The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-04
OFFICIALS ASSERT MEN ARE NOT YET SATISFIED
Committee Now Engaged in Drafting Prices to Agree With Those Approved on January 24 in East by the
 Federal Coal Commission

The Alabama division of the United Mine Workers of America, through President J. R. Kennamer and Secretary J. L. Clemo, has re- iterated demand for what they claim to be full accord with the wage scale agreed on at the New York conference of operators and miners in January and declares that the wage advance just announced by the Tennessee company and to be followed by other operators who are on the open shop basis is below what the division says should be paid under the agreement.
 It is claimed that the Pratt seam base of 94 cents is 15 cents out of |line and it is declared that, while gcommon labor in other districts gets }S7.50 per diem, in Alabama it will average less than $4.5O per day. Official Statement.
 
 has been issued:
 "Miners' Wage Increase Result of
 New York Agreement and Activi-
 ties of the United Mine Workers
 of This District.
 We note from the daily press that the miners of this district are go- ing to receive an increase in wages averaging from 121a to 15 per cent. We note it is stated that this in- crease came without request or de- mand.
 "'He who runs may read On Jan uary 24, basic wage scale was con- summated in New York between the United Mine Workers of America and the coal operators of Illinois, Indi- ana and Ohio, and which has been adopted by all outlying districts. This is a continuation of the wage scale which has been in effect for the past three years.
 During the same three weeks, in the Alabama district, the pick min ing price. based on the Pratt seam, was reduced from $1.O9 to 62 cents per ton before the advances Doasted of in the above mentioned press article were given. The cumulative increases since these wholesale reductions. in cluding the voluntary increase to go into effect March 1G, bring the min ing price to 94 cents per ton-still l5 cents per ton below what should be paid under the New York agreement. The day wage scale in Alabama. with the cumulative increases, will aver age less than s4.50 per day (many less than s4), making s3 per day less than the New York agreement,
 "Not Yet Satisfied"
 .'This Is one of the reasons that the miners of Alabama are not yet satisfied.
 This is one of the reasons why a district convention of coal miners was held on February 8 and In this city. where the following ac- tion was taken
 "'Resolved, That it is the sense Of this convention that the basic wage scale agreed upon by the coal op- orators and miners at New York on January 24, 1923, and adopted by the policy committee of the United MiEe Workers of America, should be ap- piled to Alabama, and we pledge our selves to work to that end. There fore, we invite all mine workers in Alabama to join us in this laudable undertaking by joining our union at once.
 "'The scale committee is hereby Instructed to draft scale in con formity with the New York agree ment and this convention to be re- convened upon the call of the scale committee and the district officers
 ''The mine workers of Alabama feel that they are justified in their dis satisfaction until their wages and condition of employ ayment compare fa- vorably with those of miners in other parts of the country, and the or ganization will continue its activi- ties until these things are accom- plished.
 "J. R. KENNAMER, Pres.
 "J l., CLEMO, Sec.'