The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-15

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Workers of America has contracts with
the operators of fourteen states and
districts, fixing the amount the miners
shall receive per ton the amount the
various classes of labor shall receive
per day, the number of hours which
snail constitute days work, and the
methods and machinery FOR the adjust
Hent of local grievances by joint con-
ference with the mine owners. These
are mutual contracts which are adj
vantageous to both miner and operator
and protect the public against the eff
fects of strikes or lockouts
Fewer Strikes.
The reports of the United States
government on strikes in the mining
industry show that the number and
duration of strikes has been materially
reduced each year since the system of
Joint conference and mutual agreement
has been introduced.
Where the United Mine Workers of
America is recognized and contracted
with it assumes the responsibility of
disciplining its members. The trade
agreement has proved effective in re-
stralnlng wOrknen from engaging in
local or genera. strikes. There have
been no strikes of any magnitude in
any of the coal mining states in which
trade agreements exist. We seek to
establish the same methods of adjusting
wage differences in the anthracite field.
1T is said that the competition be-
tween anthracite and bituminous coal
Is reason upon which the anthracite
operators oppose a recognition of the
miners organization. That this objec-
ton is neither valid nor consistent is
clearly demonstrated by the fact that
many of the railroads officered by the
same men who control the anthracite
coal mines enter into trade agreements
with railroad organizations, a majority
of whose members are employed upon
other and, competing roads. .
we demand recognition because We
know that permanent peace and friend
~ relations can best be maintained
through & trade agreement with the or
ganizatiOn which our people have elect
ed to join. Fully 90 per cent of the
employees of the anthracite coal mines
are members of it from choice: they de-
sire to retain their membership in it.
1t was the United Mine Workers Of
America that conferred with the presi-
dent of the United States in relation to
the submission of the issues involved in
the coal strike to this commission; it
was the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca that was requested by the president
to end the strike; it was the United
the strike at an end; it was the mine
workers that sent the men back to
work and it is the United Mine Work
ers of America that pledged to accept
the award of this commission
Failure to recognize the organiza-
ton was the cause of the many local
strikes against which operators and
mine workers Jointly complained. There
have been many local strikes during
the past year, the fault of which rests
upon operators and miners alike. The
miners failing to secure redress for
their wrongs, the companies having
refused to treat with their representa-
tives, had no choice but to submit to
injustice or inaugurate a strike.
Recognition of Union.
Recognition of the union does not
mean dictation or interference by men
not employed by the companies: If
SIMPLY means that officers selected bv
the mine workers shall exercise SUPER
vision over the organization or shall
counsel with the mine workers as II
how their trade affairs shall be con
Quoted. The miners have as much fight
10 select such spokesman TO act for
them, to present their grievances. TO
their affairs, as have the
stockholders or any one of the anthra-
cite coal companies to elect their Off
GERS to perform like functions.
For the information Of the commits
sion we herewith outline more steci-
hcally plan of procedure which, if
adopted, would prevent local strikes
and preserve peace and harmony during
the time covered by the award which
you are empowered to make.
F1rst-Thesrate of wages, the hours
OF labor, the method of weighing. and
paying for the product of the miners
work should be Incorporated in an
between the representatives
of the various coal companies and tba
representatives of the organization of
which complainants in this case are
members.
Seeond-There should be a committee
OF conservative mine workers selected
by the employees at each coIliery. if
should be the duty of this committee
TO Cooperate with the mine foremen
IN the adjustment of local disputes