Workers as Company Assets - Set 3

Workers' Comp?

Context:

For years, workers injured on the job had limited ways to make employers pay compensation. Many industries felt they were not morally—or more important, legally—responsible for accidents they did not actively cause even if they knew the job was dangerous. During the early 1900s, the general public began to feel companies should be more liable, and states across the nation began passing Worker Compensation laws.

The following exchange is important because it holds a worker’s voice: Benjamin Guy, who had been an employee at the Copper Range Consolidated mining company until an accident where he lost his eye. This letter to general manager Frederick Denton didn’t even blame the company for the accident, just Guy's treatment afterwards.

It is difficult to judge who was “in the right” without more context about the accident. Instead, focus on what these letters reveal on their own. What leverage did each man have, and how did they use it? What does this uncover about the power dynamic between employees and employers at the time?

Benjamin Guy Threatens to Sue

Company Response to Guy's Letter

Stop and Reflect:

What do these letters reveal?

• What leverage did each man have, and how did they use it?

• What does this uncover about the power dynamic between employees and employers at the time?

Historian's Perspective:

When researching events where one group had more power than others, historians look for autonomy, or the ability of all groups to act even when limited. Companies had more money and legal influence, but saying workers were helplessly pushed around ignores parts of the story.

In this case, Benjamin Guy used what leverage he had: the threat of legal action. He said he was already speaking with lawyers, removing responsibility from himself by implying they were the ones who wanted to sue. It was best for everyone if the company decided to “do something” for him of their own free will, although it’s unclear from this letter alone what exactly he wanted in compensation.

Denton’s reply displays the power difference between employees and employers. He was not concerned about being sued. At least, that’s what he wanted Guy to think. Worker Compensation laws did help employees get paid, but by outlining what workers could sue companies for, they also ended up laying out what workers could not sue for. Guy claimed he had been forced to quit at Copper Range and could not get another job due to the injury, but if the company hadn’t technically broken any laws or had control of all the records, a lawsuit could be difficult.

Documents like these push researchers to dig deeper. To find records surrounding Guy’s injury, such as accident reports, or to find out if he actually sued, it is best to start by asking the archivist. They know if their collections hold those documents and can tell you where to look next.