UNITE FOR THE FIGHT

Grey River Argus, 25 June 1925, Page 6

UNITE FOR THE FIGHT

BRITISH MINERS. WORLD UNITY NEEDED. (By A. J. ( (cik. Secretary of the British Miners’ Federation). | In view of Air Cook’s latest an- . noiiiiccmcnt of a crisis lacing the employers in Britain, the following ar_ • tide is specially interesting. In Great Britain we are witnessing [active preparation by the captains of industry for a great offensive to reduce the conditions of the workers. Hours and wages arc in danger in | every industry. J>ad as are our present conditions, they will be reduced still lower unless this year w ( - form a United Front. The capitalists have a united policy; thev resort to force—economic, force. 1 heir weapon is starvation and unemployment. ‘ National agreements and contracts will only be honoured by the power of our organisation. In our industry, hours and ra4es are being attacked pit by pit. district by district, despite the fact that we have ational Agreement . Even unemployment pay is being refused because the miners will not submit to changes that worsen their conditions. I nemployment is increasing in the 'iuing industry; week by week pits are dosing down. Railwaymen are being attacked. Soon it will be the dockers and tip. | pers. Ihe coal-owners, while pressing for larger hours and reduced rates in various districts, desire us to join them in an attack on what thev call the “sheltered trades.” One of the largest coaiovvners in Scotland, an official of the Alining Association, stated to me in conversation the other day, “Our only hope to keep the industry going is by reducing the | rates ot sheltered trades, especially I I ippers. Dockers, and Railwaymen. WeM should reduce them 50 per cent.” Our rejdy is definite and dear. We will not be parties to attacks on our (omrades in other industries. While ve have not forgotten 1921, we still have faith in the rank and file. Our real reply is a United Front: an alliance of all unions at once. 1 appeal to those who sacrififice and suffer to insist on all obstacles being removed. Prepare our machinery. ALL TOGETHER THIS TIAIE. The miners will invite the union executives to a joint conference to ham. mer out a programme and policy foi 192.). Let, every trade union branch every trades council get busy on tin one great (piestion of unity. Econo, mic necessity compels us to act to. gether to accomplish economic secur Salvation or Damnation! Security or Starvation! Comrades in the mine. mill. an<l factory; toilers of Britain, it is foi you to decide. • Tho problems we are suffering froir cannot be solved completely without international action. Hence the nee«: for international organisation. Joint committees and inquiries won’t help us. Capitalism is breaking dou'n 'This is just the period when we want courage and wisdom to save us from •reviving and consolidating the dying i We are not responsible tor the con. ditions of industry. Laboiir_power. land, coal, machinery are available, problem of production is solved. The world is overstocked with com modities, with tlie power to produce more and more. Yet men. women and children suffer and starve in the midst of plenty. In every country the workers are told the same tale. Hours must be lengthened, wages reduced, output increased—to meet foreign competition They cry here that to live wc must accept the same conditions as Germany. AVe must soon be back to worse conditions than in any other country to compete successfully. What a game! What a gamble with the lives and livelihood of men. women and children. Miners, we must have an international with every country affiliated — Russia, India, Australia must be brought in immediately. A real live International Organi • 4 that can and will act together. There are to.day, in the mines of India, 50.251 women underground and j 7.260 children under 12 years of age. Ninety women were killed in 1923. And the coaLowners recently opposed the introduction of a twelve hour shift. Do not lull yourself to believe conditions can’t get worse because they are so bad. They can and will, unless we organise for action. The attack T have had to face is fierce and un merci t"l. The capitalist class, with press, platform and pulpit, are lighting for their existence. Which side are von on.’ He that is not for There is indeed a class war. Uomrades, let us be loyal to our class by acting together. Don't betray your wife and children !