Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-29
Men Want Eight Hour Day

| wv SuSpSus1oU CONTINUED anu stlll con =
tinues.
Men Want Eight Hour Day
Our men in the anthracite field are
acting in accordance with the policy
and under the direction Of the Shame
kin convention Of January of this
year.
They are asking for the establish :
mrnt Of an eight hour system for all
classes OF employees around the mines
and collieries.
There are several thousand en-
ployes In the region, such as pumpmen,
inside engineers and watchmen, now
working underground from twelve to
fourteen hours a day.
Our organization has been striving
for years to attain for these men the
same eight hours a day that Is enjoyed
by the other employees"
What other employees work only
eight hours a day?' ! inquired.
"All other classes OF labor" was
breaker boys, trip riders, consideration
miners and contract miners" said Mr..
Lewis.
Another thing the Shamokin con =
vention demanded Of the operators was
the recognition Of the United Mine
Workers Of America. Only a partial
recognition hos been accorded Us in
recent years.
Says All Must Obey Rules
"Inasmuch as the United Mine
Workers are the signatories to our
contract with the operators, we insist
the mines must conform to all OF our
rules In our contract. And the organ. .
ization sees that this is done.
In addition to twenty years. ex.
perience in such matters, to conducting
strikes for the benefit Of all, we think
that the United Mine Workers are en-.
titled to full recognition and the estab-
lishment Of the check off system, which
cite field"
why do you particularly ask for
the Introduction Of the check off sys.
temp WAS asked.
Because the United Mine Workers
contribute one e-half to the maintenance
Of the Cancellation Board. We pay
large sums toward the expenses Of the
general wage agreement. for the main.
tenance Of wage dispute settlements
and the current expenses OF our organ
ization.
AS 1t is now we are compelled to
hire men to go around and collect this
money. which is an additional item of
cost.
The adoption of the check Of sys-
TEN would end all this expense and
would make 1t more convenient for all
concerned.
The Increased Wage Demand
Another demand Of the Shamokin
convention was for 20 per cent In :
crease in wages. The increase given the
miners since the beginning of the war
was not sufficient to keep pace with the
increa sed cost of living.
The Wilson Anthracite Commission,
which gave the miners an increase of
TN per cent In 1920. announced that
this increase should not carry additional
cost to the consumer. In spite Of that
some OF the anthracite companies almost
Immediately increased the price OF coal
at the mine as much as S1.50 n ton.
Now, as to the miners wages, "
added Mr.. Lewis; 'let me say that the
minimum rate day for 40 per cent
of the labor in the anthracite field is
S4,20 while the maximum wage for
the skilled labor inside the mine is
$5.42.
The average working time of the
men for the last two years, or since
the 1920 contract was made, has been
28O days; that is for 1820-2l and 20,
up to the first of April.
That would give the day laborer an
annual income OF approximately SllOO
while for the skilled labor inside IL
would mean $1400
But from these amounts must he
deducted about 5000 for upkeep, accord :
ing to the estimates OF mine officials and
local officers, thus leaving q net In.
come OF 5000 and $1,000, respectively.
"The United Mine Workers conts,A