From the time of its inception in the late 1880's until this incident, the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company was well-known as being one of the most ardent anti-union mine operators, having competed with the American Fuel Company during the organized strikes that preceded the Ludlow Massacre. "In January 1913... American Fuel company mines were open and operating with nearly 1,000 union miners. Rocky Mountain Fuel Co., still refusing to negotiate to settle the strike, was using strikebreakers and operating behind barricades. When Rocky Mountain Fuel Co. reportedly began to cut coal costs for Boulder contracts, American Fuel Co. and the miners worked out a plan to keep the mines open and the miners at work. With negotiating help from John Lawson [see the section on Ludlow for more information about John Lawson.], and support of United Mine Workers of America, the union miners voluntarily agreed to work for 50 percent of their usual wage. UMWA Headquarters made up the difference for the 50 percent wage donation. American Fuel Co. could compete and keep mines open, miners were working, and Rocky Mountain Fuel Co. was not in a position to control the coal market." (Conarroe, 2001: 40)
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