COAL MINING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1943, Page 4

COAL MINING

CANADA MOBILISING MORE WORKERS. AS ASSENTIAL PART OF WAR EFFORT. OTTAWA, May 22. Canada is mobilising miners for bigger coal production. “Canadians,” so reads an announcement of the Department of Labour which outlines the new regulations, “must dig and deliver coal in order that we may sail convoys, power vital war plants, keep our railways rolling, and preserve the nation’s health. The coal mining industry —miners and management alike —have done wonders to provide coal, but they need help. More workers must be provided or we will falter —possibly fail—in this grim hour. Nature has been generous but we must help ourselves. Our mines are rich but undermanned." National Emergency. The new regulations follow hard on the heels of a .proclamation declaring that labour supply for the coal mines rank as a national emergency. They provide that every employer, regardless of his industry, must advise his employees of these regulations and must assist in discovering whether any of his employees has had previous experience as a coal mine worker. Every employee with experience as a coal mine worker must report that fact to his employer not later than May 25. Every employer who is not a coal mine operator must report not later than June 1, the full details of any of his employees who is an ex-coal mine worker. Selective Service officers are authorised to require ex-coal mine workers to report for interview and to accept work at a coal mine. These officers may require any man in any employment, if subject to mobilisation regulations but rejected from military training, to accept employment at a coal mine. No coal mine operator may terminate the services of any coal worker and no coal mine worker may leave his employment without written permission of a Selective Service officer. Wages And Hours. Every ex-coal mine worker returning to the industry under the regulations will be paid wages at the established rate for the job; The Government will pay wages of 40 cents an hour for eight hours a day and forty-eight hours a week to any ex-coal mine worker who is required to leave his present employment but who is not placed immediately on coal mining. A board allowance of not more than 7.50 dollars a week may be paid an ex-coal mine worker if he is required to live away from the residence of his dependants.

Present and future coal mine workers will be granted postponement of military training to February 1, 1944, by virtue of their occupations. No coal mine worker will be accepted for voluntary enlistment in the Armed Forces of Canada prior to February 1 next, except under permit from a Selective Service officer. War emergency training classes will be available for training men as coal mine workers.