Arizona republican., 1922-03-10
Operators
Refuse To Meet With
United Mine Workers
fRepubllcan a. P. Leaaed Mlrei

PlTTSBURG, Pa, March 9-The
Pfttsburg Coal Producers aSsocia-
tion, whose members employ the
$4,000 union miners In the Western
Pennsylvania bituminous field, to-
day reiterated their determination not
to meet the United Mine Workers OF
America and the operators OF the
central competitive field for the pur-
pose OF fixing a new wage scale for
the Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, In.
diana, and Illinois.
"Our decision has been reached.
We will deal with our own men in
western Pennsylvania, union or nom
union, on a working agreement, with
the exception OF the check off, but We
will not be party to a scale for
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Our de-
cision is irrevocable."
These words ended a statement
given out BY the association late to-
day. II recited that when the pres
ent agreement was made a resolution
was passed by the joint conference,
which provided that prior TO the
expiration of that agreement repre-
sentatives OF the union and operators
OF the central competitive field should
meet and fix date for a joint scale
conference to take the place OF the
agreement which expires March 81,
next.
The resolution, the statement said
was customary. having been passed
at previous joint conferences TO set
up machinery TO continue the four
state joint conference.
Oppose Wage Making
THE operators OF the Pittsburg
district" the statement continued,
have determined they will no long
er pursue this practice OF wage scale
making. This conclusion has been
reached for the following reasons:
This practice OF wage making
means that the national officers of
the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca, with miners representatives from
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Western
Pennsylvania, met with the represen-
tatives OF operators of these districts
and negotiated a wage scale for
them. The miners organization then
used this wage scale as a basis TO
fix wage scales in all union districts
in the United States and Canada.
The operators of the Pittsburg dis
trict believe this practice is economi-
cally unsound. The national officers
of the mners' organization insist on
following this practice because it en-
abIes them 10 control wage scales
and policies over North America.
Under it their main purpose is TO
increase the power and strength of
their national organization. They
care nothing for the economic rights
OF any particular district, nor are
they interested in the local operating
and commercial problems OF this dis
trict. IL is for this reason they insist |
Ia. - %
wage making as heretofore car |
ried on.
"This practice results in a scale |
which does not give the Pittsburg |
district a wage scale which its nat !
ura1 advantages and competitive |
surroundings entitle it TO enjoy. A |
wage scale so negotiated results in |
barter in trade Of the economic |
strength Of the district,
Agreement OutliVes Usefulness
THE aim OF the miners is TO force |
A non competitive coal market so !
that wages may be maintained at the |
high level. That this is |
their purpose is established beyond |
question by their demand for no de- |
crease in wages, a six hour day and |
five day week, and by the frequent
of their international |
president to the kress.
I'VE believe that the So called four
state agreement has outlived its use
and is economically disastrous
to the best interests Of the public.
Another reason which influences
US in reaching our conclusion is that
since the last agreement was made
the miners officers and the operators,
together with the companies with
which they are connected, are in
dicated in the federal court OF Indiana
the indictment charging that this
of collective bargaining is in
restraint Of trade and commerce un-
der the Sherman law. We think this
criticism Of the practice amply jus
.iifes us irrespective of the merits of
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