Work relations in the coal industry: the hand loading era, 1880--1930

Book · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6055600

Dix, K

The primary focus of the pamphlet is on work - people at work, mining coal. It is a historical study of the labor process in bituminous, underground coal mining in the United States from the early days of the industry in the nineteenth century to the mid-1930's. During this early period - the hand-loading era - miners loaded coal with a shovel, were paid by the ton or car load, and worked without continuous supervision. Certain aspects of the mining process are described in detail, e.g., the physical environment of the work place, the job content and payment system of pick mining and hand loading, relationships among workers and between workers and management, and problems of safety associated with the miner's job. These dimensions of what might be called work relations are analyzed within the context of a changing technology, new management structures and practices, the advent of state and federal mining legislation, and the emergence of negotiated work rules. This focus on work and work relations is largely a departure from traditional labor history, which concentrates on the development of trade unions, their leaders, and specific labor--management struggles.

• OSTI ID: 6055600
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
COAL INDUSTRY
COAL MINERS
COAL MINING
INDUSTRY
LABOR RELATIONS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MINE HAULAGE
MINERS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PERSONNEL
UNDERGROUND MINING
USA
WORKING CONDITIONS