New-York tribune., 1920-12-24
Hard Coal Men
Reject Miners
WageDenands
Refuse to Reopen Award
Of q. S. Commission, Say.
ing 1t Would Be Break
ing Faith With Public
Situation Is Seriou 8
Unions Committee Will
Decide on Policy for
Workers Next Thursday

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 23-Declining
to reopen the award of the United States
Anthracite Coal Commission, the mine
operators here to-day rejected the de-
mands Of the hard coal mine workers
tor additional wage increases, a mini
mum $6 day labor rate and the estab-
lIshment of a universal eight-hour day
The operators, however, notified the
miners representatives that they stood
ready to adjust any individual cases
of inequality that may be due to the
application Of the commissions award
Mine workers representatives told
the anthracite operators that they
could not accept any compromise and
stood by their original demands.
They said the entire matter would
be placed before the unions general
scale committee at a special meeting
in Hazleton next Tuesday. at which
time definite policy for future &C
ton" will be outlined.
Ask IS Per Cent Increases
The miners asked general increases
of approximately 13 per cent in sddi-
tion to the II per cent granted them By
the commission. This, they contended
would give them wage advances equal
to the 81 per cent recently awarded the
bituminous mine workers.
The operators, in rejecting the min
ers' proposals, declared that the agree
ment with the United Mine Workers
based on the findings of the commits
sion, was a binding contract, and its re-
pudiation would be breach of faith
with the public, which was party to
the submission OF The award.
They held also that mediation and
collective bargaining have value only
in so far as both sides adhere to the
findings of mediators and the agree
ments which result from such action.
"ln the judgment of the operators
no condition has arisen since the award
Of the commission added the opera
tors reply, "ether in general wage
structure of the country or in the cost
OF lHlNR, WniCu mas plouu uScu q DUA NC II
upon the anthracite workers. On the
contrary, many classes of workers in
other industries have voluntarily &C
cepted a reduction in wages and the
cost of living has steadily declined
The operators concluded their reply
by declaring that this is Il time for
constructive effort ou the part OF en-
ployees and employers in the industry
a time for harmony and coope alton
rather than of discord and Of insistcnt
demand for concessions.'
"Situation Looks Bad
The international organization Of the
United Mine Workers of America was
not represented by any international
c"cial at oday's meeting, as has been
the custom At past conferences.
James Purcell and L. R. Thomas
United States Commissioner of Con
ciliation came here from Washington
at the direction Of Secretary of Labor
Wilson and conferred with the miners
representatives regarding the results
o. the negotiations
I'VE want to do Al we can to pre-
vent troublc,' said Mr.. Thomas, add
ing that 1.-The situation looks bad
More than 125.0oo anthracite mine
workers are affected by the operators
reply, which comes as the conclusion
of a long series of conferences held In
this city between representatives OF
the miners and operators.