The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-31
MINERS WILL
Continued from Page One,


ter in the strongly organized central
competitive field, comprising western
PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio and Illinois, and
the southwest interstate district, in
Guiding Iowa, Missouri, Kansas. A.
kansas. Oklahoma and Texas.
For the non-union miners Joining the
shutdown, the union does not plan to
finance their idleness, officials declar-
ing their program for winning the CO.
operation of these workers calls only
for a peaceful appeal" Organizers,
however, have been quietly at work for
some time, and their effectiveness can
not be forecast, but no long Interrupt
lion seems imminent in the nOn-unlon
fields.
Threat Long Standing
For six months the threat of the sus-
pension has been becoming more ap-
parent Last September the miners
made it clear that their policy was OPP
posed to any wage reductions, which
operators generally were asking, but
the exact stand of the union was made
known a little more than a month ago.
Briefly, the miners demands are
that present basic wages be retained
in the soft coal fields, and that the
anthracite tonnage workers receive
20 per cent increase, with 81 day adj
vance being given to the day workers.
The basic rates for the soft coal work
ers range from $1.08 to Sill ton for
pick mining, and the day men receive
$3.50 a day. Exact tonnage rates in
the anthracite fields are said by the
union to be lower than in the soft coal
district, and the anthracite day men
receive from 1920 to $3.50 day.
Aim at Bargaining
Aside from the wage question, the
fight of the miners in the soft Goa
fields is directed toward preserving
the unions system of bargaining thai
has grown up during the last 40 years
In the past, wages have been fixed
by an interstate contract applying tC
western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, with contracts for other
soft coal fields being based on the
interstate contract. The contract ques
lion, however. is not at issue in the
anthracite districts.
In addition to reduction in wages
the soft coal operators have refused
to continue the interstate method O.
contract making. Reductions proposed
by the operators generally amount tC
40 per cent of the prevailing scales
or a return to the wages established
by contracts made in 1916. Some oper
ators also insist in the abolition of the
unions "check-off," the plan by which
operators deduct union dues from tn,
miners wages.
Special Committee
While the unions affairs will be di
rected generally by the international
executive officers and the subordin
ate district officials, all questions o
policy have been vested in a specia
committee of 116 men, representa-;
the various districts of the union. Tht
committee will meet on the call o
President Lewis, who said that futur,
meetings depend on developments o
the strike" AS outlined by the com
mittee, the unions policy on enterin,
the suspension is to permit no wag'
agreements being made for any sof
coal fields until after contract, sub
stantially the same as that endin;
today. has been made for the centra
competitive field. For the anthracite
field. the policy stands for wage in
creases. While the policy is subjec
10 committee change. it now calls TO
ending the suspension in any fielt
only after the miners have approve
=, q new contract by a referendum vote
NEW YORK. March 31-Presidenti
Of the three anthracite district unions
left New York today to administer thu
suspension of work in the mines il
the Scranton, Hazleton and Shamokil
regions of Pennsylvania in conjunc
tion with the nationwide strike OF thu
c0al industry. .
Although the suspension will not be