The Roslyn Coal Miners' Battle for Fair Wages
Miners in Roslyn reject a company-imposed wage cut, sparking a standoff in the town's coal fields.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Northern Pacific Coal Company at Roslyn has faced a labor standoff after miners refused a 10% wage reduction. Following a lockout, the company warned that if miners did not sign the contract, they would bring in outside labor, a tactic used in previous strikes. The miners, who note that wages since January have averaged only $25 to $30 a month, are holding firm. They have requested that other workingmen stay away from the camp until the dispute is settled, calling the struggle a 'battle for justice.'
“Wages since January have not averaged more than $25 to $30 per month, and this is a battle for justice.”
The Roslyn coal wars are a foundational part of Washington labor history. The divide between company management and immigrant mining communities echoes the economic volatility that continues to shape small, resource-dependent towns across the state today.
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