The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-28
Struggle Of Czecho-Slovian Miners

the ZechO-SloVaklan mining INDUSTRY. lHlS has
been due to the general marketing crisis exper-
fenced by the whole Czecho- Slovakan industry, ow-
ing to the contracted internal market and the ever
growing difficulties in the field OF export. During
the past years coal production decreased and TINS
resulted in 4O96 of the miners being permanently
unemployed.
During these years there were temporary
flourishes in the coal industry during the Ruhr
occupation of 1928, and during the two British
miners strikes of 1921 and 1926, but it was clearly
observed that after each short-lived boom, caused
exclusively by objective conditions, the Czecho-
Slovakan coal-industry fell still deeper in the mlre
of the marketing crisis. During these years the
position of the Czecho-Slovaldan miners became
steadily worse Wages fell, productivity rose ana
the mineowners reaped their profits OF hundreds
of millions of Czecho-Slovakian crowns. However,
with every new slump the coal owners commenced
their attack the miners, driving at lowering ther
standards.
This move of the mineowners was especially mark
ed during the British miners strike of 1926
The strikebreaking possibilities during that year
enabled the mneowners to enhance their profits by
many millions on increased productivity OF labor
alone not taking into consideration the profits reap
ed on increased prices of coal. Directly the slump
set in, the coal-owners Immediately came out in
united front against the miners, who demanded
2096 wage-ncrease.
The treachery of the Czecho-Slovakian refornists
cannot be passed over. During the trade boom they
did NOT support the struggle of the revolutionary
trade unions to increase wages They thereby aided
the coal-owners to make full of the strikebreak
ing possibilities that were presented.
Very characteristic of the reformists are the
excuses they give for rejecting the struggle for in
creased wages. AS one excuse for their treachery,
they claimed the unemployed miners had been starv-
ing for long past, that the miners needed breath
ing spell, if only by receiving temporary work and
therefore, no struggle for increased wages should
be undertaken during the favorable marketing
period that had set in.
This unparalleled and insipid argument OF the
reformists not only renowned international work
ing class solidarity in respect to the British miners,
but was the worst kind of demagogy. 1t was known
to everybody and no less to the retormsts that
the mineowners got increased output not by engag-
ing more labor, but almost exclusively by increasing
the productivity of the men employed
Thanks to the treachery of the reformsts, the
miners let very favorable moment slip by. When
the British miners strike lost the mine-owners
despite the united front that had been formed OF
all miners unions, eategorically rejected not only
the demand for 20@o wage-increase, but blunty
refused to pay the high cost of living bonus After
the insolent reply of the coaowners the reformsts
again commenced to suppress the revolutionary
fervor of the miners and took all possible action to
undermine the struggle for increased wages which
was then commencing
Utilizing the treacherous activities of the reform
lists in dividing the ranks of the miners, the coal
owners and the government prepared a new attack
on the miners.
This time the government and the owners concen
trated their attack miners insurance. In Czecho
Slovala, the old system of miners Independent in
surance dates from the year 1854. Under the Fra
ternal Insurance Fund the wives and children of tn
miners are also insured the widows and orphans
having the right to receive pensions. This in
surance fund, (at the present time 3S Czech crown
monthly are paid for insurance against GONZALES
cence and old age, and 16 crowns for insuranc
against lness) contributed to monthly by bot
employers and miners alike experienced Difficult
financial situation. It has monthly deficit Of
millions and has no reserve funds to cover relic
issued to working miners.
The financial crisis of this institute has its root
cause in the war when the number of persons re
ceiving relief greatly increased. To, save the II
stitute a subsidy Of about billion Czech crown
were necessary. The government, encouraged
the victory of the mneowners, now intend to con
petely abolish this institute and transfer the mine
to the general insurance system This intention
the government aroused storm of indgnatio
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