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From The Militant, Vol. VII No. 9, 24 February 1934, p. 2.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’ Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).
Those pickets who dumped two seven-ton loads in front of North Western Yard No. 1 on the first morning of the Strike:
The action that warned the rest of the Companies what to expect.
That 3 hour running fight up West Broadway to keep a load of coal from being delivered to ex-Sheriff Brown’s greenhouse.
That fighting young worker who seized a cop by the throat and made him apologize (before the crowd) for calling him a vile name.
That in this Strike, mass picketing became a reality – not an empty slogan.
The sight of a hall full of sleepy men jumping to their feet, shaking the sleep from their eyes, responding eagerly to the never ending demands – ten pickets here! twenty pickets there!
The steady line of workers flocking up to join the Union – then leaving to swell the picket lines.
The fact that few – very few, farmers tried to scab by selling wood for easy cash although wood is plentiful – and the farmers needed the money.
The cheer that went up from the coal workers when they learned that the Ice Wagon Drivers, in spite of their officials, had decided to go out in sympathy.
The militant young pickets who in the face of pistol fire and five squad cars full of cops – dumped that load of coal.
That the second and the third night of the Strike – found the fuel oil drivers responding to the pickets’ demands for “no fuel deliveries”. Many drivers refused to work.
The fact: That the entire police force backed the bosses, but that all the coal that filtered through the picket lines, could have been delivered by ONE Union DRIVER in two hours.
That the Strike was so effective after the first day – it required a Doctor’s prescription to get coal through the lines – in case of sickness.
That the Union agreement to let Welfare Coal go, the first day – was violated by any number of greedy coal owners – It was banned after that because of this double-crossing.
That the bosses had to swallow their insolent slander that, “the men can’t organize”, “they won’t stick” – they saw UNION organisation – they saw them STICK – More than that, they saw them FIGHT.
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Last updated: 9 February 2016