Evening star., 1943-04-22
Soft Coal Row Sent
To War Labor Board
By Miss Perkins
Secretary Acknowledges
Failure Of Negotiations
For Settlement
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Secretary of Labor Perkins an
nounced today she had certified the
soft coal wage dispute to the War
Labor Board.
Acknowledging the failure of ne
gotiations which have been under
way in New York since March TO-
she said:
I'm peacetime I should have been
inclined to wait patiently for the
members of this conference to work
out something constructive, but coal
is essential to the prosecution of the
war and because chances cannot be
taken on so vital matter, I am
certifying this case to the National
War Labor Board"
The certification embraces the
whole Appalachian bituminous pro-
ducing area, North and South.
A one-month extension of the
agreement between the operators in
that area and the United Mine
Workers expires April 30.
The mine workers seek an increase
of 81 a day and payment on a portal
to-portal basis, which would mean
compensation for all underground
travel.
More than week ago Miss Per-
kins said John L. Lewis, UNIV presi-
dent, had agreed on a guaranteed
six-day work week as basis" of
settling the dispute. She emphasized
at that time she was not proposing
an annual wage, but that in any
week in which a mine operated at
all, the employees would be guaran-
teed six days pay.
She contended such an arrange
ment would not be infationary be-
cause price increase already had
been granted to cover labor costs at
the rate OF time and one-half for
the sixth day in a work week.
Miss Perkins Statement.
In a statement announcing the
certiflcation, Miss Perkins said:
THE coal operators and the
United Mine Workers, having failed
to agree in the coal conference
which had been in session in New
York since March 10, the Concilia-
ton Service of the Department of
Labor entered the negotiations on
March 20. Nearly two weeks of dis
cussions followed in which no coun-
ter proposals were made by the
operators in response to the United
Mine Workers proposals for changes
In the contract
The Cancellation Service then
suggested as the basis for further
negotiations that a guaranteed six
day work week be agreed to in prin-
ciple. 1t was anticipated that COL
lective bargaining on this point
would develop the limiting factors
and controlling conditions of such
a guarantee.
Coal Price Increase Cited.
The Office of Price Administra-
ton had already increased the price
of 'every ton of coal by 9 pc.
cent of the labor costs; this
increase. amounting to 1872 cents
ton in some districts, is now
being paid by consumers. The pur-
pose Of the increase was to promote
the regular operating of the indus
try for six days a week and to
enable the operators to meet the
labor costs of time and one-half for
the sixth day. in accordance with
their contracts. Some mines are
operating and working their en-
ployes six days week, but not all.
However. the operators and the
United Mine Workers have not
reached an agreement on this or
any other basis"
She concluded with her state
ment that wartime conditions and
the need for coal made it impera-
tive that no changes be taken by
further delaying the certification.
Burke Praises Action. i
In New York, former Senator Ed
ward r. Burke, spokesman for the
Southern coal operators. said he
was glad that Secretary Perkins had
certified the dispute to the WLB.
I'm all likelihood, there will be
no necessity for further meetings of
the negotiating committee = he said
but maybe the negotiating COM
mittee would like to feassemble and
report that the function of the con-
ference is now at an end.
THE Secretary of Labor has
taken the only obviously proper and
correct step in certifying the dis
pute. We have felt all along that
this step should have been taken
and there Is still time enough.
TT is clear, that unless the op-
orators are willing to join the union
in an effort to break down the
stabtlization program OF the Presi-
dent, nothing can be accomplished
at further conferences. This, we
are unwilling. to do. The only place
to settle this dispute is at the Ma
tional War Labor Board and we
are glad such action has been
taken