Over 1 million coal miners of the 1902 era did not receive the fair compensation for their tiring and difficult labor. The miners believed that they deserved the right to have a say in their working conditions, health and safety issues, their working hours and their rates of pay. Miners had seen a constant reduction in wages over several years but their rents had stayed the same. The United Mine Workers demanded better benefits but the government was reluctant. A series of strikes were sure to come about. ● The hazards and dangers of working in the mines resulted in the miners striking for more money, shorter hours and improved working conditions.
● The hazards and dangers included roof falls, explosions, mine fires and underground flooding. Another serious safety hazard
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The Result of the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902
The Anthracite Coal Strike Commission was in charge of the arbitration process. The results were:
● The miners asked for a 20% wage increase, and most were given a 10% increase
● The miners who worked 10 hours a day had asked for an eight-hour day, they were given a nine-hour day
● While the mine owners refused to recognize the UMF, but were required to agree to a six-man arbitration board, consisting of equal numbers of labor and management representatives, with the power to settle labor disputes
The Significance of the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902
The significance of the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 were:
● The Anthracite Coal Strike Commission estimated that during the Anthracite strike the coal and railroad companies lost about $74 million dollars and the miners lost about $25 million dollars in wages
● Following the strikers victory, the United Mine Workers became the largest and most powerful labor union in the United States
● The National Child Labor Committee was established in 1904 with the goal of abolishing all child labor and led to the passage of the Keating-Owen Act in