Evening star., 1923-09-09
Agreement, immediately Ap-
proved by Scale Committee,
Must Be Ratified by Miners
of Three Districts.
WORK MAY BE RESUMED
BY 18th OF THE MONTH
Pact Establishes S.Hour Day, and
Fully Recognizes Union and
Principles of Collective Bargain.
ing-Expires August 81. 1925.
if Adopted.
By the Associated Press.

~ LUG AesVSiapcu
HARRISBURG, Pa, September S
Representatives of anthracite oper-
ators and miners tonight agreed
upon the terms of proposed two
year wage contract. The union scale
committee Immediately approved the
agreement and fixed September II
as the date for a tri-district con-
vention at Scranton at which it will
be submitted for ratification by the
miners.
Favorable action by the tri-district
convention, union officials said, would
result in a reopening of the mines.
closed under suspension orders since
September 1. on September 10. The
new contract will be signed by rep
resentatives of the miners and oper-
ators in Harrisburg, but the union
leaders said 1t would not be neces-
sary to await the formal signing 20
resume work.
Agreement is Signed.
The agreement was signed at
o'clock tonight.
The agreement would make the
next contract expire August 81. 1925.
On Pinchot's Lines.
The new agreement followed the
lines of Gov. Ptnchots four-point
plan Of settlement. granting gener-
ally 10 per cent increase in wages,
establishing the eight-hour day and
recognizing the union and the prin-
1 cinlal nf
"check-off,' the plan by which oper-
ators withhold from the mems pay
union dues. which the union sought
to have incorporated. was not in
| Guided in the governors plan and.
likewise, it was not in the agree
ment reached tonight.
The agreement provided for re-
vision Of colliery rate sheets. bring
ing them up to date" It also cor
tanned additional provisions relating
to the settlement of grievances
through the board of conciliation
| and the making of rates for new
work. This provision, section num-
Der IL of the agreement. contained
a clause that no contracts are to be
made with individual employees, az
-SSS $4,000 tic +! !cSS14US SCdiG TaLeS
or mot in keeping with customary
practice" An added clause which the
operators sought was included. and
| provided that the section is not 10
be construed to deny the operator the
right to change the method of min
| ing.
Wage Rates Antiquated.
The recommendation of Gov. Pinchot
| that the conciliation board be author
| ized to make study of the wage
| rates in the anthracite field was in
cluded. The governor in his state
ment to the operators and miners de-
| clared "the whole body" of wage
rates in the anthracite field is an
| tiquated, haphazard and honeycombed
| with inequality" He urged the board
| be authorized to make study within
| a year and the agreement reached
| tonight would provide that such a
study be completed before the expira-
| ton of the proposed two-year con-
tract and this study be submitted to
the next Joint conference. If any ad-
| justment in rates is recommended dur
| ing the study this is to take effect on a
date set by the board.
| The signing of the new contract. If
the agreement is ratified by the tri-
district convention, is expected to
| take place within few days after
| the convention acts.
Text of Agreement.
The text of the agreement reached
! tonight follows:
! The terms and provisions of the
award Of the anthracite coal strike
! commission and subsequent agree
ments made in modification thereof
or supplemental thereto. as well as
| the rulings and decisions of the
| board of conciliation, are hereby rati-
| fed, confirmed and continued for a
further period of two years ending
August 81, 1925, except in the fol.
| lowing particulars, to wit:
81. The contract rates at each col.
| liery shall be increased 10 per cent
| over and above the rates established
| under the award of the United States
Anthracite Coal Commission in 1920
''2. The hourly, daily or monthly
rates of outside and inside company
| men. working on the basis of an
eight-hour day, shall be increased
| 10 per cent over and above the rates
| established under the award of the
| United States Anthracite Coal Com
| mission in 1920.
Put on Eight-hour Basis.
"3. The hourly, daily or monthly
rates of pump men and engineers
formerly working a twelve-hour cross
! shift and changed to an eight-hour
basis under the award of the United
States Anthracite Coal Commission
| in 1920, shall be increased 10 per
| cent over and above the rates estab-
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