The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-03-15

to enter into contractual relations with
! it,
Results of Sliding Wage Scale.
| A board of conciliation was created,
consisting of three representatives of
the miners and three OF the operators,
to continue as long as the commissions
| award was in force-three years-and
| TO settle all grievances presented by
either side. Any case that could not
be decided by the board, it was pro-
vided. was to be referred to an UNI
| pire appointed by United States cir
cult court Judge Among the minor
rulings was one which figures in this
years emands-namely, the right OF
the miners in any colliery to employ a
check weighman or check docking boss
! to make sure that the weighing of coal
at the pit mouth was fairly done.
An important decree of the commits
sion was the establishment of the slid
! ing scale. The operators in subsequent
disputes have based much of their con-
tentions upon this instrument of ad-
justment of wages. Under its pro
visions mine workers receive part of
the benefits Of advances in coal prices
above certain point. The minimum
wage rate was fixed so that fall in
coal prices could not affect the work
ers' earnings. The sliding scale pro-
vides that for every 8 cents increase
above $3.50 ton in the prices of do
mestic sizes of anthracite at tidewater
the earnings of all classes of mine
workers shall be increased l per cent
An advance to $4.75 a ton, for instance,
would mean a general increase of 5
per cent in the wages.
In 1906, about two months before the
award of the strike commission was to
expire, John Mitchell, representing the
mine workers, sent to George f. Baer
representing the operators, a PROPOSE
tion for a new agreement. One de-
mand was that the award should be
for period of one year only. Other
demands were for the same increases
asked for in 1902 and for the abolition
Of the conciliation board. After a
suspension" in the anthracite fields
for several weeks the proposition of
the operators to continue the award
of the strike commission for three
years more was agreed upon, and the
miners returned to work. In 1909
there were rumors of a strike and of
a refusal on the part of the mine work
ers to enter into the agreement for an
other period of three years, but an ami
cable settlement was reached and sign
ed in Philadelphia on April 20, 1909.
The covenant there fixed upon is the
agreement under which work is now
being carried on and reads:
First.-The rates which shall be paid
for new work shall not be less than the
rates paid under the strike commission s
award for old work Of similar kind or
character.
Second.-The arrangement and decisions
of the conciliation board permitting the
collection of dues on company property
and the posting of notices thereon shall
continue.
Third.-An employee discharged for be-
ing a member OF a union shall have a right
to appeal his case to the Cancellation
board for final adjustment.
Fourth.--Any dispute arising at a col
liery under the terms Of this agreement
must first be taken up with the mine fore
man and superintendent by the employee
or committee of employees directly inter
ested before 1t can be taken up with the
conciliation board for final adjustment.
The employees shall issue pay state
ments designating the name of the COM
pany, the name of employee. the colliery
where employed, the half month. the
, amount OF wages and the class OF work
performed.
| Tlo Noxx, na,nonJ.