The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-18
/" IN THE BRITISH COAL MINES
(From a Worker Correspondent.)

NEIOln d worker correspondent
NOTE.-Copy of a letter sent from Mansfield Eng
land, Jan. rs, 1927
(NOMRADE:-Since l you in London last Septem-
- Der many great changes have taken place. You will
perhaps remember meeting at the Headquarters of
the Minority Movement London. Then we had dinner
and had talk with some Russian comrades who were
at another table After that we went to the Miners Of
fices in Russell Square, where partedyou were soon
to leave for America and for Russia with the Miners
delegation
was much impressed by the conversation and now
take the opportunity Of telling you of conditions here
Along with many other fighters am victmized can
not get work anywhere have been unemployed since last
May LIST. l getting union benefits because we
have union funds Unemployment benefits are stopped
because refused to take work 10 miles away at an
old mine which is Deep wet and hot and two and a
half miles journey underground. On reaching the coal
face it is found only two feet four inches thick This
would kneeing and sitting down work in water.
In addition this pit starts to wind coal at A. NJ This
would mean being in the pit yard by $3.50 A. M. To do
this we should have to get out of bed at 8 A. NJ and
leave Mansfield not later than A. M. For this we
to receive IL shillngs day approximately $275)
after spending shiings approximately $225) each
week bus fare and Is shiings Approximately S375)
Torrent, and pits here only working g. g. and days
week. You the mpossibity of accepting such
work Because refused such rotten OFFER all bene
fits ceased.
have been in the habit of going to the colliery at
which worked prior to the stoppage, to collect money
for vctimzed miners. To get there had to go on the
miners train To put stop to my collecting and there
by increase my hardshps the coabosses wired to the
station master telling him not to book on the miners
train. This is victmization de luxe
To make matters for here, of the county
miners organization officials has gone over to the coal
owners and negotiated separate agreement which
accepted, and forced exhausted comrades This
was followed up by forming company union with this
reactonary socal-democrat leader Spencer is his
name. As consequence the Nottinghamshire Miners
Association which has been established and recognized
for by the BOSSES is refused any recognition
whatever. But pleased to say that in spite of all
the propaganda and brbes the refuse join this
new union Spencer is having rough time wherever he
goes The miners in Motifs will not accept Spencerism
am sorry to say that just at time when am most
needed in the district to combat the growth of reaction
shall be compelled to leave the district through lack of
financial assistance. On leaving all my Trade Union
and Labour connections which has taken years to es
tabsh will have to be surrendered 1t is tragedy to
the revolutionary movement here in Mansfield
Our next great fight is for One Union for all mine
workers. task just getting busy with. Con-
ferences being held in parts of the country
am organizing one in town for March 18TH when
one union will be the chief item the agenda.