Evening star., 1943-04-25
Outlook Held Dismal
For Avehing Strike
In Coal Dispute
: Wur Labor Board Orders
miners to Keep Working
Under Present Pact

By the Associated Press
Undeterred by John L. Lewis
refusal to heed its summons the
War Labor Board went ahead
last night with plans for arbitra-
tion and ordered continued oper-
alton of the bituminous mines
under existing contract terms.
Any wage adjustments later Or
dered will be retroactive to
April /.
Only the operators responded to
the fWLB request to attend a pre-
tfminary meeting yesterday on the
soft coal wage dispute to determine
procedure and timing. The board
said Mr.. Lewis, UNIV chieftain, did
not. acknowledge its call.
AMeanwhile, at Springfield, Ill,
President Ray Edmundson of the
Illinois district, United Mine Work
ers.. declared that the time has
not yet come when we are taking
orders from the War Labor Board
Or any one else, other than John
l.. Lewis
He said the unions notice yester-
day to the Illinois Coal Operators
Association that an agreement for
continued operation of Southern
Illinois mines pending negotiation
Of a new contract will be considered
terminated as of midnight April go
would stand despite the WLB order
that the Appalachian operator
miner agreement be extended be-
yoad April 80 pending settlement
Of the dispute.
~. Prospects Called Dismal.
The Illinois union notified the
Illinois operators before the order
vas known in Springfield, but Mr..
Edmundson said it would make no
difference. He added that the for
NAL notice clears the way for
action" and that prospects of avoid
Ing a strike are dismal"
Future overall union policy will
be discussed in New York Tuesday
at meeting called by Mr.. Lewis.
Mr.. EdmundSon and eight other
Illinois UNIV officials will attend.
Mr. Edmundson charged that
specially trained United States
Army troops" are being held in
readiness for invasion early this
week of the Southern Illinois coal
area.
A three-man WLB panel will be-
gin private hearings Wednesday, a
day after the scheduled UNIV policy
meeting. The panel personnel, as
yet not designated, will represent
the public, industry and labor. The
board notified Mr.. Lewis of its de-
cision and invited him to suggest
several names" by $50 m tomor-
row to help in the selection of the
labor member. The panel will hear
the issues and write a report and
recommendation on which the WLB
will base its future action.
Will Proceed With Case.
The board made it plain that it
will proceed with the case even if
the UNIV persists in ignoring it
except that in the event of strike
the proceedings would be suspended
In accordance with board policy not
to consider the merits of any case
while there is an interruption of
production.
Asked what the board would do
II the UNIV made no suggestions
for labor member of the panel.
WLB Chairman William H. Davis
said, then we will have to use our
own common sense about it."
The WLB said it was prepared. in
accordance with President Roose-
velt's request to the parties March
%. to consider and decide the coal
dispute with all speed consistent
with complete and fair minded"
settlement
Charles O'Neill, speaking for the
Northern Appalachian operators at
yesterdays meeting with the board,
raised the question of retroactive
wage adjustments, saying:
I'VE are very much concerned
With anything that would look like
a lengthy hearing under this direc-
tive that you are issuing today
Saturday. If We do not get prompt
settlement of these issues. many
mines will have to close down in
fear of what will happen to them"
Difficulties Mentioned.
He said the OPA would not allow
any price increase to be retroactive,
and the mine operators might find
difficulty in paying wage adjust
ments retroactively for any sub
stantial period.
Mr.. Davis assured him I'VE are
acutely conscious of the fact that in
this industry the retroactive fea-
ture does not give rise to an uncer-
tainty which, as the President says,
1t would be unfair to prolong'
Whether the boards course would
be determined or altered by scat
tered stoppages or only by the ma
tional policy of the United Mine
Workers was an open question.
At Birmingham, Ala. production
of coal at five major Alabama mines
was halted yesterday as miners
failed to report at the four prin-
cipal shafts of the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad Co.. and one mine
of the Woodward Iron Co.
Approximately 1000 men are EN-
ployed in the five mines. Their out
put is used in the manufacture of
coke for blast furnaces.
Walkout Spontaneous.
William Mitch. district UNIV
president. said the walkout was of
spontaneous origin. and resulted
from dissatisfaction because the
operators had failed to install the
six-day week with overtime pay for
the sixth day. and because negotia-
tions for permanent contract to
replace the one which expired
March 81 have made little progress.
The miners. Mr.. Mitch said