@ScrapheapInd I’m from WV and this is true. Hinton, WV and many other old coal towns still have the old coal company housing that are private now. . They didn’t employ people, they owned and controlled every aspect of life. It happened here in America.
In 1938, these as payment for wages became illegal. Until 1967 mine scrip was still used in WV and KY until it was made unconstitutional.
And yet today, the lower and middle class will argue the validity of Unions and side with the boss man.