The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-01-04

'oI L.) is now sharpening and threat
ems a strike for jurisdiction.
Officials Of the United Mine
Workers Of America have already
protested the settlement which re-
suited from negotiations between
the independent union and the Glen
Alden Company which has a con-
tract with the United Mine Work
ers. A tri-district board meeting
Of the U. NJ. w. of A. today will
determine if strike will be called
to challenge the company's right to
deal with the U. A. M. of P.
The strike called by the Anthra-
cite Miners, which ended yesterday,
was the first to be fought on the
basis of grievances facing the work.
ers of both unions, and could have
been the means of uniting both
unions in common action. The strike
was called because Of wage cut
for brakemen at the Wenamie Mine
from 1928 to 1913 per day, and
the attempt of the company to put
eight-inch sidings on cars at the
Avondale mine. The latter trick
adds about half ton of coal for
the same price.
Strike Called Off
The company was determined to
make full use of the split existing
between the workers which is main
tanned by the two sets of union Of
ficials. State police and deputies
were brought in and in several in
stances the workers were attacked
and tear gassed. On the other hand
the company enlisted the support
of the Regional Labor Board of
Wyoming Valley, headed by Judge
Mclean of Wilkes-Barre.
Judge Mclean called a meeting Of
the N. r. A. Labor Board, and the
Wyoming Valley Chamber of Com
merce to discuss means for breaking
the strike. The company announced
that it would close down three of
the collieries; Wanamie, Bliss and
Avondale, where the strike orig
mated, and that in their place
three of the mines in the Scranton
area, which have been closed down
for four years, would be opened.
Eviction notices were given to all
workers in company houses, work.
ers were ordered to take their tools
cut OF the mines, and mules we're
being brought up to the surface.
The local capitalist press screamed
that Now three thousand miners
who have chance to work full
time will be on the relief rolls
In addition, Judge Mclean in
vited John L. Lewis to come to
Wilkes Barre Saturday and settle
the strike" AS a result of all these
strikebreaking measures, the Off
Gals Of the Anthracite Miners
quickly backed water, and the Glen
Alden grievance committees agreed
to call off the strike. The demands
Of the workers are now in the hands
Of an arbitration board, and It is
a foregone conclusion that they will
get nothing from this employer
controlled board.
This, despite the fact that the
militancy of the miners was rising,
and the mine operations in the
Luzerne district were shut down
tight. The U. M. w. of A. officials
organized flying squads, but for
strikebreaking purposes.
Rank and File Groups Act
The strike was agreed to by
Thomas Maloney, district president
Of the independent union, only be-
cause he hoped this would revive
C IN d IN re in the organization
among the miners and be-
cause the miners insisted on the
strike. Since the union is in ex-
istence the officials of the execu-
tive board have been busy running
from local to local trying to collect
dues. The membership rolls have
been dropping because the miners
saw no reason for supporting
union which did not take up their
grievances. Maloney had to state
publicly, through the papers that
he lis sick and tired of calling off
strikes" But the result was the
same anyway.
The rank and file groups in both
unions are now increasing their &C
tivity for unity of both unions on
the basis of rank and file control.
The workers are being warned