The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-01

E@o@A Tor this reason
 The c. I. o. Steel Workers Organizing Committee and the four companies have to get to- gether and sign something. The VILE decision merely settled the question of wages and union security Unsettled is the time element-the question of how long this contract is to run. The unions may take the position that this is just another contract, and should therefore run for just another two-year period. The steel companies may take the position that since this is war con- tract it, should be made for the dur ation. If the two parties can't get | together, watch for the case to come back to the WLB doorstep.
 The general interpretation of the VILE decision on wages was that 1t was a victory for labor and slap at employers and -infiationists in and out of the government. This probably would be denied by ma jority of the Labor Board members. and labor maintains it took a lick ing. The VILE position is that 1t is just as interested in preventing in- hation as is any other department of government. Furthermore, the four VILE representatives of the public, when they decided to vote with the four employer representa- tives and grant increases of only A cents a day, were afraid the labor representatives would pull out and wreck the war labor mediation set up for a second time. But labor agreed to take the cut"
 WHAT IS
 A CUT?
 Was 1t "cut?" The labor Board insist it was. In setting wage level vs.-cost-of living ratios back to Jan- uary l. 1941 Y instead of accepting as a base the ratio existing when steel got its last increase in April, 1941 = VILE claims 1t really was cutting wages back to the relative cost of living values that existed in 1887. Tn other words, the Labor Board presents its action as restor- ing steel wages to the levels of five years ago and wiping out all the wage increases steel labor had gain ed in that time. Actual dollars and cents wages, are higher, but the val- ue of the wages is lower.
 If this is the theory which WLB wishes to establish, 1t means that on future decisions the board will disregard all the other major in- creases labor received in 1941, in- cluding the 10 cents an hour in- crease given Steel in April, 1941, the $1 a day increase given coal miners in April, the 10 cents an hour increase given General Motors in April, the seven cents and three cents increases given Chrysler in February and May, the g per cent increase given Ford employees in June, and the 10 cents an hour in- crease granted railroad labor in De- cember. On this formula, future wage questions submitted to VILE would be settled on the basis of, How do your wages compare with what they were in reference to the cost of living in January, 1941-or l937?" Wage increases granted since then will have little weight. Another round of raises is not in order.
 LONG
 WAITING LIST
 But there are plenty of cases to settle. The War Labor Board itself has 125 unsettled cases on the docket, including five major indus tries = the "big three" automobile companies, aluminium, rubber, tex tiles and meat packers.
 The auto cases are perhaps the most important from g. wage standpoint, as auto industry wages usually allow steel and in turn influence other wage levels. The General Motors case was cer- tif1ed to the board in April, and hearings before 8 panel were held through May and June. The panel has adjourned to prepare a report Panels have just started hearings on the Ford and Chrysler cases Decisions are weeks, or months of.
 But behind the 125 cases certi- fled to VILE, there are some 1900 cases now in the hands of Dr. John R. Steelman's Cancellation Service. Most of these involve wage increase demands. The President has said the increase granted to Little Steel labor does not constitute an increase in the cost of living. But if the word has been given to Dr. Steelman to try to settle his 1900 cases on the basis of the Little Steel decision wou can bet your bottom dollar some of | thes 1900 cases and some of WLB's 125 cases will touch living costs.