◆ SpookStack

C a: Re: JOHN L. LETIS, ET AL LIK bID Albanese, andrew Schrelevious, Dominic Pasquale, Pete Carter, Frank Austin, Tony Plotch, John Ananias, John Sirtout, George dacaway, Emory Jacaway, Charles Bohannon and James Hale. I knew all of the above named men bot they did not tell me they were expelled from P...A. I heard some of the ifficinis of Pll, make the statement that the above named men vere vxp.lle4d because they vere attempting to organize UMT at Mine "BY although I do not “now vhether the statement mide by PLA officials was true or not. "I did not sec any UV officials with the management of Mine "3B" pris: t> lay 12, 1937. "In the Sprinc of 1937 the Fla contract with Line "B" expired and 4 temporary agreament was mide with iin: "3 so that any increase in the woee scile would have b en retroactive to tac date the contract expired. The members of Piia thourht they would eet an increase in the wage scale. I knox of no trouble at Vine "BY" durine my duy in april. In the spring of 1937 the manncem-ne -f Line "BY scemed to want a contrict with PMA to increase the ware sole. but for some unknown reason PMA officials would not sign a contract. Une officirls of Pué made stotements that the wage sezle would be increased with retroictive pay. "About May 12, 1937 I heard FA was to have a meetine with the manigement of Line "EB" about the woce scile. Instructions were given that dry by to loid coal cars sho.t and the manarement would incraase the wore scaie. Therc wis no sentiment on Iny 12, 1937 to strike at Hine ™"" About 2:00 P.lL, May 12, 1937, Den McGill called a strike at Mine "B%. That afternoon made a speech at Mine “B" at which tine they stcrte y would striks until’ the wice seile was increaséd. "In the summer of 1937 on taro ocenrsions representitives brought netitions to my home tobe sitned, neming Fild as my bargcinine agent at wing "5". T voluntarily signee these petitions. "I did not sign 2 UM’ retition in the summer of 1937. "NI heard that 2 new UMT local in the sumer of 1937 . "In Sept. 1937 I wis notified by a representative of PHA that Kine "Bywas to open. On the day Hine "Bt wis to have opened I went to nine “BY to work, but rila refused to work as members of UI) were allowed to go into the mine. I acted 1s a picket from time to time until an injunction wis obtained to prevent picketing. I wis plessed an injunction wis obtained as I did not wnt to pikeet. Tho only reason I picketed was boccuse I thourcht I would h-ve been expelled fron FMA if I did not picket. No one told me I had to picket nor cid anyone throaten me if I did not, I think PA members from ifines other than Mine "B" were brought to Mine "B" to pickct. _ 239