Evening star., 1941-03-31
New Mediation
Board Settles
Fourth Strike
Vonodium Dispute
Ended; Soft Coal
Shutdown Feared
sy the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The new Defense Labor Media
ton Board created by President
Roosevelt to try to speed pro-
duction in industry announced
today that the first four strikes
turned over to it had been ter
minated.
In three instances, negotiations
will continue between the manage
ment and unions in regard to wage
increase and other demands. The
fourth strike was settled before the
board took any formal action.
DR.. Frank P. Graham of North
Carolina, representing the public on
the Mediation Boards panel which
met all DAY yesterday with company
and striking C. I. o. union repre-
sentatives from the Bridgeville CPaD
plant of the Vanadium Corp. of
America, announced this morning
the fourth strike had been ended.
The union will 60 to work as fast
as their jobs become available and
strike issues, including the hiring
of five non-union guards, were left
for future investigation and nego-
alton.
The Vanadium Co. normally en-
makes ferro-vanadium, a steel alloy
ingredient used in making arma-
ments.
Coal Mine Zero Hour Near.
Meanwhile, the zero hour for a
possible work stoppage in most of
the Nations soft coal mines was ap-
preaching after 13 days of fruitless
negotiations for a contract to re-
place the one expiring at midnight.
Only a miracle can prevent the
work Stoppage," =" said spokesmen for
both sides, declaring negotiators
were still hopelessly tangled over
the sl-a-day increase demanded by
the union.
But miracles sometimes happen"
DR.. John r. Steelman, head of the
Labor Department Cancellation Serv-
ice. said in New York after he con-
ferred with representatives of both
sides from the eight-Stats Appa-
lachian area which sets the wage
hour standards for the rest of the
Nations soft coal fields.
The three strikes. aside from the
Vanadium Walkout which the Labor
Department asked the Mediation
Board to take over, ended as follows:
Chicago-C. I. o. union members
voted to end strikes at four Inter-
national Harvester plants and nego-
tiate before the board their demands
for elimination of piecework, wage
increases and union recognition.
Strikers Go Back to Work.
c. I. o. strikers held a brief rally
in dreary drizZle al the Harvester
plant in Chicago today and then
trooped back to their jobs.
The strike at the Mccormick
works started February %. throwing
5000 men out of work. Members of
rival A. F L. union returned to
work last week causing f1areup of
violence, beatings, sluggings and ar
rests.
The vote taken yesterday also
ended strikes at company plants in
Richmond, Ind: Rock Falls, Ill, and
the Tractor Works in Chicago,
which employed $500 when the
strike there was called on January
90.
Robert Travis, C. I. o. field rep
resentative. said the agreement to
negotiate before the Mediation
Board represented major victory
for the strikers. ~
A. F. L. workers agreed to 60 back
to work at the Cornell Dubilier Corp.
South Plainfield, N. j., tomorrow and
continue negotiations for wage in
creases. If no agreement is reached.
the Mediation Board will be asked
to take up the case again.
The fourth strike sent to the board
was settled before the board had
to take any formal action This was
at the Universal Cyclops Corp,
Bridgeville. Pa.
c. I. o. unioniSts returned quietly
TO work at the vast Cambria works
of the Bethlehem Steel Co, ending
a two-day walkout.
Thousands of cheering unionists
ratified an agreement yesterday
which ended the picketless, orderly
holiday" called in protest against
an election of the Employees Repre-
(See STRIKES, Page A-6)