White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-24
LOCAL LABOR
SITUATION IS
UNCHANGED

D'of@
u Boyle and Labor Commissioner
pohert +. Cole have been in rhe dis
..,o, since Thursday in consultation
:. tho case. the labor trouble that
ipreloped at Copper Flat the past
roat vet remains an unsettled con-
aton.
4 bunch of men. ninety more or
,e.s employed as railroad engineers,
sremen and switchmen by the Ne
rsda Consolidated Copper company,
have ouit work. and operations in
otber departments OF the big plant
in other parts of the district are
srally affected But little ore is
moving over the Nevada Northern
arc line. and work at the concen-
,rator AZ MeGill is practically at n
\ sandstIll. Unless the differences
sre very soon adjusted between the
sompany and the Nevada Consoli-
lated railroad men handling the ore
Al the pit. business throughout the
district will feel the paralyzing effects
Il the walk-out
The situation is an unusual one.
helng not n strike in the strict sense
,g the word The unions are not in
yolred and the railroad men In the
ibree departments named have acted
through committees selected By
them. The trouble was predicted
shen the management Of the Ne
vada Consolidated Copper company
vas served with a written notice
ron the railroad firemen demand
ihe an increase in pay Of so cents
per day. and giving the company
swenty-four hours in which To meet
the demands AS the demands we're
mol met the men quit work at the
expiration OF the twenty-four hours.
Similar action followed on the part
Of the railroad engineers and switch
men engaged In the ore service for
the Nevada Consolidated company at
Copper Flat
Up 10 the present time the unions
with which the men are affiliated
have not endorsed the action. the
men having quit work because their
asked-for increase in pay was not
granted II is a ease whore small
representation Of union men sign an
nltlmatum FOR an increase In pay.
and then cult the Job. thereby throw
ne oui Of n Job several hundred 9th
er union men. because BY the nature
Of the employment of the smaller
number Of dissatisfied men. their
quitting work leaves nothing to do
for the majority
But leaving out the ethics of the
case the situation is none-the-less
serious. with results far-reaehing.
There seems TO be still but strong
andereufrent of public opinion that
the walk-out and the way II was done
vas untimely and ill-advised There
Is a growing feeling in the minds OF
all loyal citizens that in this time of
war stress differences as TO wages
between employers and employees
can be settled without interruption
to work and its attendant losses
The consensus OF opinion seems
10 be that when workmen go upon a
strike before every means for salts
factory adjustment has been consid-
cred Is putting the days pay ahead
OF fealty and duty to the country.
With men dying and suffering In the
greatest war ever fought in the his.
'ory OF the world, a war for the sur
wal OF democracy over autocraey,
is not an inspiring commentary on
patriotism when n great and vital
industry Is crippled in output and
thousands Of citizens more or less
dependent upon the welfare OF the
district are ineonvenieneed and at
ioss because of the viewpoint OF soc
day With labor bureau at
washington and labor representa-
I'VE In President Wilson's cabinet, II
aoes seem as though the action Of the
topper Flat non-contents was pre-
mature.
IN connection with the foregoing,
"me interesting data Is being
brought out as to the living condi-
uohs at The mines. For instance,
maffied man in the employ of the
Nevada Consolidated Copper com
pahy ean rent a four-room house md
"ath FOR SIS per month. or AT rate
oi about $500 per room, figuring
oath as a room, while elsewhere In
Tue district the rates are about $3.50
1900 per room. In addition to
h's he can purchase coal at 800
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