Evening star., 1941-11-16
Coal
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NO0I
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Committee on an earlier three hour
conference at the Wardman Park
Hotel with officials of the steel
companies. He told reporters that
the discussion between the U. NJ w
and steel industry representatives
had covered wide range but that
no conclusions were reached.
President Roosevelt asked Friday
that these discussions be continued
until tomorrow and a report made
to him at that time.
White House Move Expected.
With the U. M w. apparently
determined to halt production un-
less it is given a union shop con-
tract, some early move by the
White House was expected yes
terday.
During the day, Mr.. Roosevelt
had conferred with Secretary OF
giving rise to speculation that the
Government was preparing to send
troops to the mines if work was
stopped tomorrow.
The sole issue in the dispute is
whether the L. NJ. w. shall have a
union shop in the captive" mines
so-called because they are owned
by the major steel companies which
use their output in steel-making
A union shop would require all
workers in the mines to join the
Z. M. w. after probationary en-
ployment.
Mr.. Lewis called a strike in thu
mines in October but. after three
Gays. sent the miners back to work
under truce expiring November
10 while their case was put before
the Defense Mediation Board.
Farley Held Friday.
Last Monday the board recon.
mended against a union shop. Wher
Mr.. Lewis made no move to eXtenC
the temporary working agreement
President Roosevelt called him. other
officials Of the U. NJ. w. and eXecu-
tlves Of the steel companies to the
White House Friday.
He asked that they resume direct
negotiations and told them that
the Government could no. and would
not permit a shutdown of these
mines employing $1,000 workers and
producing fuel essential to continued
output of defense-vital steel.
An unproductive meeting of the
operators and union was the same
Gay, and the further conferences
yesterday followed.
When yesterdays gathering broke
up. Mr.. Lewis gave reporters this
summary of the situation:
The steel executives are main
tanning their open shop attitude
and the mine workers representa-
tives have advised them that We
have no authority 10 execute ar
open-shop agreement in opposition
and contrary to the previous union
shop agreement in the entire in
dustry'
Fairless Reports Progress.
Benjamin Fairless OF United
States Steel Corp. expressed the
opinion. however. that much prog
ress has been made" though he
added that the talks had been of
a general nature.
I'VE have discussed very thor
oughly the ramiications OF the
union shop issue as applied to in
dustry generally" he said.
In addition to Mr. FairlesS, steel
industry representatives engaging
in the talks are Frank Purnell OF
Youngstown Sheet and Tube and
Eugene Grace Of Bethlehem Steel
Nj. Lewis was accompanied to
the conferences by Philip Murray
president of the C. I. o. and vice
president of the U. M w. and
Thomas Kennedy, secretary treas
urer of the U. NJ. w.
Leave fer Convention.
Mr.. Murray and Mr. Kennedy left
last night to attend a G. l. o. con-
vention at Detroit. At today'S con-
ference, the U. NJ. W. will be rep
resented by Mr.. Lewis, P T. Fagan
Pittsburgh, president of district 5
U. NJ. w, and William Gynes
UniontoWn, Pa, president of dis
trict 4, U. NJ. w.
At Birmingham, Ala, the U. M
w. yesterday ordered its 5000 cap
tive mine workers in that State to
cease work at midnight unless an
agreement was reached with opera
tors in Washington. John Han
rattv, U. M. w. international rep
lesentative, said the action was
taken on instructions from the
miners Policy Cor2mittce. Main
tenance men required by the mines
would remain at work, he said.
Industrial sources. however, sale
coal stocks are low at present and {
continuation of the Stoppage woult
halt iron and steel production
within three or four weeks.
Meanwhile, L. E. Brown. member
of the local Executive Committe,
for the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers GA F. L., de
| clared that A. F.. L. electricians ant