The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1941-04-24
Employers Sabotage


which in reality designed to cripple labor
unions and make the nation safe for plutoeracy.
We are reading much about the antistrke
legislation in the Congress. all of it introduced
and advocated by legislators who never voted
for labor bill in their lives.
And we have read reams of bah about the
Wagner Act being one sided and giving
rights and privileges to labor and denying
them to employers"
Now. what we are wondering is where are
these editorial writers comments on the sabo-
tage bills and the anti-strike bills failing to
penalize employers2
Both of these measures penalize labor and
favor employers. but we fail, after diligent
search. to find the Cumberland News or the
Cumberland Evening Times mounting off in
the manner they have about the Wagner Act.
There are no penalties for employers in
either Of these bills and heaven knows there
should be il the nation is to be really protect
ed against sabotage.
Let US give some glazing examples.
First. the stoppage OF coal production and
the lockout Of four hundred thousand btu
minous coal miners.
On March tn the representatives of the
United Mine Workers OF America sat down
with coal operators to negotiate a contract to
replace the one which would expire on April
lst. The United Mine Workers asked for
wages, better safety conditions. vaca-
tons with pay, a modest guarantee of 200
days work out OF every sos days and other
minor demands. They also demanded that
wage diferental of forty cents per day in
favor of southern coal operators be eliminated
entirely. The mine workers are Of the opinion
that it is as hard to dig ton of coal in the
north it is in the south.
The United Mine Workers of America are
on record using every effort to win a six
hours work day in the mines. They sacrificed
this cherished goal in the interests OF the ma
tonal emergency.
The United Mine Workers of America
proposed to the coal operators on March
18th that should the terms of new
contract not be arrived at by April LIST
they would be willing TO continue work
aad make any changes eventually arrived
at retroactive TO April LIST, the date of
expiry of the then existing contract.
The coal operators bluntly rejected this
proposal. Their patriotism and devotion
TO national defense was not as embracing
as that of the mine workers, but was
secondary to their anticipated profits.
The negotiations dragged on. Come April
LIST the operators were still haggling and in
cidentay selling their mined coal. The offer
of John l.. Lewis to continue work on a retro
active basis was repeated and rejected. II was
again offered by DR.. John R. Steelman. chief
of the United States Cancellation Service. with
a warning that essential defense production
would be endangered by stoppage.
The patriotism of the coal operators re-
manned unstirred and in the absence of a
working agreement the mines closed down.
The negotiations continued and on April
It'll the northern states coal operators OF the
conference agreed to the United Mine Work
ers demands. But the southern group Of
operators chose to bolt the conference and set
up separate bargaining group. Mark it well.
after sitting from March It'll to April lth in
collective bargaining proceedings minority
Of the employers pick up their marbles and
call the game off
Here is what Charles O'Neill, chair
man of the Appalachian coal operators
conference, said of the act of the south
ern group: 1.-THE conference is being
sabotaged by several well known south
ern operators" Coming from an en-
ployer they are strong words.
O'Nell continued: 'The southern op-
orators withdrew in order that they may
retain in It's whole great amount differen-
tials between wages and other considera-
lions they have in their favor as against
northern producers"
This indictment of employers sabotage by
other employers should be very convincing.
But there no word of condemnation
from the abor-baiting daily press.
In fact John L. Lewis was attacked in the
Cumberland Evening Times owing to the pitt
full ignorance of its editorial writer. but since
he found out his mistake he has not transferred
his attack to the gang OF unpatriotic, profit
seeking southern coal operators.
Why did the coal operators reject the union
proposal to continue work on a retroactive
basisa
Why did the southern group sit in confer.
ences for one month and then take run
out POWDER
What organization can ever believe the
southern group viii sit down in good faith to
hassain eolleeiiyelya