Macoupin County IL NO. 2 MINE IS
AGAIN OPERATING ©2003 Contributed by Joan Miley
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STAUNTON STAR-TIMES, Staunton, Macoupin Co, IL, Thurs 11 May 1933 page 1
NO. 2 MINE IS AGAIN OPERATING
MEN VOTED TUESDAY EVENING TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER THREE WEEKS'
STRIKE.
The No. 2 mine of Mt. Olive & Staunton Coal company this
morning resumed operations, after a three weeks' period of
idleness owing to a disagreement between the members of the
Miners' union and the company officials on the matter of dividing
the work. The company had proposed a seven-way split for many of
the men, but this was turned down. A new arrangement was then
worked out whereby the division of work will be more equal, and
at the present time the miners will he divided into six groups,
working two days and off ten. Top men will be divided into four
groups, according to information given us at the mine. This
arrangement, we are informed, will be changed as soon as business
justifies. The mine has orders for a considerable amount of coal,
with prospects of obtaining more. As soon as the orders demand an
increase in the tonnage, the groups will be rearranged to give
the men more work. The company has purchased two more loading
machines which will be installed as soon as they arrive. One of
the new machines is a Joy, the same as the four that are now in
operation. The other is a Goodman, which is of a different type,
but designed to do the same work as the ones now used. When these
two are added it will mean the employment of more men each day,
thus increasing the number of days that the men will get. Reports
from industrial centers throughout the country indicate a decided
revival of business, which should naturally mean an increase in
the demand for coal. It is hoped that the Mt. Olive &
Staunton Coal company, as well as the other operators in this
vicinity, will be able to find new markets so that the miners
will again be able to earn enough to live decently.