Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-30
Mine Union
Officials Defend
Check-Of System

4. Phone of the peculiar practices
of the soft coal industry is the
check off, system, collecting
agency for union dues. To large
extent, it is the financial backbone
of the United Mine Workers of
America. The operators ALSO use it
for collecting money due them from
their workmen.
In brief, the "check off, results in
a part of miners wages being with
held for a specified payment-his
dues, in case Of the union. and va
rious expenditures. made in his be-
half by his employer, in case of the
operator.
The origin of the Check OFF, is
unknown. Some operators have de-
clared that any settlement must pro-
vide for it's discard, and the union
a few months ago threatened a ma
tion-wide strike in its defense. How
ever, it has been a recognized method
of collecting union dues for rs years,
and practiced longer than that time
by the operators for their own benefit.
lie lcdtldl ClTCult COull VI
at Chicago recently ruled that as
far as existing contracts disclose
the check off is the voluntary
assignment by the employee of so
much of his wages as may be neces-
sary to meet his union dues and his
direction to his employer to pay the
amount of the treasurer of his union:
in that aspect the contract provision
is legal, and quite evidently there
are many lawful purposes for which
dues may be used"
An attack on the CHECK off the
unions part of it's made in an
indictment, pending in the court here
charging operators and miners in the
Central Competitive Field with CON
Spiracy to violate the Sherman anti
trust law. Incidental to the main
charge that the operators and miners
combined to control production and
prices. the indictment referred 10 the
check off" as Indicating a close
relation between the two, and de-
claring the purpose, as well known
and understood" was to provide
funds for the unions alleged efforts
to stop coal production at non union
mines. Action in the case has been
at standstill for months. Oppo-
Eents of the CHECK off" also assert
that it is reflected in the price of
coal.
In defense of the "check-off." union
officials interpret it as a convenient
method, mutually agreed between
employer and employee, for collecting
dues" President John l.. Lewis Of
the United Mine Workers of America.
adds that opponents set up the
'check-off as straw man for the
basis Of other propaganda"
The check off is Not the creation
Of the union" says Mr.. Lewis. 1T
was founded years ago by the opera
tors, and is still practiccd by them.
Company rent, supplies tools and 4
long, long list of cbargeS--some al
most unique-are found in the oper-
ators' check off, and down at the
end of the list appears this monthly
item: United Mine Workers Of
America dues, IS cents
The importance to tho union Of
the 'check-of' 10 convenience"
Where the 'chcck-of for the union
first started is Not known. The
operators, it seems. practiced it fol"
themselves, and when they got TO
bargaining with the union, tradition
is that the miners said now YOU
nave checkcd-om everything else
just check off our dues"
Before this, the tradition is that
the local unions had committees to
stand at the mouth Of the mine on
the day when dues were to be paid,
ana II a miner refused payment. the
committee sent him home. This
practice is said often interfered with
mine operations by reducing the
needed labor supply, and increased
the Willingness of Operators to adopt
the check off, for the union.
The CHECK off, became n part of
the interstate wage agreement made
Tor the Central Competitive Field in
1925 and not only has been renewed
by subsequent agreements but also
has been pushed into other fields
until now two-thirds of the half
million union miners settle dues
by the "check-off. However, the
check-oit' is not universal through
out the coal industry. 1t is not used
IN the partly unionized soft coal
he!ds, and also is missing in the
PENNSYLVANIA anthracite fields.