The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-11
WANT AN AGREEMENT.

THE recognition that the mine work.
ers' organization wants is a written
agreement signed in black and white
by the operators and the officers of the
union in which each agree to do GER
tain things for certain period Of time.
That's the kind of agreement we want.
When the big strike in the fall of 1900
was settled there was no agreement.
The coal companies posted notices an
nouncing that they would grant an in
crease in wages amounting to ten per
cent. and the continuance of existing
conditions for one year from April 1,
1901, to April /. 1902. The men agreed
to accept this increase and the strike
was declared off.
'In other words they agreed to take
the word of the operators without any
written guarantee that it would be car
ried out. And have not the results al
ready proven the folly of doing what
was then done and the idleness of talk
ing about doing it over again? The
companies have nearly all, without eX-
ception, gone back on the promises
made in this notice The operators
have failed to keep their word with the
men and is it any wonder that the lat
Ter are ulSSatlSlleu.
I'm what manner have the operators
gone back on their promise?' asked the
reporter.
II could recount dozens of instances
in which they have done So" replied
Mr.. Nichols. "rhe Delaware, Lacka-
wann and Western company has re-
Gently introduced the swing shift for
-their firemen and have discharged the
men who refused to agree to work
under it, The swing shift is one of
the things that the mine workers Or
ganization has always fought against
and one of the things which it was
thought would not be introduced this
year when the company announced its
intention of continuing existing condi-
tons until April /. Its installation is
IA direct violation of the notice posted
in the fall of 1900.
UNDER THE y. 4 II.
"The Delaware and Hudson company
has failed to continue existing condi-
tions in force. A new system of run
ming the cars close TO the side of one
rib instead of straight down the mid
die Of the gangway has been introduced
in number of the company's mines
down the valley. This necesstates the
taking of the coal from the other side
n distance of eighteen feet in many
instances before it can be loaded on
the car. Under the old system the
men could load from both sides.
This new plan entails the eXpendi-
ture of much additional time and labor
without any additional pay. It's econo-
mical for the company because one side
of the track is kept free from rock ana
when the coal on that side is to be
worked there is no rock or dirt to
clean up. The Introduction of this
system is Il direct violation of its
posted notice that it would continue ex-
listing conditions in force This COM
pany has reduced the wages of its
men at the Spring Brook coliery in
Moosic and has in many other ways
violated the terms of its notice. |
could sit here for hours and tell you
of other violations had the time. The
moral of it all is these notices are lit
tie more than worthless"
Mr. Nichols was exceedingly Chary
about answering any questions regard
ing just what the organization will
insist on in the way of wages, etc. He