Evening star., 1943-08-31
Operators Paper Says
Sinking by Miners
Causes Lag in Output
BY the Associated Press,

Enormous absenteeism and
indifference" on the part of
miners was blamed by a publica-
ton of soft coal operators today
for a serious lag in coal produc-
ton since the spring strikes-a
lag which Secretary of the In
terror Ickes says has reduced
output below the years esti-
mated needs.
1T seems" said bulletin of the
National Coal Association, distrib-
uted to its operator members, that
the slogan No Contract-No Sweat
is in full operation in some sections"
The bulletin also took the Govern
ment to task for its part in the coal
shortage problem, saying:
I'm order to be fair about it, too,
the record should also show that the
Government itself, since last spring.
has not fully contributed to the sue
cessful operation of the coal mines
OF this country. Threats of short
ages and rationing, plus implication
| that the Government is going to do
| this, have not helped the situation
at all.
Cites Manpower Crisis.
"A solution to the manpower prob
lem with enforcible directives has
| not been forthcoming. And the
labor situation grows steadily worse.
| All this, with little more of this
panic-crying out of Washington, and
we may safely look for serious diff
f1culty in getting sufficient coal to
take care of the Nation, whereas the
Government spokesman might do
more good by being less vocal, and
If the miners go to work there will
be no difficulties"
The War Labor Board, mean
while, put into formal writing it's
refusal, announced last week, to ap-
prove payment of an extra SIPS
a day to Illinois coal miners for
the time they spend travelling un-
derground to and from work.
1t gave these reasons for turn
ing down an agreement between
John L. Lewis United Mine Workers
and Illinois coal operators for por-
tal-to-portal pay:
Cd The mine workers are not
entitled to extra compensation un-
der the Fair Labor Standards Act
(wage and hour law until the
weekly working time exceeds 40
hours"
CD The miners failed to estab-
lish that the SIPS was mot an
indirect wage increase in viola
ton Of wage stabilization policies" !"
Davis Writes Opinion.
WLB Chairman William H. Davis,
writing the formal majority opinion,
said:
I'VE understand very well what a
good thing it would be if we could
approve this agreement and put
an end to the wage dispute in the
bituminous industry. There
would be every reason in the world
for us to approve the agreement
If 1t were really genuine set
tlement of a legal claim under the
Fair Labor Standards Act.
"On the other hand, we have a
grave responsibility to preserve the
wage stabilization policy. =
Claim Called Unsupported.
1.-THE only way we can honestly
discharge this responsibility, when
we are called upon to decide wheth-
er the wage increase proposed In
the Illinois agreement should or
should not be approved, is to satisfy
ourselves that the amount of the
proposed wage increase is genuinely
and reasonably related to the claim
advanced by the mine workers
under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
We have said that the proposed
settlement must be submitted with
supporting data sufficient to enable
the board to determine whether or
not it constitutes a genuine settle
ment of alleged claims arising
under the Fair Labor Standards Act
and not an indirect wage increase
In violation of the wage sterilization
policies
The proposed settlement now be-
fore us is not supported by any
such data and we cannot approve
1t. The proposed settlement