上(shang)世紀二三(san)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)代，棗莊中興(xing)公司的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)煤(mei)炭(tan)(tan)年(nian)(nian)產量已達到60～80萬噸(dun)，員工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)增加到8500多人(ren)(ren)(ren)。表面上(shang)看，中興(xing)公司越辦(ban)越興(xing)旺(wang)，實力(li)越來(lai)越雄厚，成(cheng)為當時(shi)名揚全國的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)三(san)大(da)煤(mei)礦之(zhi)一(yi)。但深入(ru)井下、深入(ru)礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)中間了解企業(ye)內情，就(jiu)會(hui)知道，中興(xing)公司的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)財富是(shi)靠煤(mei)礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)血(xue)汗和白骨一(yi)點(dian)一(yi)點(dian)累(lei)積起來(lai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。那時(shi)煤(mei)礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)在政(zheng)治上(shang)受壓迫，經濟上(shang)受剝削(xue)(xue)，過(guo)著(zhu)極其悲(bei)慘的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)活。資(zi)本家(jia)把礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)分(fen)為“里(li)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、外(wai)(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”。“里(li)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”是(shi)少部(bu)分(fen)操作機電設備的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)技術工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)和護礦警(jing)察，資(zi)本家(jia)怕他(ta)們(men)消極怠工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)嚴重影響生(sheng)產，對他(ta)們(men)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)剝削(xue)(xue)比外(wai)(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)稍輕，每月工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)資(zi)勉強維持全家(jia)生(sheng)活，年(nian)(nian)底還能分(fen)點(dian)“花紅”。其余大(da)部(bu)分(fen)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)一(yi)律劃(hua)為“外(wai)(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”，實行“包工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜(ju)”管理(li)制度。各包工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜(ju)人(ren)(ren)(ren)數不等，少的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)有十(shi)幾(ji)個人(ren)(ren)(ren)，最多的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)幾(ji)百(bai)人(ren)(ren)(ren)。公司按契約規定，把需(xu)要支付的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)資(zi)開給各包工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜(ju)，然(ran)后由大(da)包工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)頭分(fen)給若干個二包工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)頭、查頭，再由他(ta)們(men)分(fen)給“外(wai)(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”中的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)（刨炭(tan)(tan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)）和小(xiao)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)（抬(tai)筐拉(la)車的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)）。由于包工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜(ju)層(ceng)層(ceng)盤剝克(ke)扣，工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)資(zi)到“外(wai)(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”手(shou)里(li)已經很少，維持自己的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)吃穿(chuan)都很困難(nan)(nan)，更(geng)難(nan)(nan)養一(yi)家(jia)老小(xiao)。

礦(kuang)工在(zai)下井干(gan)活生命安全毫無保(bao)障。因井下積水多，隱患多，支護非常簡陋(lou)，三天兩頭死(si)人。

資本家和封建(jian)把頭(tou)的(de)(de)殘酷壓(ya)迫和剝削，激(ji)起了(le)礦工們的(de)(de)強(qiang)烈反抗。最(zui)初，通過抱團結伙直(zhi)接與(yu)打罵克扣(kou)他(ta)們的(de)(de)把頭(tou)進行斗(dou)爭；有(you)時(shi)通過怠(dai)工、逃跑(pao)、在井下暗處毆打惡(e)霸把頭(tou)等方式，發泄(xie)心中(zhong)的(de)(de)不滿。但這(zhe)種斗(dou)爭都是零星(xing)自發的(de)(de)，并(bing)不能從根本上改變他(ta)們的(de)(de)命運。直(zhi)到(dao)中(zhong)國共產黨派人到(dao)棗(zao)莊礦區發展工人運動，建(jian)立革命組(zu)織(zhi)，才引(yin)導煤礦工人一步(bu)步(bu)走上革命道路。

1926年(nian)(nian)3月(yue)，紀子瑞(rui)（又名(ming)紀濟(ji)民(min)，1895年(nian)(nian)出(chu)生，膠縣里岔村人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)）受黨(dang)(dang)組織(zhi)委派到棗(zao)莊(zhuang)中(zhong)興公司(si)開展(zhan)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)運動并(bing)從事(shi)建(jian)黨(dang)(dang)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)作。紀子瑞(rui)到棗(zao)莊(zhuang)以后(hou)(hou)，以在(zai)井下(xia)干小工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)為(wei)掩護，經常走門串戶，深入淺出(chu)地向工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)講解工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)為(wei)什么窮？資(zi)本家為(wei)什么富？以及誰養(yang)活誰的(de)(de)革命(ming)道理(li)，啟(qi)發工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)階級覺悟。先(xian)后(hou)(hou)秘密(mi)發展(zhan)張福(fu)(fu)林(lin)、蔣(jiang)福(fu)(fu)義等(deng)10多名(ming)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)為(wei)共產(chan)黨(dang)(dang)員，并(bing)建(jian)立了(le)(le)(le)棗(zao)莊(zhuang)礦(kuang)區第一個黨(dang)(dang)支部。1927年(nian)(nian)6月(yue)26日，北伐軍(jun)到達棗(zao)莊(zhuang)時，紀子瑞(rui)組織(zhi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)歡迎北伐軍(jun)進(jin)礦(kuang)。隨后(hou)(hou)在(zai)北伐軍(jun)政治部的(de)(de)支持下(xia)，召(zhao)開了(le)(le)(le)數千工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)參加的(de)(de)控訴斗(dou)爭(zheng)資(zi)本家大會(hui)。接著紀子瑞(rui)又主(zhu)持召(zhao)開了(le)(le)(le)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)代表大會(hui)，正式成(cheng)立了(le)(le)(le)棗(zao)莊(zhuang)礦(kuang)區工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)會(hui)。并(bing)擬定了(le)(le)(le)向中(zhong)興公司(si)資(zi)本家提出(chu)改善工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)待遇的(de)(de)16條要求，積(ji)極爭(zheng)取工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)利(li)益。后(hou)(hou)因蔣(jiang)介(jie)石背叛革命(ming)，形勢逆轉，紀子瑞(rui)按照(zhao)黨(dang)(dang)的(de)(de)部署，離開棗(zao)莊(zhuang)。1928年(nian)(nian)，由于戰亂影(ying)響，中(zhong)興公司(si)生產(chan)陷入停頓，大批工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)失業，流浪街頭，賣(mai)兒賣(mai)女。共產(chan)黨(dang)(dang)員張福(fu)(fu)林(lin)聯系原工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)會(hui)的(de)(de)骨干分(fen)子，成(cheng)立“失業工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)會(hui)”，把失業工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)團結(jie)起來，向資(zi)本家提出(chu)復(fu)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)，發放救(jiu)濟(ji)，承認工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)會(hui)的(de)(de)合(he)法地位等(deng)要求。資(zi)本家不(bu)答應，工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)堅決不(bu)復(fu)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。資(zi)本家見軟硬兼施無效，后(hou)(hou)來就勾結(jie)國民(min)黨(dang)(dang)中(zhong)央黨(dang)(dang)部的(de)(de)特(te)務(wu)強(qiang)行逮捕了(le)(le)(le)張福(fu)(fu)林(lin)等(deng)4位工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)會(hui)領(ling)導(dao)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)，鎮(zhen)壓了(le)(le)(le)這(zhe)次工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)運動。

張福(fu)林(lin)等4位工人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)領袖先后被押送(song)到(dao)泰安、濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)關押。1929年(nian)4月(yue)(yue)，他們在濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)國(guo)民黨山(shan)東省高(gao)等法院第一監獄(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)關押期間，見到(dao)了(le)不久前被關進同一監獄(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)的(de)(de)紀(ji)子瑞。原來(lai)(lai)紀(ji)子瑞在青島四方(fang)機車車輛(liang)廠組織(zhi)工人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)運動(dong)時(shi)被敵(di)(di)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)逮捕。后來(lai)(lai)又認(ren)識了(le)獄(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)友中共一大(da)代表鄧(deng)恩(en)銘(ming)。是年(nian)7月(yue)(yue)21日下(xia)午。紀(ji)子瑞和(he)鄧(deng)恩(en)銘(ming)發動(dong)和(he)組織(zhi)集體越獄(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)行動(dong)，逃出了(le)7個人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)，其余被敵(di)(di)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)截回監獄(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)。因逃跑的(de)(de)1人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)在南(nan)(nan)京被捕后叛變，供出了(le)濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)監獄(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)中的(de)(de)共產黨員(yuan)(yuan)。紀(ji)子瑞、鄧(deng)恩(en)銘(ming)在監獄(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)中受盡酷(ku)刑(xing)，但始終堅貞不屈，不向敵(di)(di)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)低頭。1931年(nian)4月(yue)(yue)5日凌晨(chen)，紀(ji)子瑞、鄧(deng)恩(en)銘(ming)和(he)20多名共產黨員(yuan)(yuan)被殺害于濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)緯八路(lu)刑(xing)場。