Rákóczi-telep bányái dolgozóinak társadalma (1954–1969)

Abstract

Rákóczi-telep is located at the foot of the Mátra hills, in the valley of the Kazár stream surrounded by forests. The village, like a typical mining settlement, was created thanks to coal mining and enjoyed its heyday until the coal mines were in operation. As a means of the forced industrialization of the Rákosi era, it became a small but defining segment of the region thanks to the slogan “the country of iron and steel”. Its mines operated in the 1950s and 1960s, a cross-section of these decades can be seen thanks to the mining registers. With the help of the registers and the technical and economic data used for our study, it can be observed that the majority of workers in each mine were evidently mining workers. Their work did not require an education higher than elementary school. They gained prestige through work. The second larger category was made up of construction workers, who ensured the uninterrupted operation of mining production work. It is noteworthy that the administration of the mines, which employed hundreds of people, could be managed by a few clerks. Their small number can be explained by the centralization of the company. Industrial apprentices were employed in all of the mines, which also shows that mining supply was considered important at Salgótarján Coal Mine PLC. (Salgótarjáni Kőszénbánya Rt).