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Newspaper
Athens Messenger
Location
Athens, Ohio, United States of America
Date
Oct 24, 1949
Page
5
The Ohio coal industry faces economic ruin as high costs and volatile demand threaten mines and communities. Operators defend the welfare fund while denying default. miners fear wage hikes will price them out of work, seeking stability amid ongoing industrial strife.
The miner now works about six and a half hours daily and is paid for eight hours at full rate. This pay includes travel and lunch time. Reducing working time raises production costs and cuts jobs.
The piece warns that three week and shutdowns shrink Ohio markets as lake shipments end by weather. Competitors gain as oil, gas and non union coal replace Ohio coal in Northwest power plants and local markets. Coal mining shifts to non union labor outside Ohio.
The speaker notes miners stay loyal to their union as wages drop since July 5 due to a three day and no day week. miners rely on company store credit while many risk permanent job loss. west of the Mississippi mines stay open but overall communities and coal companies bear high costs to the economy.
Ohio operators refuse to meet Union demands raising costs and say customers will not pay more. They note some mines already closed permanently and predict further shutdowns if the strike continues, with potential non reopening of some mines after lakes close.
The piece recalls past conflict between the coal industry and the United Mine Workers and warns against repeating the Jacksonville agreement. It stresses that missteps could ruin markets and foreclose recovery.
The operators propose a two year contract renewal granting the highest wages ever paid to industrial workers and substantial Welfare Fund payments. In exchange they seek the Union's agreement to drop output restrictions like the three day week and allow coal miners to share in benefits of the agreement described by Mr. Lewis as the best labor deal negotiated.
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