Pennsylvania Miners Strike

Northern Advocate, 16 March 1948, Page 3

Pennsylvania Miners Strike

NEW YORK, Mon. (11 a.m.) —Dozens of mines in the rich Pennsylvania field were closed today when miners struck to support a demand by the United Mineworkers’ leader (Mr John L. Lewis) for a SIOO a month pension.

By mid-morning more than one-third of the nation’s 400,000 soft-coal miners had walked out.

It was reported in "Washington that the Government was preparing to act against the walk-out if it assumes the proportions of a general tie-up. Lewis demanded pensions on the basis of SIOO a month for every miner aged 60 with 20 years’ experience. He claimed that the pensions should be paid out of the health and welfare fund established in 1946, on the basis of 5 cents a ton royalty under an agreement reached when the Government controlled the mines. When the United Mineworkers and Operators signed the contract in 1347 the royalty was increased to 10 cents a ton.

Unofficially, it is estimated that royalties now total $45,000,000. The walk-outs are spreading quickly and threaten to close all soft-coal mines within a day or so.