One of the last National Miners Union strikes was of coal miners in Gallup, New Mexico. 21-year-old strike leader Martha Roberts reports.

‘Gallup, New Mexico Miners Strike’ by Martha Roberts from Labor Defender. Vol. 9 No. 9. October, 1933.

The miners of Gallup are waging a struggle of great significance. The 1000 that came out on strike last Tuesday August 28, are still standing solid. The spirit is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen. The one serious aspect here, however, is the matter of relief. Martial law, intimidation, and all other efforts to defeat the strike were unsuccessful. Now however we face a grave danger due to the fact that we cannot feed the strikers.

Our organizations have not responded as they should have. 1000 miners are involved, 95% of the miners working here. An anti-union campaign is started in an effort to force the UMWA on the miners, who at the company union meeting rejected the company union. On the basis that the union is “Communist” a dance permit to raise funds for the Cleveland Trade Union Conference was refused. When questioned by a committee, Mayor Watson informed us that there is no law preventing us from holding a dance but “I’m doing it anyway what are you going to do about it.” The press comes out with slanderous articles against the union leaders UMWA agents were planted in the locals of the NMU to create a split. The Company called in the workers and demanded that they join the UMWA. The workers presented their demands to the companies on August 26 and gave the employers 48 hours to answer. The strike was declared on August 28. The demands included the following: pay for dead work, recognition of mine committees, right of all employees to join a union of their own choosing, and that the companies comply with the federal and state mining and safety laws

The employers replied immediately that they refused to consider the demands and implied that the nature of the union was the cause. The miners charged that Section 7a of the NRA had been violated.

At strike meetings the locals voted to come out solid. Mass picket lines began. At 9:30 Tuesday night the miners were informed that deputies were refusing to permit the night shift of pickets to relieve the afternoon shift. Miners voted to go up en masse. Picket line of 900 went to Gomerco, smashed through the deputies lines and stayed all night. Picketing was unrestricted the next day. The afternoon papers reported that troops were on the way.

The troops arrived on Wednesday night. The papers maintain that they were sent on the basis of a telegram sent by Deputy Sheriff Roberts stating that the pickets were armed.

Committee went to see General Woods (National Guard Head) demanding that he inform Governor Seligman that we demand removal of troops since no violence occurred and none was contemplated. We were told to return late that night for a reply.

We were informed then that the Governor sent no reply, and were handed a declaration of martial law. This prohibits the meeting of any more than five people at any one time, later changed to three; mass meetings to be held only on permit granted by the General. All other organizations are permitted to meet (e.g., Chamber of Commerce, UMWA).

Picket lines were driven off company property but stationed themselves on Federal Highway 666, in groups of five along the road. They were driven off at the point of bayonets and told by Gen. Woods that part of the highway leading to the main mine belongs to the company. Next morning all picket cars were stopped 4 miles from company grounds. Armed guards forbade further travel.

Evictions are taking place daily. Medical aid is being refused strikers. One has died of a poisoned jaw. Child scabs are being used. One 14 year old miner had his leg broken in the mines. He was taken to a private home for treatment because the company is afraid of publicity.

The strike is still 100% solid, but the relief situation is very grave. The relief station is completely empty and no help has come yet from the outside. Martial law has not broken the miners’ spirit. We must not allow hunger to weaken this splendid fight.

Labor Defender was published monthly from 1926 until 1937 by the International Labor Defense (ILD), a Workers Party of America, and later Communist Party-led, non-partisan defense organization founded by James Cannon and William Haywood while in Moscow, 1925 to support prisoners of the class war, victims of racism and imperialism, and the struggle against fascism. It included, poetry, letters from prisoners, and was heavily illustrated with photos, images, and cartoons. Labor Defender was the central organ of the Scottsboro and Sacco and Vanzetti defense campaigns. Not only were these among the most successful campaigns by Communists, they were among the most important of the period and the urgency and activity is duly reflected in its pages. Editors included T. J. O’ Flaherty, Max Shactman, Karl Reeve, J. Louis Engdahl, William L. Patterson, Sasha Small, and Sender Garlin.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/labordefender/1933/v09n09-oct-1933-lab-def.pdf