The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-08-28
WEIGH MINERS GAVE GOVERNMENT !
CHANCE TO PREVENT A STRIKE.
w. Stale csto',c IS ',c., Alter Expir-
Effort to keer D

eS, says the Christian Science Mon
itor, settlement was recently ar
rived at with regard to the Welsh
coal dispute. The course of events
was sufficiently outlined by cable, but
1t may be pointed out, in view of the
general condemnation of the miners
for striking at the present time, that
not only did they give notice in regu-
lar form to terminate their agree
ment with the owners, but they also
continued to work for fortnight
after the termination Of the agree
ment. in the hope that a settlement
might be arrived at.
The point of view of the miners in
striking was that their demands
brooked no delay.
Up to Government.
On their side, the coal owners,
while refusing to consider one of the
proof of their willingness to subor-
dinate their own interests to those
of the nation in general by placing
themselves entirely in the hands of
the government in the later stages
of the dispute, and expressing their
willingness to accept any proposals
put forward for settlement by the
government.
The following were the points Of
the new wage agreement desired by
the men, in connection with which
they, on April 1, handed in notices
to terminate the existing wages
agreement. They asked:
That new wage agreement should
By esta blished at figure higher
than the maximum rate under the
expiring agreement; that in future
there should be no maximum rate;
that all the 1879 and 1877 rates
should be abolished and replaced by
new standard rates SO per cent and
35 per cent higher respectively; that
all men employed on afternoon and
night shifts should be paid at the
rate of six turns for five worked; and
that every adult surfaceman be paid
a minimum rate of $1.37 per day.
Offered Fixed Scale.
After much discussion, Mr.. Runci-
man offered that the standard rates
of surfacemen below S3 cents per
day should be advanced to that fig
Eure;atsa1 z1ffen on the afEefnoon and
night Shifts should be paid six turns
for five; that haullers employed on
the afternoon and night shifts should
be paid the same rates of wages as
those employed on the day shift; that
a new standard of SO per cent on the
) 1879 standard should be esta blished
and that standards in operation
other than the 1879 standard should
be correspondingly adjusted; this al
teration in the standard not to in
Volve any change in wages; that the
minimum and maximum clauses in
the expired 1910 agreement should
not be operative. Any question of in
depreciation arising on these terms
was to be submitted in writing.
These proposals were considered al
a conference of delegates of the South
Wales coal miners lodges at Cardiff
and ultimately, by large majority
the following resolution was adopted:
THAT we do not accept anything
less than our original proposals, and
that stop the collieries Thursday
next until these demands are con.
ceded"
Strike Six Days.
Then came the strike which lasted
for six days and was terminated by
the Intervention Of Lloyd George and
Arthur Henderson.
The terms of agreement provide
that the proposals made by Runci-
man July /, and the Interpretation
appended to them shall be adopted
subject to exceptions and modifica.
tions contained in the second clause
The second clause provides that the
new rate for surfacemen shall ne
longer be confined to able bodied
wnrkrnor nr1orcf0nd OF ho ~r;
Gus colleries; that the new standard
of so per cent on the 1879 standard
plus 10 per cent shall operate as tn,
minimum; that standard rates for un
derground day wage men, which, a
present, are less than 83 cents PEI
day shall be advanced to 80 cents
per day plus SO per cent; that tn,
agreement shall apply to all work
men now or hereafter employed a
the colleries, or who may be mem
bers of the South Wales Miners fed
GRAFTON; that any matter on which tn,
owners and mems representatives fai
to agree in Incorporating the nev
terms Of agreement shall be referred
to the president of the board, who's,
decision shall be final, and that thi
agreement shall continue in fore,
s<1AICA tIAO Oh Lne war ant
thereafter shall be terminable upo,
three months notice on either side.
No. Penalty Fixed.
Clause provides that the Ques
ton of rates for the anthracite col
lieries shall be subject for INQUIRY
Clause lays down that these new
terms shall come into operation a.
/ soon jas work is resumed, while
=. clause 5, the most striking of tn,
agreement, is as follow:
Il 1T is mutually agreed between tn,
/ parties that no one shall be penal
s. lied for any part taken by him i,
: the present dispute and that every eff
fort shall be made by both parties
and by those 1t may represent t,
maintain and to increase the outpu
# of coal to meet the national need
during the present emergency"
!. 1t will be remembered that tn,
penalties under the act. are $25 pc
day or part Of q day, for any work
man striking in defiance OF the act
while ssfW in the case Sof as lock out 9E /,