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Re; JORN L. LEWIS, ET AL INTERVIEW WITH 1937 between the Mine "B™ Coal Company of Springfield, JOSEPE OZAL Illinois, and Local Union No, $4, Progrossive Mine continuod) workers of America. ee "yy attention was first called to dissension being created in our Local Yo. 54 some time in January 1937, Said dissension was being created by a small group of agents who were employod by the United Mine “iorkers to the end that the Mine "B" Coal Company could be placed under control of the United Mine Workers organization. The activities of these dissentera resulted in their being expelled from Local No. 54 in May 1937 as the result of charges filed against them in Local No, 54. a io id was j a strike or shut-down of the Hine "B" Coal Company minc had resulted that day because Mr. CARL ELSHOFF of the Mine "B" Coal Company had refused to terminate the employment of several men who were no longer members of the organization and by virtue of their expulsion were not entitled to work under the terms of the contract. “as the result of this emergency call I srranged a conference with Mr. ELSFOFF at Mine "B" as I recall it the following day to discuss with him the dispute with a hope that a settlement could be made. As I recall it URINE 2= 1: <72%02 with me in this conference with Kr. ELSHOFF during which time we discussed all of the circumstances leading up to the dispute and offered settlement on the basis that the several men who were found guilty by the organization of entering into a conspiracy with the United Mino Workers be not allowed to work until their particular case was decided through proper channels. “Ow proposal wos that all of the rest of the employces numboring approximately 450 return to work under the contract which the Progressive | Wine Workers was negotiating with the Coal Producors Association of Illinois. Our proposal for acttlement was refused outrightly with or. SLSHOFF who insisted that the min2 would not operato unicsas the several mon who had been expelled also went to their jobs. *The substance of our conference with Kr. ELSHOFF was that he was firm in his declaration. He didn't give a 'damn! whethor the men involved were members of any orgenization or not, and that he would not operate the mine unless they, too, remained on their jobs, When we insisted that the case be settled on the basis outlined by the union which would bo in conformity with provisions of our contract, he contended that there wasn't any contract to which he was bound, although at that timc there was an ex- tension agrcement to which Mine "B" Coal Company was bound which was in full force and effect, and wos a continuation contract signed by Er. ELSEOFF » = 484 pe ae a A gee | ma ee att ne - —se RR A RT, eal A een aS Ue oO vente em