Evening star., 1943-06-16
Partial UNIV Victory
On Portal Pay Issue
Is Held Possible
WLB Takes Up Problem;
Some Members Reported
For Some Kind of Award

..
cording to the Associated Press
that board members were inclinine
toward some sort of award. Nc
definite sum has been stated, but
the amount was expected to be SUBJ
stantially less than the $1.30 day
which the Central Pennsylvania
operators and United Mine Workers
had agreed to in principle but failed
to reduce to mutually acceptable
language in writing.
UNIV Policy Committee to Meet.
The UMW's Policy Committee
called a meeting this afternoon to
review the entire situation. UNIV
President John L. Lewis probably
will hold the committee in Wash
ington pending a WLB decision at
least-which is due in a day or two
and possibly until the end of the
week when the extension period
ordered after the recent work stop
page expires. Unless there is a
change in the situation, the miners
are due to quit work again SATURDAY.
night
Competent sources said that ma
tority of the board now feels that
they should not completely absolve
the coal operators of liability for
payment OF travel time, even though
such decision might lead the way
for law suits by individual miners
seeking back pay under the Fair
Labor Standards Act.
The issue is whether travel time
Is working time and, if so, is the
payment already included in present
rates. II it is not, should the oper-
stors' liability begin after the min
ers' 35-hour basic work week, which
includes only the actual working
time, or should it begin after the
statutory 40-hour week, and should
the compensation be at straight
time rates, time and a half or some
other rate?
Portal Pay Talks Collapse.
The Central Pennsylvania pro-
ducerS advised the WLB yesterday
their negotiations with the miners
collapsed over the question of a per-
manent or a temporary settlement
of the portal-to-portal issue. Charles
ONeill, president of the group, told
VILE Chairman William H. Davis
that the operators intended the 130
a day to be a final settlement, but
that the union refused to indemnify
the operators against law suits or a
renewal of the issue beyond April
1, 1914.
Mr.. Lewis refused to comment.
While the miners original demand
was for 50 a day, they have an
nounced willingness to take less.
Mr.. ONeill's group withdrew
from the Appalachian joint wage
conference last week, but now is
back on the same footing as the
other operators. Mr. ONeill ad-
vised the War Labor Board that the
Central Pennsylvania producers
await its decision.
Mr.. O'Neill told Mr.. Davis that
the producers took the position the
payment of S130 a day for travel
time should release them from all
claims for such travel time prior to
April /; that is, the miners, as a
union and individually, would not
demand. or sue for, retroactive pay.
He said the UNIV refused to agree.
Some War Labor Board members
are understood to take the view
tnat the question whether travel
time is working time under the Fair
Labor Standards Act is a litigable
issue which can be settled only by
the courts, unless the parties agree
to a full out-of-court settlement
that does not violate the wage
stabilization program.
O'Neilrs Letter to Davis.
Mr.. ONeill wrote Mr.. Davis:
The Central Pennsylvania Coal
Producers Association has failed in
it's efforts to reduce to writing the
oral agreement with the United
Mine Workers of America.
I'VE failed to reach an accord on
an indemnification or protection
clause relating to the portal-to-p
tai issue prior to April l., 1943, which
we have always contended was fully
covered by the contract. We were
in accord on all of the provisions
necessary to complete the agree
ment, until the United Mine Work
ers refused to accept beyond April
!. 1943, the release and settlement
as to alleged claims and demands
for portal-to-portal or travel time
prior to April /, l943.'
Murray Urges Veto.
In the meantime, CIO President
Philip Murray called on President
Roosevelt to veto the antistrike bill,
declaring it would actually encour-
age stoppages and interruptions of
work"
The appeal was made in an open
letter to the Chief Executive. Be-
fore it was made public, the Presi-
dent sidetracked a direct reply to
a press conference question as to
whether he would sign the meas
ure. While he was not certain If
it had reached the White House, he
said if it had, it had gone to the
usual departments for recommend
ations. The measure got to the
White House Monday evening.
Secretary of Labor Perkins told
newsmen she had received rou-
tine request from the Budget Bu-
reau for comment. She refused to
say whether she had recommended
vetoing the BILL but remarked,
American labor made e pledge to
the President and that's that. I
think they will keep their word" !"
She referred to the no-strike pledge.
Mr.. Murray said the bills pro-
hibition on political contributions
by labor unions was very openly
aimed at weakening the democratic
structure Of our country by prevent
= ing the participation of the common
people in our political life"
Union Council Telegram.
Another telegram, signed by Sid
ney R. Katz, secretary-treasurer of
the Maryland and District Indus
trial Union Council, said, "the ma
i