Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-16
Formula at Boy

The little steel formula of the War
Labor Board has been brought to
bay, and the next few weeks will
show whether it can stand against
the concerted attacks of labor groups
and advancing living costs.
This formula, intended on the
whole to limit wage increases to Is
per cent above the level prevailing
on January l, 1941, has survived to
TINS time because Of high degree
OF fexlbllity in Interpretation. From
time to time, when occasion de-
manded, the board has exceeded the
IS per cent limitation, and has thus
been able to avoid a decisive test of
Its authority. But the indications
are that this policy has not been
effective, and that a real showdown
Is in the offing.
A suggestion of this is to be found
IN the reaction to the boards ruling
In the case of the Oliver Iron Mining
Company, whose employees conceded
that their wages had increased by
Is per cent since January, 1941. but
who nevertheless demanded and re-
celVed an additional increase of So
cents an hour. Spokesman for the
CLIO promptly hailed this ruling as
an abandonment of the little steel
formula. There is no doubt about
It" one said. The Oliver case has
broken the little steel formula. The
system of rating pay is strictly out
from now on"
Coming to its own defense. the
board, through an ANONYMOUS
spokesman, has denied that this is
the case. The Oliver increase in the
boards view, was granted to remedy
an inequality. No opinion was writ
ten, but the board apparently acted
on the theory that wages in iron ore
mining had been rising and falling
with 9eS in steel manufacturing
industries for long time, and, since
employees in the latter industry had
been given an increase of So cents
an hour, the board concluded the ore
miners should be advanced to the
same degree.
Just what application, If any, this
decision will have to the case Of John
L, Lewis and the United Mine Work.
ers remains to be seen. Under the
little steel formula these miners are
not entitled to any increase, but Mr..
Lewis has said that he will not recog-
nlze the formula as being applicable
to his case, nor will he recognize the
authority of the board. 1t is interest
Ing to note, however, that. with other
reasons, he cites INEQUALITIES" to
support his demand for an increase
Of two dollars a day The ineuual-
tiles that he has in mind are those
between the pay Of the miners and
the earnings of workers in the con-
structlon industries. some of whom
receive twice as much as a miner
But mine wages have never been
related to construction wages. and
the board, under its reasoning in the
Oliver case, would not be justified
In granting the miners any increase
to remedy this inequality"
The hard fact is, however. that Mr.,
Lewis is determined to get the in
crease, and is threatening a strike to
that end, He is boasting of his VIC
tory over the predecessor of the War
Labor Board in l941, and is making
no secret of his determination to DEFY
the board and the administration
this year. Furthermore. he has pow
erful weapons at his disposal If they
are turned against the little steel
formula, the board will be in for a
bruising battle, and. lacking the
fullest support from the administra-
ton. it will find it exceedingly diff
cult to keep the formula from being
destroyed.