PRINTER'S NO. 1038
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
196
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SNYDER, MILLARD, V. BROWN, HENNESSEY, COHEN,
KINSEY, KIM, READSHAW, ROSS, KIRKLAND, SCHLOSSBERG, FARINA,
DAVIS, ROZZI, CALTAGIRONE, SANTARSIERO, WHEELAND, MATZIE,
BROWNLEE, LONGIETTI, VEREB, HARHAI, GIBBONS, C. PARKER,
SCHWEYER, YOUNGBLOOD, MAHONEY, GINGRICH, DONATUCCI, DeLUCA,
THOMAS, GOODMAN, KAVULICH, GERGELY, D. COSTA, MURT AND
McCARTER, MARCH 31, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 31, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing April 1, 2015, as "Mitchell Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, John Mitchell is honored each year on April 1 by the
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) for his service as the
fifth union president, his efforts to organize coal workers
throughout the United States and Canada and his role in
achieving an eight-hour workday for UMWA membership on April 1,
1898; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell was born in Braidwood, Illinois, in
1870, and at an early age left school to begin work as a miner
in the expanding coal industry; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell learned firsthand the harsh working
conditions experienced by coal miners and endeavored to improve
their economic and working conditions by establishing a central
organization unifying and providing meaningful representation;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
and
WHEREAS, The UMWA was established in 1890, with Mr. Mitchell
as a founding member; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell held leadership roles in the UMWA and
the American Federation of Labor throughout his career and
became the fifth president of the UMWA, serving from 1898 until
1908; and
WHEREAS, The UMWA was among the first unions to secure an
eight-hour workday, a hard-sought goal of many labor
organizations during the late 19th century, for their members by
attaining a national contract covering the majority of coal-
producing states on April 1, 1898; and
WHEREAS, During his term as president, Mr. Mitchell worked to
unite coal mine workers in this Commonwealth under the UMWA, an
effort which joined ethnically and culturally diverse workers,
overcoming existing language barriers and prejudices; and
WHEREAS, On October 29, 1902, Mr. Mitchell famously and
successfully negotiated an end to the Great Anthracite Coal
Strike of 1902, an event which required the intervention of
President Theodore Roosevelt and agreements to participate in
arbitration; and
WHEREAS, Throughout Mr. Mitchell's time with the UMWA, the
union's membership increased to nearly 300,000 members; and
WHEREAS, Because of his leadership and efforts made for coal
mine workers, Mr. Mitchell has been memorialized at regional
events by the UMWA workers and local communities throughout
Pennsylvania's bituminous and anthracite coal regions on April 1
and October 29 each year; and
WHEREAS, Today John Mitchell is remembered by the UMWA and
labor organizations for his skill and leadership in labor
20150HR0196PN1038 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
management and conflict resolution and his contributions to
important reforms providing for an eight-hour workday, a 40-hour
workweek, better wages and safety protections; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives remember John
Mitchell for his contributions to workers in Pennsylvania and
throughout the United States and recognize April 1, 2015, as
"Mitchell Day" in Pennsylvania.
20150HR0196PN1038 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7