William Hastie's guest appearances

William Hastie

PA BOOKS on PCN

Donald Trump

David Smith

Benjamin Franklin

Ben Franklin

Betsy Ross

Mark Epstein

James Buchanan

Donald Miller

Walter Isaacson

Richard Bell

Alexander Hamilton

Erica Wagner

Mark Oppenheimer

Dick Allen

Tim Palmer

OwlTail

Robert Wolensky

Although hard coal's labor history has received greater consideration in recent years, many untold stories remain.  "Anthracite Labor Wars" tells the story of a thirty year labor war (from approximately 1905-1935) and its long-term consequences (up to 1960) for the workers and the industry.  It was an evolving conflict not only between labor and management, but also between labor and labor, and labor and organized crime.  Much of the fighting occurred between and among employees of the Pennsylvania Coal Company and the Hillside Coal &amp; Iron Company- both owned by the Erie Railroad and, therefore, called the Erie Coal Companies- in the northern anthracite field around Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.  The book details the determined efforts by workers to organize against various workplace grievances, especially two forms of tenancy- the subcontracting system and the leasing system- initiated by management to achieve greater workplace control, productivity, and ultimately profits.

"Anthracite Labor Wars" with Robert Wolensky and William Hastie