Evening star., 1943-03-15
Head Of Mine Owners
Sees Union Demands
Threat 10 Enterprise
Warns UNIV to Drop
Proposal to Enroll
Management Personnel

NEW YORK, March Is (P).-Ed-
ward R. Burke, president of the
Southern Coal Producers Associa-
ton, told the United Mine Workers
today they might destroy private
enterprise in the United States If
they succeeded in their efforts to
include all management personnel
below the rank OF mine superinten-
dent in their union.
"I urge the miners to reconsider
and modify their demands on this
point" Mr.. Burke, a former United
States Senator, told the Southern
operators and miners attending the
Appalachian joint wage conference.
Mr.. Burke noted at the beginning
Of his address that he was speaking
on motion offered Saturday by
John OLeary, vice president Of the
UNIV, that proposals made by John
L. Lewis, union president, at The
northern district wage negotiations
be adopted by the Southern group.
The Lewis proposals included a
provision that the UNIV be per
mitted to take in all management
personnel below the rank of super
intendent.
Sees Private Enterprise Endangered.
do the United Mine Workers be-
lieve in private enterprise?" Mr..
Burke asked "If you do, then you
will not persist In trying to take In
all management personnel below the
rank Of superintendent.
Private enterprise would be
greatly impaired if you succeed. It
would leave, in many mines, one
man alone representing manage
ment, out of thousands representing
the union.
mo man can serve two masters.
Management, as trustee OF the
owner Of property, would cease to
exist"
Mr.. Burke said that the proposal
was fundamentally opposed to an
American democratic concept" and
that it's application would sweep
into the discard the right to own
property"
Negotiations in closed session for
a new contract, with wage boosts for
100000 soft coal miners, probably
will begin after Northern and South
ern bituminous mine operators hear
the last of speakers for the United
Mine Workers today.
ITS time to get down to the busi-
ness at hand" said spokesman
yesterday in announcing forthcom-
ing plans. I'VE must demand that
the operators give serious considera-
tion to our demands and discuss
them openly and frankly"
Miners Threaten Stoppages.
During separate meetings which
began last week between the two
owners groups and the UNIV, some
speakers asserted there would be
work stoppages or drastic action in
April unless the miners got new
pact with raises upon the expira-
ton of the present contract March
81.
Heads of the two operators
groups rejected the major demands
of Mr.. Lewis for $2-a-day wage
increase. general S8-a-day mini
mum and unionization of minor
bosses. The present basic day rate
is ST.
Southern operators, saying they
would reply in detail to union de-
mands when actual negotiations
start in closed session, made coun-
/ terproposals eliminating strikes
creating a 40-hour week in place OF
/ the 35-hour schedule and starting
overtime pay after 40 hours.
| The Northern operators main
! tanned that business conditions did
not warrant granting the demands
which, they said, would cost an ad-
ditional $750,000 900 to produce $780,
900 tons expected by the Govern
ment In 1943. The union said the
added cost to the Nation as a whole
would be $4,000 900 for the year.