Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14

Order Requiring UNIV
To Sign Contract
BY the Associated Press.
The War Labor Board is pre-
pairing to enunciate a new policy
under which John L. Lewis and
other labor disputants will not
have to sign a contract as evil
dence that they intend to comply
with board orders.
The test of compliance will be in
the observance of the terms and
conditions laid down by the WLB
whether the parties put their names
on a paper or not. This, WLB
members said, is consonant with the
recently enacted Antistrike Act,
which says nothing about signing a
contract.
Several members disclosed their
conclusions on this point as Presi-
dent Roosevelt gave notice that the
Government intends to return the
coal mines to their owners, in line
with the new act, regardless of
UNIV President Lewis condition
that the miners will work until Oc-
tober 81 only If Secretary of the In
terror Ickes keeps custody of the
mines.
Working Under WLB Terms.
Miners presently employed are
working under the terms and condi-
tons of WLB decision, except that
Government custody has been SUBJ
stituted for private control. II
private ownership is restored and
the miners continue at work, the
board will recognize this as full
compliance.
The opinion of Chairman William
H. Davis In the soft coal decision
said, "We have directed the parties
to execute new contracts" How
ever, the board has since noted that
as technical point of fact, whether
through oversight or otherwise, the
directive order did not actually in
struct the parties to sign contracts,
but only laid down the conditions
Of contracts.
The Anti-strike Act, setting forth
the WLB's power and duties, says,
Where no other law is applicable
the order of the board shall pro-
vide for terms and conditions to
govern relations between the
parties which shall be fair and
equitable to employer and employee
under all the circumstances of the
case"
Mr.. Lewis has referred to the
WLB order as yellow dog" con-
tract, and Mr.. Roosevelt has said
he knew of no way to compel
man to put his signature to
contract.
A showdown between the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Lewis, however. may
arise on more substantial grounds
than signatures when the mines
are restored to their owners.
Question Raised.
The act provides that seized
properties shall be returned las
soon as practicable, but in no event
more than go days after the restora-
ton of the productive efficiency
thereof prevailing prior to the tax
ing of possession thereof"
This raised the question whether
the whole industry would have to
be restored to its pior reproductive
efficiency" before the so days would
begin.
WLB members said they saw no
basis for such Interpretation, and
that property could be restored on a
mine-by-mine basis, or on COM
pany-wide or area wide basis when
ever in the Presidents judgment this
could safely be done without impair
ing production seriously.
Otherwise. they said, one mines
idleness could keep the whole indus
try out of private hands indefinitely.
Some mines went back to full pro-
duction couple days after the strike
was called off. Some are still idle in
Pennsylvania.
Volunteers Statement.
Mr.. Roosevelt, at his press confer
ence late yesterday, volunteered the
statement on the Government plans
for returning the mines to private
ownership. While he cid not reveal
what steps would be taken in event
of another walkout, he called atten-
ton to the section of the antistrike
law requiring 80 days notice before
any strike can be called in industries
not in Government possession.
Strikes are forbidden altogether in
facilities under Government opera
ton.
In another ruling on WLB pro-
cedure, the board announced that it
will not as a matter of policy compel
employers to compensate employee
union representatives for time lost in
adjusting grievances. The door re-
mains slightly ajar, however, for
special circumstances.
Vice Chairman George w. Taylor
discussed in an opinion the boards
views on one of the most contro-
versial points in labor relations.
The board feels" said DR.. Taylor,
that a union demand that man
agement pay union representatives
is in reality claim that the griev-
ance procedure is not functioning
properly.
Many unions emphatically reject
the idea that management should
pay union representatives. On the
other hand, there is the point of
view that the issue Is a part of man