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Voices From the Colonies

Slave Labour in African Mines

By a Worker Correspondent

I have received a copy of your fighting journal, the "Negro Worker" and enjoyed reading it after which I pass it on to the other workers in the mines. In this way many of us get to read what is going on and begin to feel that the working class is bound to win out.

Now I want to tell you about the terrible conditions that are existing in the Mines at this present time. I work in the Nourse Mines and recently I lost my finger in an accident. Ever since then I have been trying to get some compensation, but have been told that I will get nothing. What are we to do? It is the same when any worker is killed or injured through accidents. Unless one is the son of a chief or is able to make a hell of a noise, nothing is given either to the dependents or to the miner himself. 

Recently we have been told that we cannot be re-engaged for work in the mines, in the towns. Only workers who are actually recruited in the territories and reserves will be engaged for future work. This happens in spite of the fact that thousands of unemployed workers come every day to the compounds looking for work. 

I think we shall have to follow the example of the Miners at City Deep who went on strike against the terrible food, or of the miners at Springs who marched out of the compound to the municipality to protest against the bad conditions in the mine, or of the miners of Wit. Deep who drove the mine manager out the compound in protest against the worsening conditions in the mine and in the compound.

We want you to tell us what has to be done, for we look to the fighting paper of the workers to lead us to better conditions.

***

The first step that has to be adopted by the miners in the various mines is to set up a committee of five or six workers in the compound and underground, and organize them in support of the demands for better food, shorter hours, payment for overtime, accident insurance etc., up to the point of making a stoppage of work to force the granting of these demands by the mine management.

At the same time you should draw up a detailed report stating what demands the workers are prepared to fight for and send this to the African Federation of Trade Unions, P. O. Box 5160, asking them to send an organizer into the Nourse Mines to discuss the whole situation with the miners.

The International Trade Union Committee of Negro Workers will immediately take the necessary steps to get into closer touch with the miners and help the A.F.T.U. to start a campaign for organizing the Nourse workers -- Ed. 

Reactionary Methods in Nigeria

Your last received with thanks. I am glad you are able to see for yourself the terrible oppression under which the Nigerian masses have got to live. 

The government now has adopted two policies of oppression e. g., to reduce 

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[[image]]
[[caption]] Natives in the gold mines of South Africa working for two shillings per day. This is how the capitalists make their super-profits. [[/caption]]