the existing condi-
tions'. This insolent and impudent at
titudg Of the mine owners was due
TO the fact that they reclxoned on
split inside the miners organization.
Discussed Owners Answer.
A n Nv meeting was held en- the