Evening star., 1942-07-12

The Importance of the Little Steel
case. which the War Labor Board is ex-
pected to decide this week, reaches
far beyond the confines of the steel in
dustry. Two issues are involved: Cd
Whether the wages of the steel workers
should be increased ST a day; t2)
whether the steel workers union should
be granted some form of union Sc
curity."
Although only four companies, with
approximately 100000 employees, are i'm
mediately concerned, the boards deci-
sion unquestionably will set the pattern
for wage adjustment in the whole OF
the steel industry, employing some 100000
persons, and it is likely to have ramif1-
cations throughout industry in general.
The four companies-Bethlehe In
land, Republic and youngstown Sheet q
Tube-contend. with the support of a
considerable amount of economic opin-
ion both inside and outside the Govern
ment, that the grant of the requested
wage increase would seriously endanger
the Governments anti-inflation program.
Unspoken political considerations en-
ter into the equation. At the head OF
the steel workers is Philip Murray, who
is also the president of the CIO. Mr..
Murray and the CIO are in bitter con-
fict with John l.. Lewis of the United
Mine Workers.
Mr.. Murray, a supporter of the Presi-
dents foreign policy before Pearl Harbor
and now key figure in the drive for
maximum war production, has gone all
out for the unions demands The wage
increase, he says, is necessary in order
to repair inequalities and to maintain an
essential group of workers in full health
and vigor.
Board Confronted With Dilemma.
Mr.. Murrays position confronts the
board with dilemma. On the one hand,
the board would like to strengthen his
prestige with labor-an understandable
desire in the light of the trouble making
capacities of Mr.. Lewis. On the other
hand, the board has the responsibility
Of "stabilizing" wages to prevent inf1a-
ton.
One speaks of the War Labor Board
as the entity that will resolve this
politico-economi problem, and so it will.
But the board is definitely a three
chamber affair, and speculation concern
ing its decision centers about the middle
ehamber-the four members represent
Ing the public. The empioye members
stand with the union. and the equal
number OF employer members stand, It;
not at the opposite pole, at least a long
distance In that direction. To a very
large extent. these two groups Offset each
other on iss,les so crucial as those now
pending. The four men In the middle,
headed BY Cfairmanp william H. Davis,
will determine the decision.
On the wage side of the case the de-
cision may be for the full increase sought
by the union, or lesser increase, or COM
plete rejection of the demand, The re-
cent report of the boards fact-finding
panel stressed the arguments in favor
of an increase. but President Roosevelt
told a press conference that any general
wage boost at this time would increase
the cost OF living.
Workers Interested in Wages.
II the board decides TO grant union
security" that is likely to be given in
the form of maintenance of member
ship provision, with an escape clause
permitting union members to withdraw
during a two-week period after the
boards ruling. Such a decision would
be in accord with pattern which has
gradually been established by the board.
The union is asking for the maximum
the complete union shop, with dues
-off-but has indicated that 1t
would regard the maintenance-of-me
bership compromise as satisfactory.
Under this device member of the union
must remain dues-paying member
throughout the life of the contract as
q condition of his employment.
Although the union security" demand
has been pressed, it is in wages that the
union-especially the rank and file-is
mainly interested, and the wage aspect
Is what gives the case its chief signifi-
canoe for the public.
The steel workers are now getting ar