Welsh Journals

against the management. The lot of Trade Union agitators in South Wales mines is not very pleasant. The Federation is now strong enough to protect the men where a clear case of victimisation is proved. Often, however, the unwelcome agitator is squeezed out of the mine by apparently unavoidable circum- stances, for example, by the abandonment of the section of the mine in which he is engaged, and once he is got out, his chances of re-employment are very remote. Moreover, the managers of neigh- bouring collieries are warned not to employ the offender, and with this boycott against him, his career in the mines is soon brought to an end. That the men are victimised is well known to the mining community, and it is hardly surprising that a sense of insecurity is created which does not make for harmony between employer and employed. IV. The employing classes have also been unwise in their attitude towards the miners' unions. In the late sixties and early seventies, when Trades Unions of a permanent character were first formed in South Wales through the agency of Mr. Halliday, coalowners used to resort to very strong measures to crush agitators and the organisations with which they were connected. During the past forty years the miners of South Wales have built up one of the most powerful trade unions in the country, and employers are now unable, as of old, to victimise freely the men. Their attitude towards the Union, however, has not changed to any appreciable degree. They regard the Federation with great hostility and suspicion, and they never miss an opportunity of weakening its influence. The Federation exists for the purpose of improving the status, financial and social, of the men and each advance recorded diminishes the owners' chances of increasing their profits. Consequently the Federation must be An Angel caught a fallen star, Gold-shining through the crystal air; And lest he lose it, flying far, He hid it in thine eyes my Fair I He bent to bless thee ere he swept Ethereal spaces with his wings- Into thy lovely face there crept Red, from such roseal hoverings I Ere yet he vanished out of sight, He plucked a bloom of beauty rare, The blue-black blossom of the night- And flung its dusk upon thy hair Blackheath, S.E. Ella E. Walters. opposed. Now the men are very jealous of the Federation, even though they themselves are un- sparing in their criticism of its operations, and they strongly resent any attack made upon it by the owners or any support given by the owners to its opponents During recent years, except in a few instances, the employers have been obliged to recognise the Federa- tion and to negotiate with its representatives. They have, however, consistently declined to assist the Federation by confining employment at their collieries to trade unionists only. A very large proportion of colliery disputes during the last few years, have been disputes over the employment of non-unionists. The coalowners enter into agree- ments with the Federation, acting on behalf of the men, and it is the Federation that is responsible for any increase of wages or improvement of con- ditions that may be granted. The men claim that since the Federation is recognised by the owners rs the negotiating authority, its claims on the loyalty of all mine workers should also be recognised, and they demand that none but members of the Federa- tion should be employed in the mines. The owners, however, will not concede this demand. and in many instances, there is reason to believe, they encourage non-unionism at their collieries. This attempt to weaken the prestige and integrity of the Federation has naturally caused great irritation amongst the men against their employers, and is a prolific source of industrial trouble. The above are only a few of the more important factors which tend to produce and accentuate hostility on the part of the men towards the owners the larger issues will be considered in a further article. Observer. THREE GIFTS.