Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Mining
Morgan Mine Strike, 1938
The Miners' Strike at Morgan Mine
To the Editor:
“Will you please spare space in your valuable paper to publish this letter for the purpose of correcting some mistakes made in articles published in other newspapers concerning the miners strike at Morgan Mine, operated by the Pacific Coal Company with C.D. Glass, general manager.
“Several months ago Mr. Glass maliciously violated his contract with the United Mine Workers of America by discharging a machine man by the name of Pink Combs and refusing the request of our District President and that of Field World James Steele to arbitrate Combs case. Later, and as a result of Glass' refusal to arbitrate this discharge case, as provided for by our joint contract between the Operators' Association and our District Association, and after our district president, Ed J. Morgan had exhausted his efforts to have Glass comply with the agreement and arbitrate as provided thereby, Mr. Glass also discharge our three mine committee, who was also interested as representatives of our Local Union in having the cases arbitrated. The men considered if the company would not, under any circumstances comply with their agreement and continue to insist on their rights to discharge the men and refuse to arbitrate their case, there was no honorable way for them to secure their rights other than by striking.
“We wish to correct one article which stated there were 100 men on strike. At the Morgan Mine, the fact of the matter is, there are 308 men on strike, which includes all the dues-paying member of the United Mine Workers of America employed at said mine. We also wish to state that instead of striking against the intolerable abuse of one mine foremen, we are striking against the unjustified attitude of three of the company's foreman.
“The truth of the matter is, we are striking for Combs' case to be arbitrated; for our mine committee to be reinstate as provided by the joint agreement, and for mine foremen who will treat their men in a fair and impartial manner. We also demand that the company grant to us an equal division of all work in each classification as provided for in the agreement, and that we be not compelled to trade in the Company Store and pay many times the price for goods that we pay in other stores. The whole truth of this controversy is, we are striking for our rights as provided for in the Joint Agreement between our District Organization and the Coal Operators' Association, which this company has never granted to their employes.
“We want the public to understand that our position in this controversy is fair and just, because we are not asking for anything that is [not] guaranteed to us by our agreement which the company refuses to live up to.”
W.A. Gossett, President,
Paul Richey, Secretary,
Local Union No. 839.
Source: “The Miners' Strike at Morgan Mine.” The Times-Argus [Central City, KY], 12 Aug 1938, pp.1 & 4.
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Morgan Miners Back on the Job
Controversy which resulted in two months idleness is adjusted.
Men at the mine of the Pacific Coal Mining Company at Morgan, are back at work after two months of idleness. Wednesday of the week was the first day since July 5 that the mine had operated.
An agreement was reached Saturday, which settled the controversy, and a crew of men returned to work the following day, making preparations for the hoisting of coal.
Three hundred and eight men were employed at the pit at the time of suspension. About 150 were reported to [have] been back at their workings Wednesday. The others will return to work as soon as working places are provided.
Source: “Morgan miners back on the job.” The Times-Argus [Central City, KY], 9 Sept 1938.
Updated January 30, 2019