The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-07
OPERATORS, UNION
FAVOR AGREEMENT
Continued from Page y


ordered suspended last Wednesday
because of the strike and the board
directed at that time that the ne
gotiationS could not be resumed
while a strike was in progress.
Meanwhile, with the great bulk Of
John L. Lewis $4,000 miners
streaming back to the pits, there was
every indication that they would
stay on the job this time.
While Lewis sounded new threat
of work stoppage on June 20 I'M
less a contract is agreed upon by
that time, it was regarded as merely
a gesture Both coal mine operators
and the union evidenced every de-
sire of reaching an early agreement
Negotiations will be resumed to-
day II the War Labor Board finds
the back-to-work movement salts
factory and gives a go-ahead for
collective bargaining. The board
refused to permit negotiations to
proceed Saturday because of its pol
icy of opposing negotiations while a
work stoppage is in progress.
The operators, as well. as Lewis,
protested to the board that they
wanted to get on with the negotia-
tons. Even the southern operators,
who have been more adamant in
their stand than the northern group,
were beginning to show signs of
yielding
The UNIV ordered its members to
end the six-day stoppage in compli-
ance with an order of President
Roosevelt, although the union pub
licly acknowledged only request of
Solid Fuels Administrator Harold L.
Ickes, custodian Of the government
seized mines.
While the negotiations continue,
Miners will work under their 1941-
40 wage contract with the conces-
sions already granted by the WLB.
Those concessions raised vacation
allowances from 500 to $50 a year
and required the operators to as
sumo minor charges additionally
borne by the miners.
Observers believed prospects OF
agreement hinged upon a formula
proposed by 1ckes last week to set
tie the unions portal to portal pay
. demand, the basic issue in dispute.
Ickes suggested temporary agree
ment on portal to portal pay while
bipartisan commission investi-
gated to determine the average min
er's underground travel time.
Last weeks work stoppage came
when the operators rejected the I'M
ion proposal for temporary agree
ment on $3.50 daily for portal to
portal pay. The operators objected
, that they did not want continuing
retroactive wage liabilities to accrue.
) Any final wage concessions will be
retroactive to April l. Operators
have shown considerable concern
over that retroactive obligation and
some expressed hope that it would
! not be paid in lump sum but
. spread over the balance of the wage
contract period. If the union &C
aceptS that proposal, the operators
! might ask the Office Of Price Adj
administration for plice increase suf-
! f1cient to cover the retroactive pay
: ments.
: A new complication may arise this
= week because of a condition imposed
by the War Labor Board May Is
asswhen 1t ordered portal to portal ne
: gotiations resumed. The board or
ssdered the parties to report back by
'sJune and submit still unsettled is
sues to the board for final DISPOSE
rtion
: Any WLB move to intervene I'M
sdoubtedly would be ignored by
Lewis, who persistently has refused
sto deal with the board. The board
probably would order bargaining
scontinued, however, If the operators
reported an agreement was immi-
anent.