Evening star., 1943-06-24
Back-to-Mines
Order Ignored
By Thousands
$4,000 Hard Coal
Workers Idle, Tying
Up One Area
BY the Associated Press.

PITTSBURGH, June 24.-Al-
though the back-to- the mines
movement gained momentum to-
day, thousands of the Nations
half million miners refused to
go back, despite orders from the =
United Mine Workers to resume
operations.
In Pennsylvania many mines were
idle, the Western Pennsylvania Coal
Operators Association estimating
less than SO per cent" of operations
employing $1,000 were working.
An estimated $4,000 out Of $4,000
miners in Alabama and approx
mately 5000 in West Virginia did
not work today. Ohio reported less
than so per cent of its 81 900 miners
back at work.
Meetings Must Be Called.
Spokesman for some UNIV locals
in Pennsylvania explained meetings
still had to be held to pass on the
Policy Committees instructions to
return, but in other instances the
orders were fatty voted down, the
men remaining on strike.
Only partial return of the men
also was reported from Virginia,
Kentucky and Illinois.
At least 1000 of Illinois $4,000
UNIV members refused to resume
work. an action which the unions
vice president interpreted as a pro-
test against the War Labor Boards
denial Of portable portal pay de-
mands.
Thousands of anthracite miners in
Eastern Pennsylvania also refused
10 go back to their jobs Reports
from the field showed at least $4,000
OF the hard coal industry's $4,000
miners idle. including virtually all
Of the $4,000 employees of the Glen
Alden Coal Co, world largest pro-
ducer
One Area Tied Up.
One mine official said the tie-,Ip
Is general in the Luzerne- -Lacka-
wanna County area. in which more
than half of the industrys workers
are concentrated. Many of the
mines that open were compelled 10
operate with reduced forces.
At least five UNIV locals in the
anthracite region, with a member
ship of more than 1000, voted for
mally 10 continue their work stop
page.
Several mines were picketed in
Southwestern Pennsylvania yester-
day, but all was quiet in that area
today and no further picketing was
reported
The miners staying home protested
the lack of contract. and the dead
lock over the portal-to- portal paw
issue which the Var Labor Board
said should be settled in the courts.
Some also voted that the UNIV
Policy Committee. in ordering the
membership back to the mines, set
no date for work resumption.
A union spokesman said in Wash
lngtOn today thai the Policy Com
mlttee meant the miners should
resume work Immediately or as soon
as physical conditions permit. and
that all district officials knew this.
The Pittsburgh Coal Co. second
largest commercial producer. report
ed nearly 5000 men working TODAY.
as compared with ITO yesterday.
More than half its employees were
still idle.
Firms Four Mines Idle.
All tour mines of the Jones T.
Laughlln Steel Corp near PITTSBURGH
remained idle.
lew men triCkled back to work
Yesterday, one concern reporting
about one-tenth Of It's force being
on the Job. The H. C. Frick Coke
co. SAID it mined 1900 tons in
pennsylvania against a normal out
put of around $4,000 tons.
But late yesterday and last night,
alter receipt OF the telegram from
John l.. Lewis and the Policy
committee, local after local shouted
down the suggestion to go back
without a contract or their demand.
ed extra pay for underground travel,
Locals at Scalp Level, Nanty-Glo.
ColVer. Revloc, Lilly, Johnstown.
Elmora, Beaverdale. Tire Hill. South
Fork, Windber, St. Michael. Barnes
boro and Central City, all in district
2, Central PENNSYLVANIA region.
voted to remain on strike.
approximately 10000 men belong
to those locals. Several other big
locals in the same field like those at
Ehrenfeld and Gallitzin. held no
meetings and made no effort to 60
to work Two locals, at ST Rene
dict and MarSteller. with 900 mem
oers. voted to return to work.
The boys may be a little slow re-
turning, because they are very