Evening star., 1938-08-28
COAL LABOR PACT
SIGNED IN HARLAN,
j. S. DROPS SUIT
Is Companies Are Involved
in Agreement of Union
and Operators.
35-H0UR WEEK, $3.50
PAY A DAY PROVIDED
1880 to 5000 Miners Affected
by Contract Effective From
Sept. l to March 81.

BACKGROUND
Harlan County, Ky.. has been
scene OF labor battles tor pedrs
betneem coal operators and mine
Dorkers, eliminating in gun fohts.
murder trials, charges OF piolence
against deputy sheribs and inpesti-
cation by Senate committee.
Py the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI Aug. 27.-An agree
ment presaging peace in bloody Har.
Ian County" KY. was signed today bv
attorneys for the United Mine Workers
OF America and the Harlan County
Coal Operators Association.
As part Of the agreement. the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board con-
sented to dismiss finally" all charges
OF violation of the Wagner Act against
Is coal companies. some of which are
not members Of the association.
The agreement. still to be approved
by the membership of district 10 of the
U. M. W., was contingent upon board
approval, which was given by Philip G,
Phillips, ninth regional director.
1t provides for seven-hour dav and
nve-day week. basic rate of paw of
$500 day, improvement of working
conditions, standard check-off, and is
effective from September !, 1888 to
March 81, 1889.
$4,000 Workers Affected.
Union attorneys estimated that from
l3,500 to $4,000 miners we're affected
by the agreement. which confirmed ,
contract tentatively drawn I'D At Tate
Springs. Tenn. last week in a private
conference.
The agreement calls for the U. M. W.
and the operators to form a pool to
arrange Unemployment of all men
allegedly discharged in violation of
the Wagner Act before any new
employees are taken on
We are overjoyed," Mr.. Phillips
declared, that the act has been
complied with in the Harlan County
cases. Results there denote the EN-
cheney of the act in securing the
rights of self organisa ton guaranteed
them -"
Forney Johnston and former judge
Charles I. Dawson signed the agree
ment for the operators and James
Golden and Earl Hauck for the union
End Of Strife Forecast.
The Is companies involved are the
Clover Fork, the Harlan Colljeries.
Clummies Greek, High Splint,
Southern Mining, Creech. r. c. Tway.
Cornett-Lewis, Mary Helen. Mahan-
Ellison, Harlan Central. Harlan Fuel.
Hardo. Blue Diamond, Berger and
Three Point Coal Cos.
Union attorneys declared thev had
complete faith in the agreement
and predicted that it would end the
long-standing labor strife in Harlan
county. scene of shootings and other
violence in the last few years.
The companies agreed not to recoe-
nize for the purposes of collective
bargaining any of the so-called COM
pany unions in their camps. unless
certified by the board a. the
appropriate bargaining agency"
Back Pay Provided.
The agreement further called for the
Glover Fork Coal Co. to pav the
U. M. w. $4,000, to be distributed IN
employees entitled to back pay for time
lost because Of dismissal allegedlv in
violation Of the act for this COM
pany to dismiss Al house eviction cases
pending in the Kentucky Court of
Appeals against such employees living
in company houses: and for the COM
pany and the union to share eouaIlv
the litigation costs involved in evic-
ton proceedings already under wag.
Other Clover Fork eviction cases
pending in lower courts are to be
dismissed under the agreement, and
men now in company houses may re-
main there for 80 days or longer
pending and in anticipation Of their
obtaining employment either through
operation Of the pool or other
wise.s
The board similarly agreed to dis
miss charges against the Harlan Gen.
tral Coal Co. in return for re-employ-
ment Of discharged men and dismissal
of eviction cases, with the company
and the union sharing court expenses.
The Harlan Fuel Co. was called
upon to pay the u M. w. $4,000 to
be distributed to discharged employees
covered by board order.