Hellraisers Journal: United Mine Workers of America Issues Official Coal Strike Order Effective November 1, 1919

Quote Mother Jones, Strikes are not peace Clv UMWC p537, Sept 16, 1919 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday October 23, 1919
Indianapolis, Indiana – U. M. W. A. Issues Official Coal Strike Order

From The Indianapolis News of October 15, 1919:

———-

OFFICIAL COAL STRIKE ORDER
—————

Indianapolis, Ind., October 15, 1919.

To the Officers and Members of the United Mine Workers of America:

The joint conference of operators and mine workers, representing the central competitive field, which reconvened in Philadelphia on October 9, came to a sin die adjournment on Saturday, October 11, without agreement.

The mine workers representatives made an earnest, sincere attempt to negotiate a new agreement to be effective November 1, 1919. We offered facts and data of a substantial nature to support our claim for consideration of our wage demands as outlined by the international convention at Cleveland. We were met by the blunt refusal of the operators to agree to any of our demands. No proposals of any character looking toward the formation of a new agreement were offered by the operators. The only proposition presented by them was their oft-repeated offer to continue the Washington wage agreement until March 21, 1920. This proposition was rejected by your representatives because it meant the continuance of an intolerable situation and offered no relief to our membership from the present material hardships being endured b them. The arbitrary attitude of the operators, persistently maintained day after day in th joint conference, precluded any possibility of an agreement and resulted in a final adjournment. The responsibility for this action will accordingly lie with the operators.

The convention at Cleveland on September 23, in considering the report of the scale committee, adopted the following:

We recommend that in event a satisfactory wage agreement is not secured for the central competitive field before November 1, 1919, to replace the one now in effect, that the international officers be authorized and are hereby instructed to call a general strike of all bituminous miners and mine workers throughout the United State, the same to become effective November 1, 1919.

Acting in conformity with the authority vested by the international convention, as herein quoted, the undersigned executive officers of the United Mine Workers of America hereby direct all members of our organization employed in and around the mines of the bituminous coal producing districts within the jurisdiction of our organisation in the United States to cease the production of coal at midnight on Friday, October 31, 1919. Th strike thus called will continue in full force and effect until officially terminated by order of the International Union.

Local unions will permit a sufficient number of men to remain at work to insure the proper care and protection of all mining properties, in conformity with the provision of the district agreements in the several fields. The fullest co-operation must be given the operator to prevent injury to property, and under no circumstance should this rule be violated or set aside by local union.

There must be no suspension or stoppage of mining operations under this order until midnight on Friday, October 31. It is essential that ther be a concert of action among all our membership in carrying into effect this mot important policy. The United Mine Workers of America are now embarking upon the greatest enterprise ever undertaken in the history of the trade union movement, and each member of our organization must co-operate and assist in bringing success to our efforts. Orderly procedure must be followed throughout. You will be guided only by the policies of your union and the official orders emanating from its officer.

WILLIAM GREEN,
Secretary-Treasurer.

JOHN L. LEWIS.
President.

[Photograph and emphasis added.]