Evening star., 1943-04-14
Southern Mine Farley
Receives Six-Day :
Work Week Plan ].
Burke Says Neither Side !.
Has Made Commitment
On Federal Proposal
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 1.-THE
Governments proposal for an
annual work guarantee, offered
as basis in negotiating a new
contract with the United Mine
Workers Of America, was pre-
sented formally today to the
Southern District Negotiating
Committee of the Appalachian
Soft Coal Conference. :.
DR.. John r. Steelman, head Of
the United States Cancellation Servs
ice, laid the proposal, drawn by the
Labor Department, before Southern
bituminous mine operators and the
UNIV, and then returned to the
Northern district conference where
the operators had rejected it yes
terday. -.~t
Under the plan, the new contract
would include provisions for six
day work week with time and one
half for the sixth day guaranteed
for the 100000 soft coal miners. This
proposition was offered in lieu of a
81 daily increase asked by the miners.
Committee Takes Recess.
The negotiating committee of the
Southern district recessed until $3.50
pm, soon after it had received
the proposal, but former Senator.
Edward r. Burke, spokesman for the
operators, said that neither side had
made any commitment on it.
The recess can't be construed
as any indication that the opera
tors feel the proposal represents a
possible solution" Mr.. Burke said. 4
Percy Tetlow, national representa-
tive of the UNIV, and John OJeary,
vice president of the union said
that John l.. Lewis had accepted
the plan ''in principle" as basis
for settling the management-labo Dor
dispute when it was presented to the
Northern operators.
Naturally, our position Is the
same here" Mr.. Tetlow said.
Mr.. Burke said:
Wants to Know What 1t Is. ~
We've received this suggestion
from the Secretary of Labor and we
feel any suggestion from a reliable
Government officer should be given
serious consideration-we intend to
give it that, but we want to know
what it means before we make any
commitments on it,"
Secretary of Labor Perkins an:
nounced in Washington last night.
that Lewis had accepted the de-
partment's proposal on a limited
basis, adding that she hoped the
operators would accept it ultimately.
DR.. Steelman, who advanced the
Governments suggestion to both
groups, said yesterday that the
Northern wags conference seems
completely deadlocked."
The Northern operators recessed
shortly after noon until 3 pm.
S2.25 Per Day Raise Seen.
Miss Perkins described the six-day
proposal, which Mr.. Lewis estimated
would provide an increase of S225 a
| day in miners earnings computed
over the year, as fair, reasonable
dill III Vic puuilC lIlIcItSI.
She pointed out in statement to
operators that the price of coal has
been adjusted by the OPA to carry
the labor cost involved in the pro-
posa1 and said she did not believe
the suggestion was inflationarv or
outside President Roosevelt's wage
freezing order.
Charles ONeill, spokesman for the
northern operators, said the propo-
sal was impractical because mo in
dustry can guarantee an annual
earning, and - no industry can
guarantee to offer six days work per
week.
"It would depend entirely" he
said, ION the demand for coal, the
ability of transportation companies
to service the mines, breakdowns,
accidents, absenteeism and many
other factors"
Mr.. ONeill estimated that the
proposal would cost the industry ap-
proximately $500 100000 for 1e43. a
figure which Mr.. Lewis said was
/ fantastic.
Lewis Regrets Owners Stand.
Declaring the operators refused
the six-day week proposition much
to the regret of the mine workers."
Mr.. Lewis said the operators like
wise turned down the suggestion of
a similar increase in base wages
through any other formula
posal conceivably would permit 313
working days in the year, deducting
Sundays and three ma jor holidays,
or 79 more work days than in. 1912.
The Northern operators now have
joined Southern producers in ask
ing that the dispute be certified to
the War Labor Board During the
month of negotiations, the union
has asked the operators for a So
daily basic wage increase, portal
to-portal payment. an SO minimum
daily for mine field workers and
unionization of minor bosses.
Negotiations have been continued
to April 80 under a retroactive ex-
tention agreement reached before
expiration of the current contract on
March 81.
Miss Perkins said the proposal
does not include a guarantee of 81
weeks work year but only six days
work or pay for six days in the
weeks which the mines work. She
said that presumably for the dura-
ton of the war at least the mines
would work every week the year
around.
Mr.. Burke sadi that group had
received no reply as yet to a tele-
gram sent President Roosevelt Mon
day. asking that steps be taken to
place the dispute before the War
Labor Board.
In asking for WLB Intervention
the Northern operators directed
telegram to Miss Perkins. Citing
President Roosevelt's hold the line"
wage-freezing order, the telegram
said that the issues involved in the
10, zka1 -, L.