A MINER'S DREAM

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 9, 1 October 1913, Page 3

A MINER'S DREAM

Reading and hearing so much of “ Industrial strife” I suppose accounts for my sinking into a troubled sleep and dreaming mixed dreams. 1 found myself at a conference—but not the sort a worker usually attends. Superintendents and managers of a large group of mines were discussing—not religion, or even parliament, but a cunning scheme to beat the workers. Sitting next to the chairman was a notorious strike breaker. 1 listened to his oily tongue explain:—The miners were getting too well organised; a short while ago the wages-men, working under a contractor, competed for jobs, now they had introduced co-oper-ative contracts which lessened the competition, the men even setting a minimum price; if this was not nipped in the bud it would not only decrease dividends, but eventually leave) none at all. “There is nothing for it,” he exclaimed, “but to force the men under an agreement bound by law ”

explaining that the men would be lulled into false security for two or three years, and so active unionism be paralysed. I knew the risks and hardships while working under an award bound by “ law and order,” and my mind wandered to the lonely graveyard, where the many headstones told their tragic tale of men mutilated and crushed, and of the dread lingering sufferings of miner’s disease. I had worked in these mines and well remembered the men dragging their way in the 'dead of night to toil below on the dreary night shift; the dangers surrounding the tired-out, half-asleep miners, stumbling past yawning winzes and up dangerous passes—a slight slip meaning death.; handling explosives and blasting rock in shaky stopes, or working down ground in boiling-hot rises; the hundred and one equal risks taken by* miners in dusty, poison-fumed depths; emerging from hot stopes into icjr chambers —sowing the seeds of pneumonia and death, all to finish with the enevitable verdict, “ No blame attached to anyone.” I. thought of the big majority working for wages and being exploited by men of their own class, who were fortunate enough to obtain a contract, with the result : most wages-men would tender for new jobs posted up, thus causing a keen competition. It made better conditions for all when the workers ' decided on co-operative contract, enabling all to share alike, settling competition, and doing away with cutting prices. The men were wise enough to elect their own workmen’s inspector, resulting in purer air for the men below, the stopping of dangerous places, etc. Of course this meant extra expense for the management, and constituted the worst kind of offence, being an economic crime. No wonder the man was emphasising “It must stop.” He pointed out: It was possible to force the men to strike. He assured them, by his past experience, they could beat the men and force them back under an agreement with more suitable conditions for the .management, showing the mighty power they had behind them in the Press and Pulpit, etc., and if needs be could secure the police, and even military to their aid —they themselves sitting back and enlisting public sympathy through their Press. A cunning scheme!

There are a certain class of men, not understanding their position, and in many cases incapable as workmen, who will be anything to be “good with the boss,” and so keep their job. They are despised by the boss, but nevertheless are very handy at times when wanted for any underhand work. They are not always to blame, as their masters can hand out a good tale when wishing to use them —it is after they are used and cast aside they realise how they have been duped, and in some instances turn into militant fighters.

It was decided to use a few of this class, by forming a separate union, and apply for an award. The large majority of workers would then be coerced into this bogus union, and forced by law to work on the terms granted by the court and engineered by the bosses. The program to cause a rumpus was arranged with much nodding of heads and smiling faces. The hirelings of the bosses were used, and a scab union formed. My dream seemed quite realistic, ifs in fancy I could see the great body of men come out on strike in protest of the new union. Things were moveing some —great solidarity displayed—much holding of mass meetings and processions the various speakers proclaiming “ They would make the bosses sit up.” Everything was to act quickly, the men in good faith placing their dispute into the

(By NEMO)

hands of a grand executive, who would lead the men to victory. It mattered not the executive were to sit hundreds of miles away and fight it out from there. Had they not complete control over various industries? such as coalmining, shipping, etc. Several members of this fighting executive had previously visited the town and preached “ An injury to one is an injury to all,” a-nd while one section was on strike all the others working in other industries were organised scabs.

With this gospel ringing in their ears, the men knew their lousiness was in Safe hands. But in my dream 1 could see pictures of the past floating before me. How the gilded executive, would keep the men on strike, and with honied words have them marking time and receiving strike pay from their fellow unionists all over the country, who were told to keep on working, and from their hard-earned wages contribute towards the strike fund, thus making an injury to one the injury to all. Although the strike would not effect any industry outside the little town, and would not inconvenience the great public. In my imagination this kept on for months, and workers all over the country, while willing to down tools- and make one common fight, were kept at work, and in thousands of instances practised self-denial to forward funds. The strike would thus be prolonged too much for the bosses, who would meet together determined to put the screw on to force the men back under their agreement.

Thanks to the control of the capitalistic press, the public were hoodwinked and believed it a fight between two unions. The bosses would also recognise the tall talk indulged in by the men’s executive so many miles away was merely bluff. I could fancy a change taking place, wit-h the bosses determined to act. More police were drafted in on the pretence of protection for the scab union, peaceful picketing termed insulting behaviour —followed by the strike committee and prominent unionists charged before the court, and in an atmosphere of lies and perjury torn from their wives and families and flung into jail. A systematic influx of pugs and thugs would be imported as strike breakers, but nominally to work as miners. The trains used for conveying the strikebreakers would be driven by unionists. The coal for steaming the engines hewn by unionists sending money every week to the strike fund. The trains and boats- manned by unionists would be used to convey the strikers to jail. While this wholesale jailing continued the coal miners, transport workers, etc., would not be called upon to “ tools ” as a practical protest. The grand executive would tour the country for weeks, hold monster processions, and gain great applause by fiery speeches at large meetings, and carry votes of sympathy for the prisoners, would would be herded as low criminals, fed on low diet, and left to ponder and wonder when they would see their families again. If they could only hear the grand speeches, although not effecting their releasfe, it would cheer them.

Like the pictures on a screen-^-1 could see more police and scabs as the masters declared the mines open for work —with a great flourish of trumpets the scabs being driven to work surrounded by mounted police. The press with big headlines would excite public sympathy for > the persecuted loyal workers. I could imagine the scabs assisting the police to crush the strike by starting a riot and being well filled with whisky at the boss’ expense. Several detachments of police and scab* armed with clubs and revolvers were likely to descend on the workers in their homes, drive the men into the bush, insult the women, and terrify the children, causing innumerable fights, and ending in murder. This would eventually break the strike. All sorts of roumors would filter into jail. The poor imprisoned strikers signed to be on good behaviour in the future, were released, broken down and humiliated. The grand executive proclaims an indirect victory, and called the strike off. Needless to the men who had their homes and belongings in the town could only get work by crawling to the scab union and accepting work under worse conditions than ever.

I shook myself of this ugly nightmare, and dreamed peacefully back to the third week of the strike, which was devoid of any tragedy or excitement. The men had occupied themselves in various ways. A large economic class was formed, and the best ways to win the fight discussed. The bogus union being formed and registered by law, it was considered futile to fight in the

old fashioned way, knowing by past experience of strikes, prolonging the struggle would only play into the hands of the boss. Promises of strike pay were received from all over the country. But the workers knew for every 1/- earned they received 4d., while the other fellow who did not work got Bd. The men working all over the country were just existing, and as they were still contributing their two thirds to the masters, the strikers realised they could not win a financial battle. The executive informed the strikers the machinery was not quite ready and the time not ripe for a general strike, also it would be better to wait till the wool was on the sheep’s back and the shipping in full swing. In my dream 1 could see the men smiling as they had heard that tale before. They determined on direct action right there and then, by hitting the boss in the pocket book, where it hurts him most.

The strike was called “ off,” and the men returned to work, apparently beaten. The bosses wore a broad grin when the whistle blew and the men flocked to the mines. The smiles gave way to anxiety as the shifts went by and xhe miners came up from below clean and dry, instead of the usual dirty face and clothes reeking with filthy water, dirt, and sweat. In my dreamy state I could hear one boss remark: The men had not got into their stride and things would boom along directly. But the batteries were being constantly hung up for want of dirt. The output of ore seemed to be considerably decreased. In my imagination I could see the companies suffering all sorts of misfortunes. One mine would stop for an hour or two as the boilers were priming and wouldn’t steam. Some other shaft would be idle on account of repairing an indicator, or else a bearing would run hot, and just as things got started a rock breaker would go bung. This was most irritating, as a large staff employed on the surface would be idle. The bracemen, aerial tram and battery hands, etc., would be sitting about while their pay still went on. It was as if the men were on strike in the mine instead of in the streets, and the boss paying strike pay. Being asleep I was able to float down the shaft and along the underground workings to find misfortune rife there also. I noticed careless timbermen had a habit of measuring and cutting huge sticks too short, and would waste hours waiting for more, and by using the cages for timber would delay the haulage of ore. The contractors, instead of earning £4 weekly were only drawing half on account of their rock drills constantly getting out of gear, and having to be sent up for repairs. In fancy I could see more men brought to the mines to speed things up a bit. But it was no use, as the pace-makers were being hindered on all sides. Traffic would be suspended on main tracks by truckers “ accidentally ” coming off the line which would tear up a rail or two. It was quite common for large boulders to get “accidentally” jambed in ore passes, and while blasting away the obstruction the shoot timber has in many cases being blown out, and so pile the level with dirt, which meant the stoppage of work in that drive for many hours. While wandering around in dreamland I saw the bosses with coats off giving the men a hand to get things going, and losing a lot of sweat which had been accumulating for many years. Anyhow, a week or two seemed enough of this. For instead of working the mines at a good profit as formerly, the shareholders were steadily losing money. Word was sent to the union officials to meet the managers at their office. But the union took no notice. Always before when a conference has been waflted it was the men pleading, cap in hand. I must have laughed in my sleep, for my funny dream showed me a deputation composed of bosses waiting on the men at the union office. It was explained: The union committee could not account for the misfortunes at the mines, and as there was no accident to anybody, and the miners seemed quite satisfied, and even happy, they could do nothing. _ But it was suggested, if the scab union was dis-? banded, and tlie mines run under the

old conditions, there was not doubt the works would go on quite smoothly. The bosses agreed to this as they recognised the men had a weapon which they could not combat, also the disorganisation of work might spread to other industries. I seemed to have a hazy recollection of one of the bosses swearing under his breath at having to tramp home, his auto having got out of business. Then I awoke.