Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-21
''Check-Off
System Has
A History

Indianapolis, Ind. Nov. 1s.-Like
wastes Of Texas following the infre-
auent rain storms, Or the earthworms
that crawl out on steaming pavements
Of northern cities after summer
showers the "~check-off7' system which
the United Mine Workers Of America
propose to defend, with a nation
wide strike as their weapon has
sprung ron a mysterious source. It
has no birthday. It has tust grown
been passed by unnoticed while other
principles have been fought over by
miners and operators.
The check-oh has neverS.sbeen an
issue in the biennial wage controver-
sizes between committees of the oper-
ators and miners. but has been ac-
cepted, union officials say, as the most
convenient method of collecting dues
and assessments from members of
the organization. The c~heck-off,
however, is now considered almost
fact it is so essential to- hat President
John L. Lewis has sent word to dis
trict officers that discontinuance OF
the plan should be regarded as break
Ing the. existing wage agreements
with operators. A temporary injunc.
ton issued By Judge A. B. Anderson
in U. S. district court ~forbidding o n
tinuance of the check-on prompted
Mr.. Lewis message.
History Is Traced
N ow That the controversy has aris-
en- miners n operators are giving
serious consideration to the HISTORICAL
development of the check-off system
while the general public wonders
what is the nature Of this terse tech
nicality that threatens to stop their
fuel supply as winter approaches.
The check-ofr. as explained by per
sons familiar with the mining indus.
try. Is the plan by which the coal
companies deduct from miners wag-
es their dues to the union. their spe-
cial assessments. money due the COM
pany for supplies, rem Of company
houses and, other incidents such as
hospital service and maintenance Of a
mine physician Instead Of the union
member paying his dues directly tc
local union officials the dues are re
tanned by the company and paid tc
the secretary of the local union.
When the check-off originated i.
not clear. Some of the older mem.
bers of the Union declare that it wa:
first adopted in Indiana. while other!
declare that it's use in Ohio ante'
dated its use in the Hoosier state.
The check-off. it is said. has had {
various coal fields at different times
1t was first used by the companies
to deduct from miners wages TIL,
sums first due the company for. rem
and supplies. With the growth Of Il
union district agreements were for
INFLATED by which the companie!
checked off the miners dues.
Past Conditions Responsible.
The peculiar conditions existing il
the mining industy more than TWEEN
ty years ago were in part RESPONSE
Bile for the check-off. it is also point
ed out AS the union grew and gained
strength it became a practice at diff
ferent mines for committees to stanl
at the mouths of the mines and re
fuse to permit miners to enter VIII,
had not paid their dues and thus wer
not in good standing. 1t was not .un
common that the non-payment o
dues was caused by the inprovidenc
Of the miner. The result was lchao
IN the labor supply and finally. re
suited in the operators agreefnk T
deduct the union dues from the pa;
OF the miners as a means OF ass1rin
miners. This condition Is said nj
have. existed in a number OF states,
The 4,check-oH had never been IN
corporated in any Interstate 5wag
agreements. according to WiniaI
Greene, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Th
United Mine workers, 1t was brough
into the settlement of the coal strik
inh 1918, however. At this time til
operators t~contended for abolition {
the check-or. but, dropped this cor
lention when the strike was settled /
Accordance with the findings OF TIL
bituminohsd coal commission appoint
red by President Wilson.