Evening star., 1943-06-11
Threat Of New
Strike ofCoa|
Miners Grows
Fines, WLB Goodness
To Split Contract
Increase Tension
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
A powder-keg atmosphere hung
over the Nations coal fields to-
day as Government fines on
miners for their last walkout
brought threats of new strike.
War Labor Board coolness toward
a wage increase agreement between
the United Mine Workers and
Pennsylvania group of operators
contributed also to the tenseness of
the situation.
Fuel Administrator ickes, opera
tor OF the mines since May l, ordered
the fines yesterday. They follow
terms of he old UNIV contract, ST
a day for each miner for each day
he is off the job without a valid rea-
son. In this case, the men were
away five days, starting June l, The
money goes to charity.
Fines for Only Four Days.
Although the miners were idle five
consecutive days. it appeared they
would be fined only for absences on
the first four days The fifth day
was a Saturday. and aides of Mr..
Ickes said the contracts generally
made Saturday work optional with
the miners, making fines inap-
plicable for that day.
In another development the UNIV
voted to put a formal end to the
futile negotiating conference be-
cause. it said. of failure of the op-
orators to attend" conference ses-
sions.
The vote was taken this morning
when Ezra Van Horn. chairman of
the conference, read a telegram from
the operators saying they would not
return until the WLB had handed
down its decision. Only the con-
ference officers and UNIV represent
atives were present.
UNIV spokesmen said that. al
though Mr.. Van Horn merely de-
clared one-day recess, the miners
vote supplied the coup de grace to
the conference and meant that if
collective bargaining is resumed,
new conference will have to be
set up.
Mr.. Ickes pointed out that the
Government ordered the old con-
tract continued when negotia tons
were deadlocked over UNIV Presi-
dent John L. Lewis demands for
$2-a-day pay boosts. The union
contended through number of
spokesmen, however. that the fines
were illegal because the contract had
expired.
Union Heads Issue Warning.
Pennsylvania, West Virginia. Ten
warned that the Government fines
would be resented" by the men.
Several came out fatty with pre-
diction of another walkout. and Mr..
Lewis summed up his opinion of Mr..
Ickes order in these words:
"An unwarranted, illegal act
which takes nearly 100000 worth
of food from the fingers and mouths
of children Of the mining camps
a brutal application of economic
sanctions against free citizens.
Another step toward political tyr
amy in America
The men are working under a
truce that expires midnight June
90 Mr. Lewis ordered them back
last Monday with that stipula ton.
Meantime. Mr.. Lewis and the Ap-
palachian Joint Wage Conference
failed to conclude an agreement on
the basic demand-pay for portal
to-portal underground traveD time.
Mr.. Lewis and the Central Penn
sylvania Producers Association then
disclosed separate settlement,
calling for a sl30 a day increase for
the underground travel, The associa-
ton withdrew from the Appalachian
conference
WLB Disapproval Indicated.
The War Labor Board took up this
pact yesterday and by its question:
ing indicated that a ma jority of the
members were not satisfied with the
terms. Without WLB approval the
agreement will be Invalid.
At the time it was signed, Mr..
Lewis offered the same terms to all
other operators as a model for
new contract. Illinois operators
have said they would pay $50.
On the whole issue. Edward r.
Burke, spokesman for the South
(See COAL, Page A-18D
a Rl a