Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-16

$500 More Workers
Join WaIkout in
Anthracite Fields
Strikers Study WLB
Orders to Return
To Jobs at Once
Continued From First Page }

! Continued From First Page)
Element under their contract shor
of work stoppage.
Mr.. Lewis spokesman said thai
Leo Flip, Plymouth, Pa, submitted
this motion at the meeting with Mr.
Lewis:
Il move that it is the sense of thi.
meeting that we all return and tel
our membership to put the mines
back to work next Monday"
Other local union leaders were
quoted as saying that they woule
return, home and order meetings Of
the miners today and tomorrow.
Strike Leaders Included.
| The return to- work vote was more
than a reiteration of the interna.
tional leadership's opposition to the
strike because the group included
local strike leaders who were SEM
here to present the case of the idle
men.
The UNIV spokesman said those
present and voting included Andrew
| Yevcak, president of the outlawed
Tri-D District Committee. Their deci-
sion. of course, is not binding or
the rank and file OF the strikers, whc
have reserved the right to vote or
their own course of action after
hearing the report of their repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Lewis liaison rep.
resentative with the press, X. c
Adams, editor of the UNIV Journal
expressed confidence, however, that
| the vote was virtual assurance that
nearly all the mines would be back
in production Monday.
The WLB's decision not to rule
on the merits of the controversy
| followed four-hour hearing in
which Mr.. Lewis, brea thing defiance
told the board he had no authority
either to alter the dues constitution
ally fixed by his union or to alter
the wages of a collective bargaining
| agreement.
The CRAVING mine union CHIEF
promised the union leaders present
that in the negotiations for a new
agreement, which open April 30, he
would fight with them for "a whole.
some increase" Notwithstanding thu
boards Little Steel" formula o,
anything else which stood in the way
of their making a livelihood. EST.
mates of their present wages hav,
ranged from IS to $3.50 daily.
Victory for Lewis Over Miners.
The boards order represented 8
victory for Mr.. Lewis over thousand,
Of miners revolving against his lead.
ership.
The miners had asked the VILE
to negotiate their demands for 9
So day wage bonus and their pro.
test against so cents a month
union dues increase. Mr.. Lewis tolo
the board it had no authority to act
in either argument.
Chairman William H. Davis an
nounced the boards decision after a
Is minute executive session follow
ing the hearing He said:
IF you have grievances, you car
take them up according to the
terms of the contract, and if that
contract does not provide for finaI
determination of the issue, the next
step is through this board"
Mr.. Lewis, declaring that the
WLB had no jurisdiction in the
wage dispute, said:
IF it has lin the wage contro-
versy), then l say collective
bargaining has disappeared anc
they might as we'll abandon Their
unions and let the representatives.
OF Government tell them how. much
they shall work for, when they shall
work and how courteous they shall
have to be to their foremen."
The WLB had called the HEARING
to hear explanations of the strike
which 1t said was creating a Goa
shortage and endangering the wal
effort. 1t did not indicate whether
it was considering application of it,
Little Steel formula" in union dis.
putes in which normal negotiation,
! had failed.
Dues Up to Union.
Mr.. Lewis told the board that onl,
the union itself had authority to ad
| just its dues. The strikers had pro-
| tested that an increase from 81 tt
l.50 monthly had been voted at {
UNIV convention at which delegate
from bituminous coal fields held al
unfair balance of power.
The UNIV president estimated
that 10000 miners were striking
Estimates by strikers had placed tn,
total at 1900. Seven Thousand
others had returned to work in com
pliance with earlier WLB orders.
Before the board ruled and leader
voted to propose truce, Mr.. Yevcal
had declared that there would be
general strike Monday unless tn
board decided to consider the issues
Tri-District Committee Hit.
Mr.. Lewis, at the WLB hearing
called the insurgent Tri-Distric
Committee an unauthorized, self
| constituted. constitutionally illega
group" and declared that Mr.. Yevcal
and his outlaw associates" in "thi
mad enterprise" would be held t,
accountab ility under the laws of thu
/ union.
Mr.. Lewis said only a constitu
tional convention of the UMC coult
change the dues and declared tn
existing contract would remain il
force until it expired April 30.
At that time, he promised tn
miners, he would get them a whole
some increase" by the processes o
collective bargaining regardless 0
the WLB'S wage control policies
Mr.. Davis told local union leader
that he was impressed by thei
patriotism and good faith"
we think the exercise of Thu
authority Of the international off
GERS and the local officers can ge
them back to work and we orde
them back TO work" he continued
You have the authority of tn,
Government Of the United State
to help you carry out your dutie
AS officers OF the union in thi
emergency, and we expect you t.