The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-13
MINERS VIOLATE
UNION CONTRACT
DESPITE ORDERS
CONTINUED rom Page one,

performing the work he did during
the time of the general strike. Il
was within his power 10 appeal the
case to the higher courts Of the
United Mine Workers Of America.
which, In this instance, s.ouId be
the district board, natio6al execu.
tive board and finally the conyen.
ton of the United Mine Workers
Of America. In all cases involving
the membership OF man he has
these channels of appealing his
case. \
"After the SIS fine had b-1 paid
and the membership fee again
furnished the miners local at No.
8 proceeded to fine him 500 for
the same offense and declared that
In case he did not pay the fine tn )
men would not work with him. He
refused to pay the fine and the
strike resulted. The men never
took up the case with the company.
The question involved does not
come under the contract but Is a
matter that rests with the miners.
courts. This without a doubt is the
most serious. breach, Of contract
that has ever occurred in the Fair.
mont region in the four years that
the organization has been in this
coal field.
THE striking coal miners were
appealed to by the district officers
to return to work at once, the OF.
ticers pointing out violations OF
the scale agreement, but despite
that the miners continued to strike.
regardless of the advice Of off.
cials.
eolsehvlkis Blamed
Without any grievance these men
have precipitated strike which
eminates from either personal ami.
mostly or political activities OF the
United Mino Workers OF America
IN this district. The stake appar.
emily has been engineered by prob,
ably a half dozen men who from
evidence of their activity are Boil.
sheytkis and probably members O.
the I. w. w. This is not true Of
all OF the miners there, as the vast
majority apparently are not in
sympathy with these terrorttsts but
are afraid to return to work owing
to the ring-leaders and their influ.
ences. These renegade miners who
engineered this and similar strikes
have no homes or habitation but
wander to all parts Of the country
raising hell wherever they go and
bring disrepute upon the Organiza.
ton. N
I'm fairness to the mine commit.
tee It must be said that 1t did what
Il could to prevent the strike and
Its members were not in accord
with the action Of the ringleaders
Penalties for such iIlc a Il striks,
usually result in the charter OF the
local union being revoked. This
will no doubt be done in this case.
Each man will be obliged to pay
$lo to again become a member OF
the organization. During the inter.
vol the company under the Joint
agreement, which Is law In this
case, has the right to discharge
homes. Apparently the men have
homes. Apparently the mo nhave
not learned the lesson taught to
them previously III courts In North:
ern West Virginia that this man
has a legal action against the local
union for the loss Of wages during
the time lost due to lack of unem.
ploylnent caused by the union un.
I'll the strike is definitely settled.
the striker are at the tender mercy
OF the coal company as to place
OF residence"
1t has been learned on several
occasion that James Mccleary, dis.
trict organizer. made IG'Eorts to
get the miners back to work but
they refused. The trouble dates
back to Saturday, but 1t was not
until last night that the ringleaders
showed a willingness to continue
the strike, 1t is said.