◆ SpookStack

RE: JOB L. LEvIS, BT aL INTERVIEN WIT! Qe | Uhited. ‘T recall that our contract ex- _ (continued) pired in the spring of 1937 and I heard that the company had told our wnion that when a contract was signed it ‘would be with the idea of being retroactive to April 1, 1937. I do not know anything about the activities of the 12 ren. mentioned durin,; that period, I hud heard that about 3 or 4 days before. the strike some of the 12 men had refused to go to work and as IT understand ~ | it they practically fired thenselves by acting that way. I do not mow anything about any union meeting the nite before the strike and I do not kmov exactly when the nen were fired from the uhion. to Work in the ection and most of the nen seemed to be in the pits. at the tine of rike I cidn't hear any argument or discussion of wages. I do recall that about 3 or 4 days before the strike Pete was talking to a group of men and asked them why they werc going to work. He said he wanted to know what wages he would be getting if he went to work. JI think that a lot of the nen started loading the cars short on the day of the strike and it was my idea the nen were loading the cars short to get even with the company for not firing the nen. I worked the whole day until about 2:45 P. H. when we got word that our work was "all done." we didn't know anything about a strike until we got on top and somebody said a strike was on, We all went hone and stayed huuwe for saveral days at least. I remember signing a petition while I was at the wion hall and nebody used any force to have me sim any petitions. I may have signed another petitior but I can't recaii the details. *Oi the in of the strike I went to the nine 4s usual and went / "In the summer of 1937, Domiiick. Pasquale & Joe Albanese cane to ny,’ house and later met me in the street at which tine theyinsYsted that I sign a petition for the United, I renember that they had about 4 dozeg names on the petition. I remenbeur that the last name on the petiton = a - I also saw the names of Piotch & austin. “hey told me to joi up Wi rited and they would get me a betcur job, that is that I could get a better Location down below. They didn't threaten me at all, even when f told them I wouldn't sign their petition, *in September of 1937 I went out to the mine as T heard the rine wag to ogen. I do not remember how we were all notified, but do recall we ware all set to work. I renember that we didn't start to work because Elshoff fy wouldn't agree to recomi,e Progressive as having the sole bargaing rights. I believe that a few of the United men started to work So our nen set up & picket line outside the nine, I stayed out on the picket line most of the tines but we all went home then we were served with an injunction, - “ey renenber that a few days aftcr the injunction was served, an attenp’ - wes made to start the mine again at which tine about 12 or 14 United non ' started to work, but thay didn't work long. I was not at the mino. on that : :day. In December of 1937 there was anN LR B election and 4 everything