The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-02
STRIKE NEARING
IN ANTHRACITE,
PAY BEING CUT
CappeIIini Sits on Lid
Defending Companies
(special to The DAILY woRKERl

Especial to The DAILY WORKER)
SCRANTON, March 1.-Goaded
into desperation by the caIlous me-
elect of union affairs by district Of
ficials, by the onward sweep of the
vicious contract system, serious
wage reductions and widespread UNI
employment, the rank and file hard
coal miners are girding for fight.
Hudson Coal Co., employing co.
600 miners, has shut down indefin-
itely. while Lehigh Valley Coal Co.,
down a long time, has just re-
opened on a three to four day a
week basis. Miners are seeking
work in vain up and down the entire
anthracite region.
Cappellini on Job.
Rinaldo Cappellini, reactionary
president Of District 1, has Just
broken a strike of Lehigh Valley
miners. This strike, called because
the company insisted on cutting the
former flat rate for rock contract
ing from $4.70 a yard to 1924, was
featured by loud protestations Of
company loyalty from Cappellini,
who insisted on honorable" con-
tracts.
His claims were punctured by
George Gould, secretary of the Le-
high Valley general grievance COM
mittee. In a statement replying to
Cappellini he wrote:
"Mr. Cappellini in a statement to
the newspapers in regard to the
strike at Henry colliery Of the Le-
high Valley Coal Co., which is
threatening to develop into a gen.
eral strike of Lehigh Valley Co. en-
ployes, declares that district Off
Gals were not notified of the griev-
ance in question which concerns a
matter Of rock contract wages. 1t
is true that the district officials
were uniformed as to the state of
affairs but this was through no
fault Of the men in charge of the
grievance who went to the Miners
Bank office and found the United
Mine Workers room was locked and
that all officers had left for the con-
vention at Indianapolis, without ar
ranging for any protection whatso-
ever for the workers who remained
at home.
District Officials Not There.
GAS secretary of the general
grievance committee I happen to
know that the Henry committee did
all in their power to come to a sat
.-e~~.4S4 i-ssAet4ls.,.. -,,14, with the sol
liery officials but this settlement
could not he arranged as the dis
trict office was closed. When in
formed of the absence OF, district
officials the Lehigh Valley Coal Co.
officials refused to meet with the
Henry committee, as they consid-
cred the affairs of the district to be
conducted in slipshod manner.
"Cappellini claims that the miners
at the Henry colliery violated the
miners and operators agreement by
striking but differ with him, as the
operators violated their section of
the contract by cutting the wage on
rock contracting from S4.70 to 1924
per yard. l also happen to be a
miner that filed grievance against
q wage reduction at the Prospect
colliery in March, 1926, and de-
cision was handed down in favor of
the Lehigh Valley Coal Co., by UNI
pire Neil which / contend was an
outrage.
This decision concerned a de-
crease in wages amounting to ap-
proximately $50 per month and that
sum means considerable to a miner
who has no way or regaining the
money. These unfair decisions have
occurred and our district officials
have done nothing about the matter
in any way"
(Signed),
George Gould, Secretary,
Lehigh Valley General Grievance
Committee.