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Show 1 5 6 8 7 9 Universal Microfilm Corpl Bex coOo Salt Lake City, Ut, 84101 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1974 ii i ml HELPER, UTAH-472-5- 671 VOLUME 68 NUMBER 47 10 Ratified last week Big increases in mine contract Yl Local coal miners returned to their jobs at 12:01 Monday morning following a four week walkout which ended with the acceptance by the miners of a new contract which national United Mine Worker (UMW) leaders described as "the best labor contract to be negotiated in the past decade." The contract, negotiated between the UMW and the Bituminous Coal Operators of America (BCOA) was accepted by a 55 percent majority of the UMW members 120,000 throughout the nation. Local miners, however, were among the three UMW districts that rejected the contract. Miners interviewed by the Helper Journal expressed concern over wage and vacation provisions in the contract. Rumors were flying over the weekend that the miners' return to the mines may be delayed by striking mine construction workers whose contract with the BCOA is also being negotiated, but no incidents were reported as pickets failed to materialize at local mines. Local businessmen expressed relief over settlement of the strike as most said that business was beginning to lag because miners had not been paid for a month. Keith Higham, who will soon be installed as new Denver and Rio Grande trainmaster over the Helper area, said that most, if not all, D&RG workers who had been laid off during the strike would be called back to the job within the week. The contract adopted by rank and file members of the union featured wage and benefit hikes of up to 63 percent over the next three years. Average daily pay increases will go from the present $45.40 per day under the old contract to $54.39 at the beginning of the third year of the new contract. Top grade miners will be receiving $58.92 a day at the beginning of the third year. The new agreement also upgrades over 11,000 job classifications to high paying levels and will creat over 7,000 new jobs in the mines throughout the country. A cost of living escalator clause is included in this agreement that, should inflation continue to increase at its' present rate, could increase the wages of each miner by up to 37 o . f. 0 7,4.-.- . " , ' 4 .'.vv - . Local members of the United Mine Workers returned to work as of 12:01 Monday morning carrying with them a newly negotiated pact that ' , ' guarantees them substantial raises in wages and benefits. Here, miners enter the Carbon Fuel Mine for their first shift in nearly four weeks. Subdivision hearing slated for tonight Opinions may be voiced tonight (Thursday) on a within proposed subdivision ordinance presently being considered by the Helper public of certain estimates projects that would tend to hearing beginning at 8 p.m. at the city hall is the final required benefit the entire city. The also ' be would city responsible for maintenance of utilities after the systems had been accepted into the existing city systems. step before the city council decides to accept or reject this proposed ordinance. The ordinance, drawn up by Helper's and utilities subdivisions established in the city. The city would, however, be responsible for costs above City Council. The stress of planning consultant Rod Despain, is designed on similar laws that have proven successful throughout the state. Basically, the ordinance will absolve the city of Helper of most expenses involving the construction subdivision This or- dinance sets minimum and standards specifications for the width and construction of streets within subdivisions. These specifications will insure that streets are wide enough unstable ground, cutting to allow for orderly traffic flow. Street designations, and filling exposed slopes, seeding exposed slopes and avoiding known flood minimum and maximum block lengths and standards covering lot location and size are also included in the rules set by the ordinance. plains. The city council has been pushing for the adoption of this ordinance since Oil first presented their subdivision project to the panel last year. The council has been in close contact with all phases of progress toward adoption for this ordinance and it will ch Specifications for utility design and construction are included in this ordinance that demands that all utilities be buried unless good cause can be shown for doing otherwise. One controversial feature of the ordinance demands of developers that all "en- undoubtedly vironmental hazards" be removed or avoided wherever possible. This includes such things as not constructing buildings on Helper's planning and commission has zoning already unanimously voted it's approval of the law. chemical fluid, ethylene dichloride, leaking from one of the container barrels being carried in the trailer late in the evening of Monday, Dec. 2 According to Highway Patrol Trooper Alan Keller, the leaking chemical was discovered when he smelled an especially strong odor emitting fromthe trailer during a routine inspection. Keller asked driver Charles Connor, 38, of Duncan, Okla., what he was carrying. When Connor answered that he believed he was carrying anti freeze the trooper asked for a bill of lading which revealed that the chemical, which is poisonous and flammable and if inhaled can cause liver damage, was being carried. Keller said that a thourough inspection of the 65 barrel load could not be made because of the extremely strong smell of the chemical. The truck was held up at the Price Canyon station while experts from Dow Chemical were flown in from Illinois. Keller said after the Dow representatives arrived the truck was allowed to proceed to the H.E. Lowdermilk equipment yards south of Helper where it could be unloaded and inspected. The inspection revealed On Dec. trailer. The damaged barrel with the remaining fluid was buried west of Helper. Before leaving, the Dow experts thouroughly cleaned the area at the checking station where the chemical had been leaking. Connor was allowed to resume his trip to Salt Lake after posting $50 bail with .the Highway Patrol. Kprrv NJpilcnn Hal nor wo form act a a nA n4 Santa's helper, secures part of a street decoration to a light pole on Helper's Main Street. Christmas garlands began appearing all over town as citizens and businessmen alike J Photo began preparing for the holiday season. H-- Trainmaster honored at dinner Dec. 12 1 :30 p.m. Helper Women's Club Christmas Party; 7:30 p.m. Book Lure Club meeting and Christmas Party; 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting at City Hall. p.m. Lions Club will bring Santa Claus to the Civic Auditorium; 8 p.m. St. Anthony's Parish Bingo. 1 Dec. 14 p.m. Gun Club Shoot. 1 15 Dec. p.m. Gun Club Shoot; 5 p.m. D&RGW Railroad will bring Santa Claus to the Civic Auditorium. Dec. 16 3 p.m. Brownies Christmas Dec. 13 Party. a.m. Spring Glen Relief Kenilworth Relief Society Meeting; 1:30 p.m. Helper Relief Dec. Committee's and jurisdiction guarantees them access to the mine for inspections. Other features of the contract list such things as expanded seniority rights, better training programs for both new and experienced miners, faster and more representative grievance procedures, full - time helpers on face equipment and establishes for the first time rules governing surface miners' rights. Lady of Guadalupe fete tonight that only one of the 55 gallon barrels had been pierced, probably from a protruding bolt inside the guarantees miners a "safe and healthy work place." Included as provisions of this guarantee are the miners' right to withdraw from a work place that he considers unsafe. Thus, should a miner exercise this right, he need not check first with the Safety Committee and the company cannot discipline him for exercising this right. In this case, the company will have to reassign the miner to other available work until the Safety Committee rules on the dispute or "until the danger is corrected. The contract also expands the Safety Procession at 6:30 Toxic fluid spilled near Castle Gate A precautionary check of a large semi - truck at the Peerless Checking Station above Castle Gate resulted in the discovery of a toxic be adopted unless a great deal of opposition is encountered at tonight's hearing. percent over the next three years. Improvements to the present pension arrangement will make up the largest gains garnered by the UMWA at the negotiating table, tinder the new agreement, the BCOA will pump $2 billion into the UMWA pension fund in order that a reserve can be established. Pensions paid to retired miners will immediately increase to $200 per month. These pension payments will rise a year from now to $225 and at the beginning of the third year will again rise to $250 per month. Retired miners receiving black lung benefits will be paid slightly less per month. Miners retiring in 1976 or after will receive mastly improved pension benefits that will be figured on a formula that will, for the first time, use total years worked as a criteria for payment. A new item negotiated for the first time is a paid sick leave guarantee. Each UMWA worker will receive five days of paid sick leave during any calendar year that can be used for any purpose. All miners will also have 14 consecutive vacation days coming to them with an additional day of vacation added for every year worked over seven. Working in the new contract 17 10 Society; Society; Girl Scout Association will be Christmas Carolling. Dec. 18 7:30 p.m. Soroptomist meeting at the Country Club; 7:15 Helper Ward Night Relief Society Meeting. A special farewell dinner sponsored by D&RGW employees was given in honor of Mike Kanderis, Jack Clancy and Ed Anderson, Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Carbon Country Club. Mr. Kanderis will be transferred to Grand Junction where he will serve as Assistant Superintendant. Mr. Clancy will be moving to Salt Lake as Master Mechanic for the railroad and Mr. Anderson will become trainmaster in Provo, Utah. Mr. Gene Twehous was Master of Ceremonies and although there were no special speakers, all employees in attendance gave the individual tribute to the men who are leaving. After the dinner, a social bour was held with D&RG employees 12, millions of Catholics in Southern and South Western parts of the United States will pay homage to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. Here in Helper, at Saint Anthony's, the Spanish speaking people will commemorate the feast of the apparition of Our Lady to Juan Diego, a young Mexican - Indian boy, in 1531 in Mexico. Tradition says that no one, especially Church officials, believed the Mexican boy, who reported that the Lady has appeared to him. Juan Diego asked the Lady for a sign to verify the apparition. To support the apparition, Our Lady told Juan to take his sarape and show it to the Bishops, whereupon the image of Our Lady was imprinted on the sarape. It showed the Virgin Mary with the Sun, Moon and Stars and with an angel beneath the crescent. This sarape can still be viewed at the Bascillica in Mexico City. To furhter prove Juan's report of the apparition, one dozen red roses fell from within the boys' sarape in the dead of winter, Dec. 12. Thus the tradition of. presenting Our Lady with a dozen red roses began. This year, Susan Garcia will do the honors of presenting the Helping make plans for the roses to Our Lady. Feast are the Sister of the Celebration of this Feast Holy Family, Mrs. Fermin will begin with the recMartinez, Mrs. Steve Diaz, itation of the Rosary in the Mrs. Juan Franco and Miss Church Hall followed by a Ramona Sallas. After Mass, candlelight procession into those attending are corthe church at 7 p.m. Father dially invited to the Church Daz will celebrate Mass in Hall to enjoy refreshments the Spanish language and that have been prepared. Spanish hymns will be sung The traditional breaking of with the accompaniment on the Pinata will be enjoyed guitar and accordian. Mr. by the boys and girls who Isidor Jacques, and Jose in the Carrera will be the participated procession. musicians. X J Santa Qaus ( appears tomorrow 5 . 1 .A L Santa Qaus, with the help of the Helper Lions Club will make his first official appearance Friday, Dec. 13 at the Helper Auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. The jolly old man will arrive on the back of a fire truck shortly before 6:30 and ride through town before holding court at the auditorium. The Helper Lions encourage all parents to accompany their children in this annual meeting wth St. Nick. i lisp it (J Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be held tonight at St. Anthony's Parish beginning at 6:30 p.m. Among participants in the celebration are: (front row, 1 to r) Eva Martinez, Alfie Vigil, Gino Sanfelice, Jackie Garcia and Henry Gutierrez. (Back row, 1 to r) Susan Garcia, Joey John Sanchez and Father J Photo Rudolf Daz. H-- |