The Daily Worker Newspaper, November 14, 1925, Page 12

£ ~ oe # Some Impressions From the Donetz Basin By G. ALLISON. T the present time the coal indus- try is faced with an international crisis. An abundance of evidence has been produced from authoritative sources to prove that production is far in excess of consumption. Every coal producing country has shown a productive capacity equal to pre-war days, and this fact, together with the shrinkage of consumption, due to more extensive utilization of oil and other means of motive power, has in- tensifled competition and spread ruin and chaos in the industry. The effects of all this on the miners in the various countries is disastrous. In Germany the introduction of a long- er working day and the low wages prevailing has provided the coal own- ers of other countries such as Belgi- um, Czecho-Slovakia and the neigh- boring countries with an opportunity of attacking the existing standards. In America and Canada, sweeping wage reductions have taken place and assisted by the existence of large armies of unemployed, the owners are now making attempts to smash the trade unions, N Britain the normal effects of the crisis have been intensified by the political boycott of the U. S. S. R. and the operation of the Dawes plan. The industry has plunged into one of the most distressing periods in its whole history. Already there are no fewer than 160,000 unemployed min- ers, and a large percentage of the re- mainder are working part time. The coal owners making the most of this situation, are attacking the already low standards in the various districts, through partial reductions, etc., and further, the coal owners are develop- ing a new offensive whereby they hope to re-introduce the eight-hour day. In view of this situation it will be very instructive to compare the condi- tions prevailing in the mine fields of a highly intensified center of imper- ialism, Mke Great Britain and the workers*republic of Soviet Russia. For thé’ patpose of contrast we can take productivity, wages, hours and general conditions prevailing in Great Britain, with those prevailing in the Donetz Basin, which district is typical of the other mine fields in the U. S. S. R. In doing so, however, we must be mindful of the different circum- stances that have prevailed in the two countries during and since the war. In Britain, for example, the mines were unmolested during the war. Since 1918 the industry has had suffi- Oient time and opportunity to stabil- ize, and in addition, there has always been ready access to an abundance of the necessary modern machinery and up-to-date equipment, N the Donetz Basin, however, the industry was practically ruined as the result of the civil war and the organized sabotage of the mines by the counter revolutionary forces, as- sisted by Britain and the other im- perialist powers. Tne work of the reactionary forces could be traced in the wilfull destruction of. both the transport system and the mines. The systematic blowing up of bridges and the smashing of mining plants, done by the enemies of Soviet Russia du ing the civil war, are known to every- one, and testified to the tremendous tasks presented to the revolutionary forces after their final victory. Peace has only prevailed three years and even after open hostilities havo ceased, reconstruction has been re ties have been overcome, enterprise abounds everywhere and slowly but surely the economic and social condi- tions of the miners is being improved. Organization of Industry. N order to prove the assertions made in the last paragraph and to understand the factors responsible, it is necessary to deal with he various aspects of the mining industry in the two countries. The first outstanding feature to be met with is the difference in the or- ganization of the industry. Repeated inquiries in Britain have shown that the industry is owned and controlled by very many separate companies, and most of these companies are in- terlinked thru their directorates with the banks, railways, engineering and ship building industries. While it is true that this form of structure tends to reduce petty competition, it is also true that it is responsible for much needless waste of energy, transporta- tion, etc. And in addition, it enables the coal owners to manipulate prices and camouflage real profits. More- over, the coal mining industry in Brit- ain is asked to yield profits on share capital which in some cases has been nearly doubled out of the profits made during the war and the years follow- ing. Finally, on top of all the fore- going, the coal industry in Britain must pay roughly a shilling per ton in the form of royalties to the landown- ers. Obviously such a preponderous machine must have a profound effect on the conditions of the miners. In comparison, the Russian struc- ture is simple. Eighty per cent of the total coal production of the Donetz Basin is mined by the Don Bas Coal Trust. The remainder is worked by similar state trusts (railway, chemical ete.), all of which consume their own production, Through the medium of the coal trust, transportation is reduced to a minimum. Huge schemes of electri- fication, impossible under private en- terprise, have been embarked upon, and the natural resources are. exploit: ed in Termot.-ncjenndcomethat: was} sible. ready we can see that thru the elimination of class interests and class antagonisms, the coal industry in Don Bas has, in a comparatively short space.of time, progressed fur- ther than the long established British industry. Production and Costs. OME interesting facts are disclosed in analyzing the productivity of the backward Russian mines compar- ed with the up-to-date British plants. The latest figures for Britain gave the average output at approximately 1714 hundredweight per man shift, and the cost of production approximately 18.2d per ton, For Donetz Basin the aver- ages are 11 hundredweight per man shift and 22- per ton, These figures show only too clearly the adverse cir- cumstances under which the Russian mines are operating. The low pro- ductivity is almost entirely due to the lack of machinery and the results of the white guards’ devastations. Here we can draw some interesting comparisons. In Britain a large per- centage of the total cost of production goes towards the payment of royal- ties, employers’ insurance, etc. In the Don Bas nine per cent of the total cost of production is set aside for social insurance, cultural funds, miners, rest homes and other mediums for better- ing the lives of the miners. And it is still more interesting to note that despite the lack of machinery, low production, etc., the Don Bas hewer works a six-hour day, 18 days per month, and has one month’s holiday with full pay every year. When sick or injured he receives full wages and all medical treatment free, er knows only too well that over-pro- duction means unemployment for many, lower wages for all, a miser- for hin- self and his dependents. The demand for coal in Russia depends to a large extent upon the home markets and has frequently been restricted due to the backward state of the other in- dustries and particularly the metal industry. In fact, only a short time ago the coal production of the Donetz Basin exceeded the normal demand. and it is interesting to note how the problem was dealt with. In the words of an official report, “The restriction of output was carried out not by a re- duction in the number of miners, but by allowing them longer leaves.” Wages. OMINALLY, the average wage of a miner in Donetz Basin is approx- imately 50 per cent less than the pres- ent wage of a British miner. This, on the face of it, looks exceedingly bad. But again there are other factors to be considered. Here in Russia the miners pay no house rent. Coal and light are also free and in addition the first essentials in the food list, namo- ly, bread meat, milk, eggs, etc., are on an average less than half of the. Brit- ish prices, It would be a mistake, however, to say that the Don Bas miners enjoy ideal conditions or that they are sat- isfied with their lot. Housing condi- tions are very bad. Those dwelling places erected during the ‘old regime are symbolic of the rate at which tho Russian miners were exploited by British, French and Belgian capital and held in subjection by despotic czarism. But it is in this respect that the visitor meets the most inspiring feature. In almost every village hous- ing schemes are being carried out, communal restaurants, communal houses and ordinary family homes are being erected. Those already finished are mansions compared with the hovels into which the miners of pre- war days were herded by capitalism. The cultural side of life is being tended to by the erection of schools, proletarian theaters, clubs, and librar- ies, All of these developments taking place amongst the ruins of the old sys- tem are a real manifestation of the creative power of the freed proleta- riat. The harmonious method in which the Communist Party, the trade unions and the administrative machin- ery of the indastty work together for the common good is a sure sign that the working class are conscious of the power they wield and that they will. succeed in spite of all external opposition, in working out their own complete emancipation. The Role of the Trade Unions. ERE again it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the fundamental differences between the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain and the Russian Miners’ Union before we can hope to appreciate their dif- ferent functions. It is understood everywhere that the British working class were the pion- eers for the world trade union move- ment, and that the miners’ organiza- tion is one of the strongest sections in Britain. The mining industry, in comparison with other industries, is exceptionall free from craft and sc\ tional barriers, and this fact has tend- ed towards making the M. F. G. B. a powerful organization. During its life it has engaged in several heroic strug- gles against the employers and en- joyed a reputation as one of the fore- most sections of the organized labor movement. Yet, despite its record, ex- perience and mass character, its achievements are meager. Beyond the loose support given to the independent working class educa- tional movement in some districts, the miners’ unions and the federations can boast of no other activities on the ed- ucational and cultural field that def- initely equips its membership for the every day struggle or improves their social conditions. maintain a permanent existence and assume a mass character since poli- tical and economic power passed into the hands of the proletariat. Naturally, the prime function is to promote the economic and social in- terests of its membership; but the elimination of capitalism and all forms of oppression and the subsequent elim- ination of class antagonisms and class interests has led to a complete change in the character of ‘that task. The Russian union works in the closest possible collaboration with the man- agerial authorities in the industry. It plays a real part in the control of. in- dustry and is directly concerned in | increasing the productivity of the mines, simply because every advance made and every improvement effected is directly reflected in better houses, higher wages, and more comforts for the miners, With regard to safety regulations, the union, in conjunction with the management, ensures that the lives of the miners are not unduly exposed to the dangers of their occu- pation. Regulations safeguarding the miner from gas and bad air, statutes insuring the safety of the traffic and traveling ways and guaranteeing an adequate supply of all kinds of timber have been worked out jointly. And the trade union pit committtees in- sure that they are carried out to the letter. One example will be sufficient to show the significance of the unions in this respect. In mines that are con- sidered to be very gassy, the pit com- mittee insists that water and com- pressed air are led into all the work- ing faces and that traps are provided on all main roadways to prevent the spread of any explosion that may oc- cur, and in the event of an accumula- tion of gas in any particular section of the mine, the men affected can go home without losing any part of their wages for that day. This, however, is only one aspect of the activities of the Russian Miners’ Union, achievements fail to be recorded in the sphere of social work. In this re- spect the union ‘has taken wpon itself the practical’ work ‘of raising the so- cial and cultural standards of its mem- bership. So for the elimination of il- literacy, political and technical schools for the more advanced, librar- ies, sport organizations, etc. have been promoted by the unions and con- trolled in conjunction with the state department. Not only in the centers has this been done, but in every other part of the mine field. Similar privil- eges are provided for the children, the youth and the women folk, and all sec- tions from the oldest to the youngest take full advantage of the facilities now provided for them. Still another function of the union which cannot be omitted is that of safe- guarding the health of its individual members, Mansions in the Caucasus and the Crimea, previously the proper- ty of the very richest of the old Russ- ian aristocracy have been converted into rest homes. Rest homes not re- possible comforts during their months vacation. : Consequently we see that in every respect the miners’ union plays a real Part in the political, economic and so- cial life of Donetz Basin, compared with which the activities of the Brit- ish unions are meager and insignif- cant. ; TT'HIS fact is reflected in the un- bounded enthusiasm of the ordin- ary worker. The Don Bas miners re- alize in full that they are now con- trollers of their own destinies, As great or even greater . netanial SO ee aR NER RE RRA eA RENE: cm ey ra AR Ne A ARERR Cy