The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-20

City IN Ii presented another plan
which varied little from the Nor
thern West Virginia plan. II was
la national plan like the foregoing
one, but It varied IN the provision
as to q flexible wage provision.
Draft New Plan.
Armed with the Northern West
Virginia and the Taylor plans for
future strike settlements, joint
committee composed Of operators
ind miners representatives went
into joint session. The operators
committee was composed OF
Messrs. O'Neill, Central 'Pennsyl-
yania; Pritchard, Columbus, Ohio.
(Southern and Central Ohio):
Miller, Illinois: Taylor, Missouri,
and jenkins, Northern West Ylr-
ginia. This committee met the
miners composed Of Green. Sec
rotary OF the United Mine Work
ers; Harrington, leader Of the IL
linots miners: Mooney, secretary
Of the West Virginia miners; Hall,
active in the United Mine Work
ers Of Ohio, and Brophy. leader
OF the miners in Central Pennsyl.
Yania.
The meeting Of this Joint com.
mittee failed TO produce any re-
suits. The miners representa-
tiTes were a unit in accepting tho
lew plan drafted from the two
foregoing, which was presenteI
to the miners also. Tho operators
failed % agree on the plan, how.
ever.
Final Plan Submitted.
The recast plan from the other
two, which the miners agreed t.
accept, hut with which the opera.
tors failed to agree, was as fol
lows:
/ we, your committee, to whom
was referred the plans and sugges.
lions for a method Of re.organiza-
ton of wage negotiation in the bit
luminous coz; Industry, beg leave to
make the following report.
I'VE believe that the industrial,
economic and competitive con.
ditions Of the gituminous coal in.
dustry at the present time require
a method Of negotiation that will
not only meet the requirements
for flexIbility. but will also re.
spond to q certain degree Of auto.
matte action TO govern the rela.
tons Of competitive districts in or
der to secure the greatest degree
OF stagility and fairness to all dis.
tricts.
Attention is called 10 the fact
that for tho first time iI the his.
tory in the industry, there exists ut
this time practically relative
basic wage scale in nearly all parts
OF the bituminous coal industry. a
wage rate that is fairly level and
basic and reasonably competitive
with other wage rates in the bItum-
nous industry in the United States.
This approximate level base rata is
the key to our proposed plan aud
lis referred to in the following out
line Of the plan as base rate:
"tA) 1t Is proposed that such
district or group district wage con-
ferences OF operators and miners
shall be organized us muy be
agreed upon by this committee on
reorganizion and each dIstrist con-
ference shall establish bymutuai
agreement a base rate for such BIT
! luminous coal fields as arc repre-
scented by the joint parties In said
conferences using the present day
work anl tonnage rates as such
base rate. Where variations from
such base rate are necessary and
defensible on account OF economic,
physical or competitive conditions
in each or any Of said district or
group district; there shall be rate
mutually agreed upon by each Of
said district conferences which
shall be termed the base rate plus
cents, or the base rate minus
cents. The ralos above and below
the base rate to be determined and
scaled on percentage basis, IN &C.
cordance with the local conditions
governing the economic, physical
and competitive condition CT each
field, in order that its product may
/ flow fairly into its natural market,
with reasonable and equitable com.
petition with tho coal from other
districts. These base rates. both
plus and MINIS. shall be determined
upon BY various Investigations, un-
der authority ct such conferences,
by MUTUAL agreement between the
mlnGts and operators OF said dis
trict or group district or by auth.
GRITTY OF a national joint executive
board to be hereafter provided for.
When such rates are agreed to,
they shall be continued for such
period Of years as may DO agreed
upon, not less than two years
nor moro than flYo years. subject
to such readjustments MS are here.
after provided for, Such state, dis.
trlct or group district contracts
shall set up such machinery for
the government OF It's working con.
dltlon and the adjustment and hand
ling OF such dispute or grievances
arising in said district as may be
mutually agreed upon in conform
lily with the base rates, policies
and plans herein outlined as doter-
mined By said conference.
! "(B) A national Joint executive
board OF bituminous coul operators
and miners shall be organized for
the bltuminous coal industry work.
ing under this plan to be composed
OF operators and miners representa-
/ tive OF each producing district in
equal numbers. and said joint exc.
cptive board shall set up and pro.