Evening star., 1943-05-04
Coal
Continued From First Page.)

tons OF anthracite, a record for re-
cent years, must be produced in
1913.
During negotiations last month be-
tween bituminous operators andathe
United Mine Workers, Secretary of
Labor Perkins proposed guarantee
of a six-day week. She said that
Mr.. Lewis had agreed to it as a
basis for new contract.
Confusion developed, however
over the question whether Miss Per-
kins meant six-day guarantee the
year around, that is, an annual
wage. She had made plain in
Washington she did not mean a 81
week guarantee. but only six days
work in any week in which mine
worked at all.
Ideal Held Not Inflationary.
That proposition, it was believed,
would provide some measure of pro-
lection for the operators in the
event the war ended before expira-
ton of new contract and the mar
ket for coal weakened.
Miss Perkins contended the pro-
posal was not inf1ationary because
the operators already had obtained
and were charging increased prices
to cover six-day operation with the
time-and-a-half rates for labor on
the sixth day. Therefore, she said,
consumer costs would not increase
further ineTely by a guarantee OF six
days work week. Because there
was no increase in basic wage rates,
she said, the proposal was wholly
within the Presidents Wxgeastabili-
cation program. =
Under the six-day week, the in
side day laborer, who receives 81 a
day, or s35 for basic 35-hour week,
would receive $45 so for six days
$35 basic plus $1050 for Saturday.
Many already are receiving this in
crease-how many is a matter of
controversy between Mr.. Lewis and
the operators. But the principle
was established last January and
February, and only the guarantee of
six days work is new. No increase
in established basic or overtime rates
is involved in the Perkins-Ickes pro-
posal.
The contract as amended in jan
uarv does not require the operators
to provide six days work, and time
and half is paid for Saturday
orly if an individual has worked the
five preceding days.
The UNIV has contended that
some operators, on various pretexts,
have operated their mines only five
days a week and limited individual
miners to five days work. while
pccketing the increase for about Is
cents ton which the OPA allowed
fo- the increased labor costs in
ci6ent to six-day operation.
Operators Deny Contention.
Operators vigorously deny this.
They contend that where mines have
operated less than six days it was
due principally to the reluctance
of the miners to work the sixth day
ard partly to such factors as ma
ch:nery breakdowns or coal car
shortages. They contend that If
only a portion of the normal crew
turns up on Saturday, mine fire.
quently cannot operate and the
few reporting must be sent home.
The operators said Mr.. Lewis re-
jected their demand last January
that the sixth day of work be made
compulsory" in the contract. Under
the operators proposal, miner who
voluntarily absented himself on the
sixth day of the week would be sub
jected to the same penalties (fines
or discharge) as he is now subject
under the basic five-day contract
The compulsory" feature was left
out of the January amendment.
Edward r. Burke, president of the
Southern Coal Association, said hi.
organization had no objection tt
guaranteeing a six-day week, with
the proviso that the guarantee
would be limited to the period o1
demand for the coal.
Mr.. Burke said a survey of thu
Southern Appalachian field showed
that 96 per cent of the tonnage wa.
mined under a six-day-week condi.
ton with time -and-a-half rate!
paid for the sixth day. OF the re.
mainder, he contended the miners
themselves were chiefly responsible
for less than six-day operation.
Van Horns Statement.
Ezra Van Horn chairman Of thl
(North) Appalachian Joint Confer
ence, said he had not seen the tex
Of Mr.. Ickes' telegram, but remarked
TT is the feeling Of the OPERATOR
they should work six days and ar'
doing it. I don't know Of any on,
who is not working six days now
There may be few here and ther,
but not many"
Asked whether the operators woult
agree to writing the guarantee int
a contract Mr.. Van Horn said: wv
haven't discussed that angle Of II
We Just feel it's the natural thin,
to 60 ahead and work six days whel
the coal is needed"
The issue of all who handI
permanent settlement Of the wag'
dispute which brought the week -ene
walkout found both sides still stand.
ing pat.
The War Labor Board was con,