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WORKING AGREEMENT PERFECTED BE­
TWEEN THE ANTHRACITE MINERS OF
DISTRICT No. 1, FOR THE ERIE AND
HILLSIDE COLLIERIES.
An interesting agreement covering working conditions
in the anthracite region has been perfected
between representatives of District No. 1, U. M.
W. of A. for the Erie and Hillside collieries,
Scranton. Grievances were presented to the company
by a committee appointed by the recent convention
of the miners of the district. A suspension
was threatened, among the issues being the
check docking boss and check weighman difficulties
and car distribution. After a recent conference
making clear the company's reply, the agreement
was accepted by the miners as covered in the
following, issued by the district officers of the
miners:
"On August 16, in accordance with the instructions
of the convention a committee composed of
P. Edwin Davies, Avoca; Samuel Hadden, Dunmore;
Mike Socula, Port Griffith; Abraham Owen
and Walter Yamuwich and William Mason, Forest
City; John Staff, Old Forge; Bloss Leitinger, Mayfield;
John J. Moran, Pittston: Liben Hubiak, Mayfield;
Frank Bryden, Patrick Sweeney, Michael
Kane, Frank Lyons and James Hennigan, Pittston;
Patrick F. Walsh, Plains; James J. Walsh, Dunmore,
and Bernard Sweeney, Dunmore, presented
to Mr. May the following statement of the grievances
of the men:
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 29
"SCRANTON, PA., Aug. 16. 1905.
"Mr. W. A. May, Manager Erie Coal Department:
"Dear Sir: The undersigned committee representing
the employes of your companies respectfully
present the following requests:
"No. 1. That at each colliery, equal power be
allowed the check weighman and company weighman
and check docking boss in deciding all dockage.
Also in deciding to whom lost cars shall be
restored.
"No. 2. That at any time miners believe they
are being docked excessively, any miner or committee
shall have the privilege of going to the
breaker and make an investigation; provided that
if it is proven that the dockage is excessive, the
docking boss shall be removed by the company and
another person employed instead.
"No. 3. That whenever any miner's car is set
aside and tested, he shall not be laid idle unless
there be found more than 400 pounds of rock, slate
or bone per ton in said car; provided that this
shall apply to the best veins and that a proper
differential shall be made locally for veins in
which more rock, slate or bone is encountered.
"No. 4. That each employe shall be furnished
before pay day with a pay statement setting forth
each item of income and such expense as may be
incurred, and that a detachable receipt shall be
attached; the statement to be retained by the
employe and the receipt to be returned to the company
when payment is made.
"No. 5. That at each mine there be an equitable
distribution of cars to all miners employed; provided
that each miner is able to load in his regular
turn, and that the officials at each colliery be
authorized to see that this is carried out in a regular
manner.
"On August 21 General Manager May called the
conimittee to his office and presented his answer
to the requests of the committee in the following
statement:
"Mr. Samuel Hadden, Chairman Conference Committee.
Dunmore, Pa.:
"Dead Sir: Herewith please find the answers
to the requests of your committee representing
employes of the Pennsylvania Coal Co. and the
Hillside Coal & Iron Co., presented August 16,
1905. These answers are practically as we agreed
at that time. Because request No. 1 related to
several subjects the reply to it is made in No. i
and No. 3 of the answers. Reply No. 2 is in answer
to your request No. 2.
"The itemized statement of account which is to
be retained by the employes will be furnished by
the conipany not later than for the period October
1 to 15, 1905. The other answers will take effect
September 1, 1905.
"Yours very truly.
"W. A. MAY, General Manager.
"No. 1. The coinpany docking boss is to decide
what the dockage shall be, and the check docking
boss is to see that no injustice is done. If in
the opinion of the check docking boss the miners
are being wronged, he is to report to his committee,
they to take the question up with the superintendent
of the company. If the charges are
proven the docking boss is to be disciplined.
"No. 2. If at any time miners believe they are
being docked excessively, a conimittee shall have
the privilege of going to the breaker and make
an investigation. If it is proven that the dockage
is excessive, the docking boss shall be disciplined
by the company.
"No. 3. Where a check weighman is employed
he shall decide to whom lost cars shall belong.
"No. 4. Whenever any miner's car is set aside
to be tested he shall be suspended when more than
200 pounds of rock, slate or bone, per ton, is
found in said car. The limit of 200 pounds per
ton is fixed with the distinct understanding that
every man is to clean his coal generally better
than said limit. The provision is to apply to the
best veins, a proper differential being made locally
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 39).