Following the significant coal strike in Pennsylvania in 1902, the mine owners were mandated to provide the miners with a 10-percent wage increase and a reduction in their workday from ten to nine hours.
Key Concessions Granted After the 1902 Coal Strike
The resolution of the 1902 coal strike, mediated by a presidential commission, resulted in a compromise that addressed some of the key demands of the mineworkers. While the miners did not receive everything they initially requested, the concessions marked a significant turning point for labor rights in the United States.
The specific changes mandated for the mine owners included:
- Wage Increase: Miners were granted a 10-percent increase in their wages. This was half of the 20-percent wage increase they had initially sought.
- Reduced Workday: The standard workday was shortened from ten hours to nine hours. The miners had advocated for an eight-hour workday, but the nine-hour compromise was a notable improvement from the prevailing ten-hour standard.
These provisions were the result of the Commission's findings, which aimed to bridge the gap between the demands of the mineworkers and the positions of the mine owners. This outcome underscored the growing influence of organized labor and the increasing role of government intervention in labor disputes.
To illustrate the outcome, here's a comparison of the miners' original demands versus the concessions granted by the owners:
| Demand Category | Miners' Original Request | Owners' Concession |
|---|---|---|
| Wage Increase | 20 percent | 10 percent |
| Workday Length | 8 hours | 9 hours |
This settlement provided critical improvements in working conditions and pay for the Pennsylvania coal miners, setting a precedent for future labor negotiations and policy.
