The little village of Revi, a few miles from the west coast of Italy, just opposite the island of Zlba, has been for 4 months the scene of a bitter struggle between the people of the village and the Marchi company who own the pyrites mine on which the village is totally depen— dent. On Sept. 10, 1963, the company announced that it was sacking 160 of the 300 miners employed by them, The entire village was united in its resistance, answoring first with a strike, then with occupation of the pit. A first group of 40 volunteers remained for 30 days in bitter cold 1000 feet down — 350 feet bolow sea level — ending with 84 hours hunger strike, They were followed by a second group. Protests began on a nation-wide scales; 8000 demonstrated in the nearby town of Grosseto3 sympathy strikes took places questions were asked in Parliament, Finally a@ provisional agreement was reached, and the men were able to leave the pit - but it was at once cynically broken by the company, and the miners occupied the pit again,
This struggle is not the result of high labour costs or of a market crisis — the protexts given by the company for the sackings. On the contrary, pyrites is tho minoral in highest demand by the chemical industry (and at present Italy is importing it from Russia, Jugoslavia and Spain) and the Ravi pit has exceptionally low labour costs. The reason for the dismissals is that the company intends to sell its mining concession to the vast Montecatini chemicals monopoly, and it will get better terms if the mine is free from ties so fas as possible, But Ravi is a desperately poor village, and the mine is its lifeblood, Its people cannot, and will not surrender in this struggle. They have two courses open to thems cither to force the company to withdraw the dis— missals, or to induce tho government to take the mine into public ownership. The three unions which represent tho miners are united in demanding the second solutions tut Montecatini arc powerful, and nothing has been done by the government.
It is now 4 months since the last pay packet was seen in Kavi. The village is at starvation level, and appeals for help have been org= anised throughout the Italian left - what comes in is not enough, tt it has enabled them to continue thoir struggle. Any Pritish socialist wonting to send a contribution should address it to Livio Trentin, Mondo Nuov, Rampa Mignanelli 12, Rome. This would be a great opportunity for the TUC to show solidarity with the Italian workers, and since the miners are supported by all three trade union contres in Italy there should be no ideological obstacle, ;
From a special correspondent.