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5 al Re: JOHF L. LEVIS, ET AL +} bee = bID INTERVIE’ “ITH deductions were too much. Some of them complained ebout the State officers of the PMI! of A, seying nue that although they were only supposed to hold office for two years, that the same men kept control of the Union by switching offices, There was no complaint about the way the local was boing run. It was not a racket rum outfit. I «as pretty woll satisfied with the way the Progressive Union was being run. I went to the meetings. There was not 2 great doal of trouble at the moetigs. Rot many men wont to the meetings, unloss it was a special moeting, but there was no complaint that the local was not beinz run by thc men thomsolvos. *"Beforc the stré e I was satisficzc with thc way the Progrossive Mine \orkers were workins, 2nd the operation of the local. It did not make much differance 9 me, though, which Union I belonged to. In fact, when they had an clectica in Decomber 4 1957 Union wo wanted, I voted for the Unitod Mino orkcrs. oo er. ug s ome sear ; asscesmonts wore loss, and cid not come as atten. That is the rcoson I decided that I would rather belong to the Ut. That election in Beecmber 1357 was a fair election. No one told mc how to vote, or mide any threats or requests of me in any way. I voted just as I pleased at thst election. G Fat the meetings of the PM local, therc was no complaint. There were @& few personal fights among Me mbcrs once in a while, sometimes over things that arsse in connection with the union business, but there was n> compulsion, or anyone making anyone do anything that they did not want to do at any of these mcetings. Wo one was forced to attend or do anything that they did not want to do, Before the strike I did not hear anyone complain particularly about the PMY. I did not hear anyone say anything about switching Unions. JI kmow that several men were tricd by the Union for sctying things agsinst the Union. I did nct hear them say anything though. These men were tried onc or two at a time. I Go not know how long Ke faro +1. etyetiesn the weer teiad mor if ntl af than hed hean triad before beforo the strike the wors tried, nor if all of them hed been tried be the strike. I do not know exactly who the mon were who were tried and kicked out of the union before the strike. I know that Frank justin, Tony Taoroy Jack way, Chart shannon; and Jimny Ba lo here Wicked oul before— the strike. I am not sdre who celae was tried, I did not hear any of thse men say anything about switcing Unions. aI remeber the days before tho strike fairly vel] 3 wan: strike seeurrcd on llay 12, 193 Was “somé’ dfSCussion at the mine about a contract. I do not recall exactly what it was, but a fow cays before the strike actually started there was some telk about a strike then. I reea1ll that Osoar Faleetti called me and ssked = 227 = Leh oe er