Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-22
COAL OPERATORS| IN
ALABAMA NEEDN
RECOGNIZE UNIONS

MONTGOMERY, Ala, March 20
Recognition of the United Mine
Workers of America Is not obliga-
tory upon the coal operators of Ala
bama and the day wage scale and
sub-contract system are to remain
unchanged under the award announc-
ed today by Governor Thomas E. Kill
by, sole arbiter in the strike.
The governor also declares in his
award that the existing method of
adjusting grievances are found to be
fair and equitable. 1t also is declar-
ed that the operators are under no
obligation to re-employ the striking
miners, but the recommendation is
made to the operators that they re-
employ the unemployed who struck
as fast as places may be found for
them without displacing men who
now are at work, as a means to pro-
mote peace and harmony.
The award says that the freedom
Of contract shall be inviolate and
that agreements may be entered
into by mutual consent.
The governor recommends that
since this strike was WrongfullS
and without the slightest iustifica-
ton called, the organization of the
United Mine Workers of America is
responsible for the present strikers
being without employment, and that
therefore the organization should
support the strikers until they find
work.
The Findings
Here are Governor kilby's find
ingS, which become operative imme-
diately under an agreement with both
miners and operators to abide by the
governors verdict:
l. Recognition of the United Mine
Workers of America is not to be
compelled.
2. The day wage scale and sub-con-
tract system to remain unchanged.
). The existing methods of adjust
ing grievances are found to be fair
and equitable.
4. The operators are under no OBJ
legation to re-employ striking min
ers.
5. The freedom of contract shall
be lnViolate and, therefore. any of
the above mentioned things may be
done by mutual agreement of the par
ties.
Every important point urged by
the union through it's representa-
tives as basis for settlement was
lost. The best the union received
was the recommendation of the
governor that the strikers be re-
employed whenever possible without
displacing those men who remained
on the job throughout the strike.
Union Demands
Van A. Bittner, chief representa-
tive of the United Mine Yorkes OF
America, in a brief and in his ora
argument after he had submitted
the issue to the governor for de-
cision, urged that the following
III 49, J.S1
of the miners if there were tc be a
proper decision on the controversy
1.-Recognition of the union.
Establishment of the -ub-con-
tract system.
S.-Re-employment of the strik-
Reimbursement of the day wage
rate.
5.-setting up machinery to adjust
industrial disputes and avoid fu-
ture strikes.
Governor Ki1by could do nothing
in regard to a permanent arrange
ment for settlement of disputes
and frankly said so in his statement
though he expressed the opinion
th@ local committees acceptable to
employer and employees of each mine
could adjust such controversies.
Kept Public in Mind
The governor declares that he
kept the public in mind throughout
the study ana preparation OF ms
decision and sought to erase from
his mind the impression that set
Element could best be reached
through a compromise.
"One clothed with the authority OF
settling industrial disputes natural
ly desires to do something to ap-
pease all contending factions and
this desire is often conducive to a
compromise verdict, regardless of
the facts" said the governors de-
cision. Because of the effect which
I perceive this finding will have an
effort to resist the almost ove-pow-
ering impulse and face the facts as
they have been shown to exist and
decide the issue without evasion OF
equivocation, to the end that truth
and justice may prevail and that nc
punishment may be inflicted or
those who are not responsible fol
this expensive and regrettable con-
dition."