The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-01
Miner Blasts
Illusions
OF Pit Mates
ShowsHow Initiation and
Speed-Up Have Robbed
Them i'm Period
BY GEORGE RADATovIC

I have chosen this way to settle
an argument that arose between
several local miners and myself.
One morning as we were waiting
on cars, which were little late
for some reason, we punched up all
the coal leaders in the group on
the entry, and as usual entered
into discussing politics, and work
ing and living conditions in gen.
eral. Most all the Brothers claimed
that the New DEAF is blessing
to them. That they were working
less hours and at the same time
receiving bigger pay, as direct re-
suit of the N. r. A.
One of the Brothers went even
SO far as claiming that under the
present conditions he can even save
some of his earnings. I remarked
if he was able to do that he was
far above me somehow. I have a
wife and two children to support.
I never miss shift, and load as
much as the average miner, yet oc-
casionally my wife is compelled to
put the whole family on light diet
in order to make ends meet.
Prices Go Up
Yet I admit, we are making more
dollars today than We were 1S
months ago, but only in number
and not in value. Before the N.
r. A., trackmens rates were 1904
comparing to $3.50 that they re-
ceive today under the N. R. A. In
other words, increase in wages rates
in Winding Gulf amounted to so
per cent, now we must figure the
increase in prices on things that
we must save if we expect to exist.
Phillsburry's Flour increased
from 40 cents to $1.30; Pork chops
from 10 cents to 80 cents; Eggs
from IL cents to 80 cents; Lard
from S cents to Is cents; Salt Bacon
from 6 cents to % cents.
Brothers. you may compare the
above figures and judge for your
self, if you really think that you
can buy for $3.50 as much food or
clothing at the present day prices
as you could 18 months ago for
1904. Please think again.
Goal leaders are making more
money than the company men,"
echoed one of the Brothers. Eyes
they do" They make more money
now in seven hours at the working
face than they did before in nine
to twelve hours. Let's investigate
the speed-up system and we will
soon see the reason why a coal
loader is making more money than
the company men.
At the time of the arrival of the
N. r. A. worked in the Helen No.
9 mine. I was doubled up in second
left air cores, with another coal
loader. The place was driven %
feet wide. 1t turned out on the
average seven cars, three tons per
car. We cleaned the place up every
day although we had to stay in
from IL to ID hours to get the seven
cars to clean up.
Men Speeded Up
Now if not for the speed-up the
coal leaders would be making more
than the company men. We aver
aged 1919 tons a piece at today's
rates that would make us $485. The
Explosives cost us 81 cents a piece.
The actual earnings would amount
to $4.58.
Now then, here's where speed-up
comes in. Since those prem. r. A.
days, we've been speeded up so much
that one man in fact produces as
much coal in seven hours as two
men produced in IL to 10 hours be-
fore the speed-up.
Therefore, Brothers, if you'll con-
slider the fact that you are actually
producing twice the amount of coal
under the present speed-up system
comparing to what you produced in
prem. R. A. days and at the same
time, compare it with high cost Of
living and you'll come to realize
that instead of a raise in real wages
you received stiff cut. And Broth
ers that isn't all yet.
We are tied down with our present
contract till the 1st Of April, but
the prices on food and clothing ere
mounting steadily and Poosevelt's
| program is to devaluate the dollar
by 10 per cent. BY so doing prices
will be lacked so much higher.
Fellow workers, every move the
prices make towards the sky means
asrlt in our real wages and an addi-
tional profit to the monopoly CAPT
talists.
Brothers! Are we going to take
one cut in wages after another,
without even protest from our
part? Are we going to take a bsct-
ing from Wall Street, and their gov
eminent and lay down? No! and a
thousand times No!
Brothers. let us organize our forces
SO that we'll be in position to tell
the boss class that we're the ma
jority In doing this we will also