The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-06-17
Nv LEO THOMPSON.

a
VHE present rapidly spreading strikes IN the
| btlIminous coal fields Of Western Pennsyl-
vsna and Eastern Ohio are teaching the red
trade uniorists many valuable lessons and new
experiences, all Of which are splendidly con-
firn1ing the resolutions and decisions of the
strassburg. Conference Of the Red international
Of Labor Unions on Strike Strategy.
These developing strike movements are re-
suits of the correct application Of revolutionary
strike strategy. So effective are these strikes
that leading bosses writers for the Pittsburgh
coal and iron press are forced to speak OF the
unexpected strength of the National Miners
Union" The Steubenvile Herald-Star, organ OF
the U. S. Steel Corp. in its June 9th issue says:
Coal Operator Blanes Reds for Outbreak;
Claims situation is Dangerous; Life of Indus
try Threatened; Picket Crowd Closes Three
Mines at Dillonvale, National Miners Union
Extends It's Activity Through District, Huge
Crowds Out Coal Operators Demand Heavy
Force of Deputies for Protection" etc.
In less than three days the National Miners
Union in Eastern Ohio, for example, has closed
down seven mines in strikes of over 1000 coal
diggers. How was this done?
Not Spontaneous,
First of all it must be pointed out that while
these strikes have developed in only three days,
it would be wrong to say that they are spOn-
taneous strikes. These strikes are all result
of the constant organizational work Of the Ma
tional Miners Union for the last two years In
Piney Fork for example we had member
ship of 300 at the outbreak Of the strike These
strikes were organized and prepared in advance,
The N NJ. U. has been laying the basis for this
strike in the past through its consistent activity
among the miners thereby winning the conf
dence of whole mining town communities. The
rapid growth of these strikes therefore can only
be explained by the consistent organizational
work of the N. M. u. its correct strike strategy
and its ability to concretey organize the mass
discomfort of the miners around simple imn1e-
date demands that the miners understand and
are willing to fight for. There is no doubt also
that the fact that 5000 Western Pennsylvania
miners were or strike has greatly inspired these
strikes in Eastern Ohio.
Miners Discuss Demands
Two weeks before the outbreak of the strikes
in Eastern Ohio, the N. M U. discussed the
question of developing strike struggles with the
miners of the Piney Fork Local % with 300
members The miners brought out the local de-
mands that they though should be raised These
demands they brought back into the two mines
of the Hanna Coal Co. and discussed them with
their fellow miners. Then big mass meeting
was called after arousing the miners behind
these demands and over 400 miners last Sunday
voted unanimously for strike action which re-
suited in a complete shutdown of both mines
1t is interesting to analyze these demands which
gained such an extraordinary responseyfrom the
miners. We will notice that every one of these
demands are concrete, based on the very life
necessities of the miners.
The demands put forward are is follows
l. Right of the miners to put their check
weighmen on both tipples
@ Recognition of miners pit committee
g. Abolition of the speed-up average" sys-
TEN (whereby the miners are forced to average
minimum of 10 tons day to hold their jobs.
a. Abolition of the fake safety" boots, shoes,
gloves and goggles Cor which miners were forced
to pay as high as IS apiece.
s. Complete enforcement Of the eight-hou
day.
g. Reinstatement of all those miners who
have lost their jobs because of the speed-up
system or their union affiliations.
I. No more check-off for the company horse"
doctor
8. Full pay for all dead work.
All the miners support these demands, And
after the unanimous strike vote the miners
elected broad rank and file strike committee