Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-16
$500 More Men
Join Wa|kout
Coal Fields
Union Leaders Think
Strikers Will Return
To Work Monday
By the Associated Press

At least $500 additional Penn
sylvania anthracite miners due
to report for work stayed away
from their jobs today in the
face of a new War Labor Board
ultimatum ordering 10000 to
1900 others to end their 49,
day-old wildcat strike imme-
diately.
After the order was announced,
strike leaders here voted to propose
resumption of production Monday.
The new idleness came as rank
and-file members expressed dissatis
faction with the WLB ruling. They
would not permit the use of their
names pending local union meetings
called for late today and tomorrow
to decide whether the order will be
needed.
Three of the five additional locals
out today had adopted resolutions
Tuesday saying they would strike
unless 50-cents-a month increase
in dues were eliminated by January
Is. The resolutions did not mention
the strikers demands for a S2-a-day
wage bonus
1t was not Immediately clear,
however, whether the locals re-
manned out today because of the
dues and wage controversies or be-
cause of avoWed diSsa tisfaction with
new agreement under which min
ers receive time-and-a-h pay for
work on the sixth successive day.
Today would have been their sixth
successive day.
Four Were Out Saturday.
Members of four of the locals
failed to work last Saturday because
of the time-and-a- half pay con-
troversy, but returned to their jobs
Monday.
The fifth, with a membership of
l,400 in the Hazleton, Pa, shaft
colliery, had participated in the
strike at its inception but returned
to work earlier this week, complying
with an earlier WLB order. Halle
ton is in District 7 of the United
Mine Workers.
Three of the other four are in
District (Wikes-Barre and Scran-
tom, where the strike has conferred,
and represent employees of Lehigh
Valley Coal Co. The fourth is in
District and represents employees
of the Lehigh Navigation & Coal Co.
With leaders not commenting.
there was no clear-cut indication of
the strikers reaction to the WLB
ruling. Dissatisfaction among rank
and-file strikers, however, was evil
denced in conversation in lunch
rooms and homes.
All had hoped that the WLB would
take jurisdiction in the contro-
versies.
Earlier today UNIV leaders-both
insurgent and loyal-had said they
anticipated the strikers would go
back to work Monday in compliance
with the WLB ultimatum, which
directed them to submit their griev-
ances-including demand for 81
a-day wage bonus-to processes pro-
vided in their working contract.
The board said earlier this week
that unless the walkout ended it
would use all the power at its COM
mand to compel resumption of pro-
| duction.
Seizure if Necessary Indicated.
The statement was taken AS a
strong indication that If necessary
the board would ask President
Roosevelt to seize the strike bound
mines in the name of the Govern
ment
WLB said the walkout had endan-
gered the prosecution of the war
by creating hard coal shortage
! throughout the Northeast.
The truce announcement was
made by spokesman for John L.
Lewis, UNIV president, after Mr.
Lewis and the anthracite group had
conferred for two hours and a half
The conference followed hard on
the WLB decision not to rule on
| the merits Of the miners grievances
| until they had returned to work
and exhausted all methods of set
Continued on Page AS, Column 81