◆ SpookStack

JOHN L. LEVIS, ET AL bc bry with Elshoff as an independent operator expired on March 31, 1937. Some of these men, namely, Andrew Skrelevious, Charles "Bowling Green" Yohannon, Dominic Pasquale, Tony Plotch, Pete Carter, Frank Austin, Joe Albanese, "Cotton" Ananies, and perhaps e few others, were active, It was my understanding that these men were agitating among the membership, stating that the canpany would not recognize the retroactive pay features which might be subsequently ex- ecuted in contract. I cen recall that some of these men hed yellow pieces of paper which were reported to have been obtained from the office of the company, principally from Oscar Falcetti, the Company Superintendent. These men were representing that this paper stated thet no retroactive pay would be obtained from the company. I definitely recall that early in April the work of these men was so effective that they attempted to stop production at the mine. "I recall thot Rea came out to the mine and explained that the existing contracts would provide that retroactive pay would be in effect and attempted to persuade the men to go back to work. The men were willing to go back to work. However, the company officials, namely, Falcetti, st«=ted that it was too late and refused to send the men down into the mine. This was shortly before 8 o'clock; that starting time at the mine wis 6:00 a.m. I recall that throughout the entire month of April these men continued to cause trouble, still arguing the contract question. Early in Mey of 1937 I remember uttending one meeting at which five men were expelled, These men were Frank Austin, Doninic Fasquale, Pete Carter, Joe Albanese, and Tony Plotch. To the best of my recollection this wos 2 regular member- ship meeting, the trials of these men. huving been held sometime previously by the trial board. This wes simply a referendum to the membership of Local 54 to voice their epproval of the trial bourd's decisions. The mambership felt th.t the trial committee had taken the proper action. On May 12, there wes & strike at Mine B. I worked in the mine all during thet day until the exrly part of the afternoon when word came down that Elsb ff had refused to recognize the closed shop contract between the Company end PMA in that he re- fused to fire the five men who had been expelled from the Union. I received more definite information on this m-tter when I came up out of the mine and talked to some of the men on top. Then for a period of upproxim:tely three _weeks there was some picketing ct the mine, and during this time a petition wes circulated among the men in order to determine whether or not they wanted to be represented by the Frogressive sine Yorkers. "Sometime in September I han PMA when ® erll wis received seying thet he hed been run of the proper y Uominie Pasquele, Joe Albanese, and others, As the Sheriff of Sangamon County and I ywith eo™ the mine. We reached the mine just before the men frum the pened to be at the Board Office of the drove out to eriff's Office ~ 419 -