The New York herald., 1922-01-21
HARD COAL MINERS
VOTE 20 P.C.JUMP;;
THREATEN STRIKE
Declare That Operators
Must Meet New Terms
by April 1.
PRESENT 10 DEMANDS
Insist on Many Changes in
Their Working
Conditions.
TWO YEAR LIMIT is SET
Union Bars All Individual
Contracts Under the Pro-
posed Wage Scale.
TWO YEAR LIMIT Is SET

SHAMoKIN, Pa, Jan. 20.-The tri-
State convention Of the anthracite
mine workers late to-day adopted the
recommendation of the scale commit
tee demanding a 20 per cent increase
In wages for contract miners and a
one dollar a day increase for all day
men. The convention at the night
session adopted recommendation pro-
viding for a suspension of mining on
April in the event that no salts
factory agreement has been reached
by that date.
The delegates also adopted a de-
mand that the proposed new agree
ment, to take the place or the one
which expires March 81, shall not ex-
tend over period exceeding two
years and prohibiting the making of
individual agreements and contracts in
the mining Of coal.
Substance of Demands.
The scale committee presented to the
convention nineteen proposed demands
on the operators ard three recommended
tions to be carried out by the scale COM
mittee. All were adopted. The de-
mands provide for a uniform wage
scale. SO that various occupations of
Ike character shall command the
same wages; that tho eight hour
clause in the present agreement shall be
applied to all persons working in and
about the mines coming under the iuris-
- H..
and half for all overtime work and
double time for Sunday and holiday
work; a standard check OF system dead |
work to be paid for on uniform con-
sideration basis that where coal is paid !
for by the car it shall be changed and !
payment made on the legal ton basis |
and dockage eliminated; that carpenters |
and other workers get the recognized |
standard rates existing in the region. |
which should not be less than ninety |
cents an hour, that in rehiring men laid /
off the seniority rule shall apply that |
employees of stripping contractors be !
brought under the agreement that pow
der be delivered TO the miners at their /
working places. and that where men |
have been working only six or seven |
hour days in collieries where eight hours |
prevail they have their wages read
justed based on norman conditions.
Smaller Increase Rejected.
The convention adopted a motion that
the demands be considered seriatim. The |
demand for two year contract provoked
no discussion, but that providing for in
creased wages OF 20 per cent. took UP
much time OF the convention. One dele
gate wanted to make the increase IA per
cent. and pledge the union not to deviate
from 1t. 1t was not favored.
The 20 per cent. demand did not
come as a surprise to the delegates, as
il had been said by leaders the anthra-
cite miners favored such an advance.
An effort was made IN committee to
limit the Increase to II per cent, but
It did not meet with favor by the ma
jority of the twenty-one members of :he
scale committee.
The recommendation that the scale
committee be instructed TO perfect ar
rangements" for a suspension of mining
on April in the event an agreement is
not reached BY that time came as a
surprise 70 some OF the delegates. II
was expected by some that this would
be left 20 the international policies COM
mlttee, which would not want its hands
tied in negotiating with the operators.
IT was the custom in previous neeotia-
tions TO keep the men at work while
negotiations were progressing favorably
and make the agreement retroactive.
Under that plan the mine workers al
ways were assured the old scale plus
whatever increase was given by the
operators.
The miners have no assurance from
the operators that the present scale viii
be maintained, buo the operators have
made Il known they will ask the miners
to accept a reduction In wages.
In the discussion to-day a delegate
asked whether the international con
vention had the power 10 modify the
demands OF the anthracite men. and
John l.. Lewis, president replied that
Il was safe TO assume that any express
sion by the anthracite men would re-
celve the Endorsement OF the interna-
tional convention.