Evening star., 1941-04-05
Steel Talks DeodIocked

| clouds were evident today as 100
G. I. o. leaders from mills of the
United States Steel Corp. gathered
to discuss progress of wage negotia-
tions with big steel" which in
formed sources said were now "abso-
lutely deadlocked.'
The corporation, with PSI 900 en-
ployes, is the worlds largest pro-
ducer of steel and an important
factor in the Nations defense pro-
gram.
1t was the third time within a
month that Philip Murray, c. I. o.
president and chairman of the Steel
Workers Organizing Committee, had
called in the local union heads.
Mr.. Murray was grim as he re-
fused to affirm or deny reports from
Washington about the breakdown of
negotiations which began formally
March 20 after he had rejected the
corporations offer of a 21a- cent
an-hour raise, insisted on 10-cent
boost, and reopened the unions
four-year- contract with the
corporation.
The existing contract provides
minimum wage rate of 62l2 cents
an hour. Average pay in the in
dustry is about 81 cents an hour.
Tuesday Deadlfne Reported.
The Washington reports also said
union leaders were planning to call
strike at midnight Tuesday unless
an agreement is reached. The con-
tract expires then unless a further
extension is agreed upon or a new
pact negotiated.
The union leaders unanimously
approved Mr. Murray's action in
their first meeting, and last week
approved a weeks extension of the
contract to April 8, any agreement
to be retroactive.
Benjamin F. Fairless, president
of the corporation, expressed sur
prise when informed last night that
the negotiations have begged down.
II know nothing about it." he
said and added Il don't believe
there will be strike"
The negotiations have been con-
Quoted on a most friendly manner
to date, but without any definite
commitments, the conferees said.
Mr.. Murray had headed the union
delegation and j. Lester Perry,
United State Steels largest oper-
alton unit, the Carnegie Illinois
Steel Corp, has led the company's
committee.
Nothing in Black and White.
One high union source COM
mented:
Everything has been fine in
conversation, but we don't know
where We stand until we start to
get things down in black and white.
And so far that hasn't come to
pass.
Mr.. Murray has said the requested
10-cent-an-hour wage boost would
total S52,000,000 a year. So far as
is known the only compromise Of
fered has been his agreement to
subtract from that sum the amount
that would be expended in a pro-
posed improved vacation plan. Mr..
Murray's figure on this extra ex-
pense has been about $4,000,000.
The negotiations between the
company and union underwent an
unexplained interruption on Thurs
day. Unconfirmed reports were that
the company had taken an adamant
position against granting a closed
shop and checkoff of union dues,
both of which are included in the
unions nine-point program.
Several union leaders declared
their followers are ready to sup
port with action" their demands.
President Kept Informed.
A session was held yesterday, but
news of the recall of the unions
delegation apparently caught the
company by surprise The negotia-
tors had set 10 am. Monday as their
next meeting.
Some informed circles expressed
the opinion the entire matter might
be tossed into the lap of the Ma
tional Defense Mediation Board.
1t is known that President Roose-
welt has been kept informed on the
status of the negotiations.
A new contract would become a
pattern for several hundred other
union agreements in the steel in
dustry, now working at an all-time
record rate with a pay roll exceeding
soc, 900 workers.
The present contract-history-
making in that it marked big
Steels first recognition of a union
was signed in March, 1887. 1t came
just eight months after the c. I. o.,
under former President John L.
(See STEEL. Page A-4.)