上世(shi)紀(ji)二(er)三十(shi)年代，棗莊中興公司的(de)(de)(de)煤(mei)炭年產(chan)(chan)量已達(da)到60～80萬噸，員工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)增(zeng)加到8500多(duo)人(ren)。表面上看，中興公司越(yue)(yue)(yue)辦越(yue)(yue)(yue)興旺(wang)，實力(li)越(yue)(yue)(yue)來越(yue)(yue)(yue)雄厚，成為當時名揚全(quan)國的(de)(de)(de)三大煤(mei)礦之(zhi)一(yi)。但(dan)深(shen)入(ru)井下(xia)、深(shen)入(ru)礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)中間了解企(qi)業(ye)內情(qing)，就會知道(dao)，中興公司的(de)(de)(de)財(cai)富是靠煤(mei)礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)血汗和(he)白骨一(yi)點(dian)(dian)一(yi)點(dian)(dian)累積起來的(de)(de)(de)。那(nei)時煤(mei)礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)在政治(zhi)上受(shou)(shou)壓迫，經濟上受(shou)(shou)剝(bo)削，過(guo)著極其悲慘的(de)(de)(de)生活(huo)。資(zi)(zi)(zi)本(ben)家把礦工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)分(fen)(fen)(fen)為“里工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、外(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”。“里工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”是少(shao)部(bu)分(fen)(fen)(fen)操作機電設備的(de)(de)(de)技術工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)和(he)護礦警察，資(zi)(zi)(zi)本(ben)家怕他們(men)(men)消(xiao)極怠工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)嚴重(zhong)影響生產(chan)(chan)，對他們(men)(men)的(de)(de)(de)剝(bo)削比(bi)外(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)稍輕，每月工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)資(zi)(zi)(zi)勉強維持全(quan)家生活(huo)，年底還能(neng)分(fen)(fen)(fen)點(dian)(dian)“花紅”。其余大部(bu)分(fen)(fen)(fen)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)一(yi)律劃(hua)為“外(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”，實行(xing)“包(bao)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜”管(guan)理制(zhi)度。各包(bao)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜人(ren)數不等，少(shao)的(de)(de)(de)有十(shi)幾(ji)(ji)個人(ren)，最多(duo)的(de)(de)(de)幾(ji)(ji)百人(ren)。公司按契約規定，把需(xu)要支付的(de)(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)資(zi)(zi)(zi)開(kai)給各包(bao)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜，然(ran)后由(you)大包(bao)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)頭分(fen)(fen)(fen)給若干個二(er)包(bao)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)頭、查(cha)頭，再由(you)他們(men)(men)分(fen)(fen)(fen)給“外(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”中的(de)(de)(de)大工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)（刨炭的(de)(de)(de)）和(he)小工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)（抬筐拉車的(de)(de)(de)）。由(you)于包(bao)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)柜層(ceng)層(ceng)盤剝(bo)克扣，工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)資(zi)(zi)(zi)到“外(wai)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)”手里已經很少(shao)，維持自己的(de)(de)(de)吃穿都很困難，更難養一(yi)家老小。

礦工在下井干活生命安全(quan)毫無保(bao)障。因井下積水多(duo)，隱患多(duo)，支護非常簡陋，三(san)天兩(liang)頭死(si)人。

資本家和封(feng)建(jian)把頭的(de)殘酷壓迫和剝削，激起(qi)了礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)工們的(de)強(qiang)烈反(fan)抗。最初，通過抱團結伙直接與(yu)打罵克扣他們的(de)把頭進行斗(dou)(dou)爭；有(you)時通過怠(dai)工、逃跑、在井下(xia)暗處毆打惡霸把頭等方式，發(fa)泄心中的(de)不滿。但(dan)這種斗(dou)(dou)爭都是零星自發(fa)的(de)，并不能從根(gen)本上改變他們的(de)命(ming)運。直到中國共產黨派人(ren)到棗莊(zhuang)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)區發(fa)展工人(ren)運動，建(jian)立革命(ming)組織，才(cai)引導煤礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)工人(ren)一(yi)步(bu)步(bu)走上革命(ming)道路。

1926年(nian)3月(yue)，紀(ji)(ji)(ji)子瑞(rui)（又(you)名紀(ji)(ji)(ji)濟民，1895年(nian)出(chu)生(sheng)，膠縣里岔村人(ren)(ren)）受黨(dang)(dang)組(zu)(zu)織委派到(dao)棗莊(zhuang)中興(xing)公(gong)司開展(zhan)工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)運(yun)動并從事建黨(dang)(dang)工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)。紀(ji)(ji)(ji)子瑞(rui)到(dao)棗莊(zhuang)以(yi)(yi)后(hou)，以(yi)(yi)在(zai)井下干小工(gong)(gong)(gong)為掩護(hu)，經常(chang)走門(men)串戶，深入淺出(chu)地(di)向(xiang)(xiang)工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)講解(jie)工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)為什么(me)窮？資(zi)(zi)本(ben)家為什么(me)富(fu)？以(yi)(yi)及誰養(yang)活誰的(de)革命(ming)(ming)道(dao)理(li)，啟(qi)發(fa)(fa)工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)的(de)階級覺(jue)悟。先后(hou)秘(mi)密發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)張(zhang)福林(lin)、蔣福義(yi)等10多(duo)名工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)為共產(chan)黨(dang)(dang)員，并建立了(le)棗莊(zhuang)礦(kuang)區第一個黨(dang)(dang)支部(bu)。1927年(nian)6月(yue)26日，北伐軍(jun)到(dao)達棗莊(zhuang)時，紀(ji)(ji)(ji)子瑞(rui)組(zu)(zu)織工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)歡迎北伐軍(jun)進礦(kuang)。隨后(hou)在(zai)北伐軍(jun)政治部(bu)的(de)支持下，召開了(le)數千工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)參加的(de)控訴斗(dou)爭資(zi)(zi)本(ben)家大(da)會。接著紀(ji)(ji)(ji)子瑞(rui)又(you)主持召開了(le)工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)代(dai)表大(da)會，正式成(cheng)(cheng)立了(le)棗莊(zhuang)礦(kuang)區工(gong)(gong)(gong)會。并擬定了(le)向(xiang)(xiang)中興(xing)公(gong)司資(zi)(zi)本(ben)家提出(chu)改善工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)待(dai)遇的(de)16條要(yao)求，積極爭取工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)利益(yi)。后(hou)因蔣介石背叛革命(ming)(ming)，形勢逆轉(zhuan)，紀(ji)(ji)(ji)子瑞(rui)按照黨(dang)(dang)的(de)部(bu)署，離(li)開棗莊(zhuang)。1928年(nian)，由(you)于(yu)戰亂(luan)影響，中興(xing)公(gong)司生(sheng)產(chan)陷入停頓，大(da)批工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)失(shi)業(ye)，流浪(lang)街頭，賣兒(er)賣女。共產(chan)黨(dang)(dang)員張(zhang)福林(lin)聯系原工(gong)(gong)(gong)會的(de)骨干分子，成(cheng)(cheng)立“失(shi)業(ye)工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)工(gong)(gong)(gong)會”，把失(shi)業(ye)工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)團結(jie)起來(lai)，向(xiang)(xiang)資(zi)(zi)本(ben)家提出(chu)復工(gong)(gong)(gong)，發(fa)(fa)放救濟，承(cheng)認工(gong)(gong)(gong)會的(de)合法地(di)位等要(yao)求。資(zi)(zi)本(ben)家不答應，工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)堅決不復工(gong)(gong)(gong)。資(zi)(zi)本(ben)家見軟硬(ying)兼施(shi)無效，后(hou)來(lai)就勾結(jie)國民黨(dang)(dang)中央黨(dang)(dang)部(bu)的(de)特務強(qiang)行(xing)逮捕了(le)張(zhang)福林(lin)等4位工(gong)(gong)(gong)會領導(dao)人(ren)(ren)，鎮壓了(le)這次工(gong)(gong)(gong)人(ren)(ren)運(yun)動。

張福林等4位工人(ren)領(ling)袖先(xian)后被(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)押(ya)(ya)送到泰安、濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)關押(ya)(ya)。1929年(nian)4月(yue)，他們在(zai)濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)國(guo)民黨山東省高等法(fa)院第一(yi)監獄(yu)關押(ya)(ya)期間(jian)，見(jian)到了(le)(le)不(bu)久(jiu)前被(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)關進(jin)同一(yi)監獄(yu)的紀(ji)子(zi)(zi)瑞(rui)。原(yuan)來紀(ji)子(zi)(zi)瑞(rui)在(zai)青島四(si)方機(ji)車車輛廠組織(zhi)工人(ren)運動(dong)(dong)時被(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)敵人(ren)逮捕。后來又認識了(le)(le)獄(yu)友中共(gong)一(yi)大代(dai)表鄧恩(en)(en)銘。是年(nian)7月(yue)21日下午。紀(ji)子(zi)(zi)瑞(rui)和(he)鄧恩(en)(en)銘發動(dong)(dong)和(he)組織(zhi)集體越獄(yu)行動(dong)(dong)，逃出了(le)(le)7個人(ren)，其余被(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)敵人(ren)截回監獄(yu)。因逃跑的1人(ren)在(zai)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)京被(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)捕后叛變，供出了(le)(le)濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)監獄(yu)中的共(gong)產黨員。紀(ji)子(zi)(zi)瑞(rui)、鄧恩(en)(en)銘在(zai)監獄(yu)中受(shou)盡(jin)酷刑，但始終堅貞不(bu)屈，不(bu)向敵人(ren)低頭。1931年(nian)4月(yue)5日凌晨，紀(ji)子(zi)(zi)瑞(rui)、鄧恩(en)(en)銘和(he)20多名共(gong)產黨員被(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)殺(sha)害(hai)于(yu)濟(ji)(ji)(ji)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)緯(wei)八(ba)路刑場(chang)。