The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
WAGE SCALE RAISE TO BE DEMANDED BY UNION MINERS
New Contract Embodying New York Agreement of January "A Being
 Prepared

The Alabama district, No. 20, United Mine Workers of America, will demand a wage scale in keep ing with the basic scale adopted by the bituminous operators and miners in New York on January 24. The Alabama wage scale is de- clared by leaders here to be below that in other states and the Ala bama mine scale committee will formulate scale entailing the ad- vances sought. This scale will then be presented to the operators with whom the union has contracts.
 Speaking of the situation, J. R. Kennamer, president of the Ala bama division of the United Mine Workers, said Saturday,:
 Wages in this district are lower than those paid in any other dis trict in the country. Prior to 1917 the wage scale paid in Alabama was above that paid in Tennessee. In the past three years the Ala bama wage scale has been lower than that of Tennessee.
 At the present time the day wages paid in Tennessee are $6.34 a day. In Alabama the average is under $4 day. In Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and other outlying districts the day wage scale is $7.50 per day. The ton mage basis in other states is $1.O8. The tonnage basis in Alabama Pratt scamp is 82 cents. There can be no good reason why this large difference should be maintained.
 Campaign Underway.
 The coal miners of Alabama are tired of working for such a low wage compared with other districts and have so expressed themselves in the convention just closed. They will or ganize and perfect their organization to the extent that they vii obtain better wages and living conditions in keeping with those of other districts To that end a campaign Is now on in the district"
 Formal statement of the plans de- cided on by the called convention held last week has been officially given to the public. In that it is stated that the scale committee will formulate a wage scale and then the district convention will be recon vened to consider it. Following that the coal operators will be called on to agree to the new scale.
 The Alabama division claims to have more than a hundred local unoins at mines recognizing the union. None of the very large oper- ators recognize the union, but are on the open shop basis.
 Formal Statement.
 The formal statement issued by President Kennamer bearing on the recent convention follows:
 "To the Mine Workers of Alaba ma Greeting:
 "The following Is the action of the Alabama Mine Workers in convention assembled, on above date, at Bir- mingham, Ala:
 Resolved, That 1t is the sense of this convention that the basic wage scale agreed upon by the coal opera tors and miners. at New York, on January "A, 1923, and adopted by the policy committee of the United Mine Workers of America, should be ap- piled to Alabama.
 And, we pledge ourselves to work to that end. Therefore, we invite all mine workers in Alabama to join us in this laudable undertaking by join ing our union at once.
 To Draft New Scale.
 That the scale committee is here by instructed to draft a scale in con- formity with the New York policy and this convention reconvene upon the call of the said scale committee and the district officers.
 Unanimously adopted by the dele gates of District No. 20, United Mine Workers of America, in special con vention assembled, this 9th day ot February, 1923.
 U. R. KENNAMER. President.
 JOE F. SORSBY, Vice Presiden.
 "J. l.. CLEMO, Secretary Treasurer.
 "L B. BAIRD, International Board
 Member"