The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-14
PENN. MEN
WILL co To WORK
Scale of 1905 is Basis of
Agreement
BOTH SIDES HAVE SIGNED
"open Shop" and the Method Of Col
Letting. the Check Weighman's
Fund Were chief Subjects
of the Discussion.

Harrisburg, Pa, July 1S.-The men in
the collieries of the central Pennsylvania
bituminous coal district, numbering nearly
10000 who have been idle since April 1,
when the mines closed down because the
operators would not restore the scale of
1903, will resume work on practically the
same scale as 1905.
The agreement to do this was made to-
day In a conference that was attended
by prominent operators. President John
Mitchell and Secretary Wilson, Of the
United Mine Workers of America, and
representatives of the district disaffected
territory.
The preliminary conference was held
in Philadelphia on Tuesday on which
terms were made and these were submit
ted to the districts which sent their men
here today to ratify them.
The session lasted six hours, and after
much discussion. principally on the open
shop" and the method of collecting the
check weighmens fund, the following
scale was agreed upon:
l. Pick mining per gross ton, &c cents;
per net ton. $3.50 cents; machine load
shall be five-ninths of the pick price, plus
y cent, and cutting and scraping, whether
by the ton, day or task. will be advanced
6.45 per cent above the price paid in
1905.
All other day wages and monthly men,
both inside and outside the mines, and
all yardage shall be advanced 5.S5 per
cent above the rates paid during the scale
year ending March 81, 1906, except all
mechanics and skilled labor who are to
be paid such prices as shall be mutually
agreed upon between the undersigned and
the mechanics employed.
Coke men to receive an advance of
B.s5 per cent over the rates paid during
the scare of the year 1905.
@ Eight hours of actual work at place
of work shall constitute a days work
for all labor inside the mines, except
pumpmen and monthly men, who shall
work the number of hours required, all
outside labor to work the number or
hours required and to be paid as per
rates specified.
& There is to be no change of working
conditions and working customs under
this scale from such conditions and Gus
toms as have applied and have prevailed
at this mine and have been In practice
thereat during the scale year ending
March 81. 1905.
In addition to the adoption of the scale
the following agreement was entered into
for machine loading
THAT during the term of this agree
ment 1t is agreed that the price of ma
chine loading shall be 1873 cents per gross
ton or SO 6 cents per net ton"
The other provisions are
Any regularly employed miner may at
his option authorize deductions from coal
mined for use of a check weighman's
fund, such amount of coal as he may
elect to subscribe, provided such authority
Is duly acknowledged in writing by each
Individual miner and such authorization
releases the company from all liability
from account thereof There shall be no
collection from day labor by the COM
panes working N mines or outside. The
collection of coal for check weighman's
fund shall be collected from sheets on
tipples.
The right to hire and discharge the
management of the mine, and the direc-
ton of the working forces are vested ex-
clusively in the operator and the United
Mine Workers of America shall not
abrIdge that right. 1t is not the intention
of this provision to encourage the dis
charge of employees or the refusal of en-
ployment to applicants because of per-
sonal prerogatives or activity in mat
tiers affecting the United Mine Workers
of America.