The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-31

EuSgE 1Wy9@ Willy OIu JOnH ~,
Lewis had added up the tricks In his
hand and made his bid 20 careful-
ly that today he seems 10 hold the
advantage.
He has forced the President 70
ask him 10 continue negotiations
with mine operators beyond the
April deadline. The administration
has thus played It's best card this
early In the game, and LewisB
hand Is thereby materially strength
ened.
Two recent coal industry develop.
ments over which Lewis had no
control helped considerably In lay
ing the foundation for his demands
for wage increases. First, on the In
sistence OF Solid Fuels Co-ordlna.
tor for War Harold l.. Ickes, The
industry went from a five-day 10 O
six day week. Naturally, miners
we're TO get time and a half for that
sixth days operation.
PLAY TO LEWIS'S HAND
Mine operators put forth the
claim that II tho price OF their labor
was 10 be greater, they would have
TO receive n higher price for coal.
ONCE OF Price Administrator
granted the operators demands, 10
the extent OF ~ cents n ton--not for
Just the coal mined on overtime, but
but for all coal mined, whether on
straight time or time and q half.
Lewis could stand Oft and let these
things happen without more Than a
token protest, for the reason that II
mine operators were getting more
money for coal, Lewis could get
some OF that money for his miners.
That this was q reality Is now best
shown by the fact that today less
than half Of the miners are worked
on the sixth day. Instead, operators
work miners the basic five.day week
at straight time, and get the extra
% cents q ton on all coal mined In
the five-day week at no increased
cost Of production.
This ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS double
play was right into Lewiss hands.
Ali It did was let the government
provide money for wage increases
Lewis was about TO demand. II the
government could approve imitation
airy price increases TO operators, how
could II consistently deny increases
to miners.
BREAK FOR LEWIS
The next good break Lewis got
was In the recent Circuit Court of
Appeals declaratory judgment In
which Tennessee Coal and Iron was
ordered TO pay members Of the
Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers
Union for all time workmen are
underground. Coal miners are not
now paid on this portal TO portal
basis from the time they enter the
mine TO the time they leave. Instead
they are paid only for the time at
work at the bottom Of the mine.
But here Is federal court decision
which sets a major precedent and
compels employers TO pay all
miners for a longer work day. or
else shorten the time actually spent
at work. 1t Is equivalent TO ordering
that all coal miners be paid an av-
erage of nine hours wages addition
al per week. At time and q half
rates that is equal to about $l3 a
week and 1t Is better than the 50 a
day increase which Lewis is asking.
Lewis won another point In get
ting his request for a continuation
Of negotiations with the mine oper-
ators from April TO April 30. with
the understanding that any agree
ment would be retroactive to April
!. Then came his best break of all
vered into the position Of having to
be subpoened to appear before the
Truman Senate Committee investi-
eating labor efficiency In the war
effort. Here was public platform
and sounding board easily worth a
million dollars 10 the mine leader,
TO present his arguments.