The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-02-13
Copper Companies Reduce Wages A.
ter Conference With Employees and
Secretary of Labor

were reduced 81 per day by the mines
of Butte. The new scale fixes he
wages of miners at s4.75 per day;
shaft miners, $5.25; journeymen, in
various crafts connected with mining,
$3.50. These wages are 80 cents above
the wage contracts under the sliding
scale with the price of copper ranging
around Is cents. Although the fixed
prices of copper during the war was
first 26 cents and then 20, the wages
paid according to the sliding scale rep
resented 80 cents. A comparison of
the wages actually paid during the war
and those that would have been paid
if the companies had adhered to the
sliding scale is given below:
Comparison.
War Sliding
Price Basis scale
26-cent copper in Butte 1915 $500
2o-cent copper In Butte 500 4.5O
1S-cent copper in Butte AIS 4.2o
The announcement of the cut was
generally anticipated in Butte, and
also in other sections of the west
where similar conditions prevailed in
connection with the copper mining in
dustry. Representatives of the crafts
involved had attended the conference
of mine workers with Secretary of
Labor Wilson when the copper situa-
ton was fully discussed and agree
ment was reached that the operators
could not continue production under
conditions that prevailed during the
war.
Statement by Manager.
The formal announcement of the
change of wages was made by John
Gillie, manager of the Anaconda
company, in the following statement:
1.-The condition of the copper mar
ket prevailing since the armistice has
made it impossible to continue sub
stantial copper mining operations I'M
der the present wage scale. These
conditions are fully and accurately
set forth in the statement given out
by the federal department of labor at
the end of the conference between the
department officials, labor represen-
tativs from the copper districts and
certain of the officials of operating
companies, just concluded at Wash
ington, and which statement is being
published quite fully in the press.
"Since the cessation of the war I'M
til February l there were practically
no sales of copper, but in spite of this
the operators have maintained the
scale of wages paid prior thereto.
Even at the present quotations OF Is
and a fraction cents the sales cover
but a small proportion of the pro-
duction. However, the resumption of
copper quotations by the Engineering
and Mining Journal gives hope of
copper market which may permit the
operations to continue.
Compulsory Situation.
1.-THE officials of the Anaconda COM
pany, while they are compelled to
make substantial reductions in the
wage scale. are reluctant to make
these reductions down to the letter of
the contracts and sliding scales IN
force with it's employees, and 1t has
been decided that until further notice
it will pay upon these contracts and
sliding scales, with an addition there
to of so cents per shift. The scale to
be in force commencing February T.,
1919, is clearly shown by the notices
+Lo n,ninaQ and
plants today, as follows
Notice to Employees.
"'Since February l the Engineering
and Mining Journal has published
quotations for copper ranging from 1S
TO 1874 cents per pound, the quota
tons for February being IS to 1SA
cents.
1.-THE Anaconda Copper Mining
company will, commencing February
7, 1919, without altering or AFFECTING
any existing contract or obligation, pay
its employees the scale of wages pro-
yided for in the different wage con-
tracts and sliding scales paid. and, I'M
til further notice, in addition to SAID
sales, Will pay OV Scheo PSA oA~
Commencing February the wages
for regular miners will be $475; smart
miners, 1925; journeymen in the dif-
ferent crafts, $3.50, and wages OF other
employees will have like reductions.
THESE wages will apply while cop
per sells from II to under 10 cents
and until further notice, will not pe
reduced VI the copper price should fail
below II cents.
".ANACONDA COPPER MINING
COMPANY
Labor Bureaus Statement.
Copies of the statement given ou'
Inv department of labor at conference
between labor representatives from
conner districts and department Off
cials. under date of February 5, have
been received in Butte. The statement
says:
1.-The conference of the workers II
the copper mines of Arizona. Utaf
and Montana with the secretar!
of labor came to an end yesterday
and the representatives of the mel
left last night to lay the results be
i,pinno RpfOr