Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-21
.2OP. c. RISE OR QUIT,
THREAT OF MINERS
Shamokin Convention Fixes
Rate Of Wage Increase
to Be Asked
NINETEEN DEMANDS MADE

ShamOkin, Pa, Jan. 21.-The tri
district wage convention Of the United
Mine Workers Of the anthracite fields
yesterday decided to ask the opera tors for
20 per cent increase in wages for
contract miners and an increase Of 81
a day for all men employed by the day.
AT last nights session the convention
adopted a demand providing for
standard check off system and also ac-
ccpted all other demands Of the Scale
Committee
The convention instructed the Scale
Committee to perfect arrangements pro-
Nlding for suspension of mining on
April in the event that no satisfactory
agreement had been reached on new
contract TO take the place of the present
one, wnlcn expires March 81.
Other demands provide for uniform
wage scale so that various occupations
Of like character shall command the
same wages; that the eight hour clause
IN the present agreement shall be ap-
pied TO all persons working in and
about the mines coming under the juris-
ton OF the Mine Workers Union: time
and half time for oil overtime work and
double time for Sunday and holiday
work; standard check off system
dead work TO be paid for on uniform
consideration basis: that where coal Is
paid for by the car it shall be changed
and payment made on the legal ton
basis apl dockage eliminated that car.
pcnters and other tradcsmen be paid the
recognized standard rates existing in
the regions. which should not be loss
than ninety cents an hour: that in re-
hiring men laid off. the seniority rule
snail apply that employees of strip
ping contractors be brought under the
agreement that powder be delivered TO
the miners at their working places. and
that where men have been working six
or seven hour days in coIlicrips where
eight hours prevail, they have their
wages readjusted based on normal con-
ditions.
No Serious Opposition
There was no serious opposition 10
the nineteen demands and their recon-
mendations adopted OY to the PROPOSE
ton TO quit work April J..
The action taken by the convention
will be referred to the, international
which meets at INDIANAPOLIS
February IA
John l.. Lewis. international presi-
dent. said to the delegates while the de-
bate on the demands was under way
that 1t can be assumed that the inter-
national body will ratify the expressed
wishes of the anthracite miners
The convention which began sessions
Tuesday adjourned sine die after adopt
ing resolution welcoming Ireland to
the family OF nations.
The 20 per cent demand did not
come as a surprise to the delegates.
An effort was made in committee, it
was said, TO limit the increase to Is
per cent, but it did not meet with
favor by the majority of the twenty
one members of the Scale Committee.
May Suspend April I
The recommendation that the Scale
Committee be instructed to perfect
arrangements" for II suspension of
mining on April | in the event an
agreement is not reached by that time
'ame Hs surprise 10 some Of the
delegates. 1t was expected by some
that this would be left to the Inter
national Policies Committee which
would not want its hands tied in nego.
Iiating with the operators.
1t has been the custom during pre-
vious negotiations to keep the men at
work while negotiations were progress
ing favorably and to make the agree
ment entered into retroactive. Under .
that plan the mine workers were always
assured the old scale plus whatever in
crease was given BY the operators.
In the present situation the miners
have no assurance from the operators
that the present scale will be main
tanned. On the other hand. the OPP
orators have made it known they will
ask the miners to accept reduction in
wages.