Evening star., 1943-01-15
10000 Miners
Delay Strike for
WLB Hearing
Union Action Set
For Today Postponed
Until Next Sunday

Pennsylvania anthracite field
was held in allegiance today
pending a public hearing before
the War Labor Board here this
afternoon on the 17-day-old
walkout already involving 1900
miners.
The Tri-District Anthracite Com
mittee, which had set today as
deadline for calling out the addi-
tional thousands of mine workers,
voted at Hazelton, Pa, last night to
postpone action until Sunday, when
It's leaders will report on the hear
ing here
The WLB has requested both
mine operators and United Mine
Workers Union leaders to explain
fully why the miners, whose sons
are at the fighting front, are on
strike against the national no.
strike policy and against the welfare
OF the Nation in time of war"
Strike Call Held Up.
Members of the Tri-District Com
mlttee, which is not recognized by
the UNIV, said in a resolution that
a strike call would not be issued if
delegates to the hearing reported
satisfactory progress" and assur-
ance that the board would make
any wage increase it might grant
retroactive to January Is.
Committee members, together
with lraa ctv
demanded So day bonus over
wages estimated unofficially to aver
age $3.50 daily. They also have
demanded elimination of a union
dues increase, from ST to Sl.50
monthly, voted at UNIV conven-
ton at which they said bituminous
coal delegates held an unfair bal
ance of power.
Already the stoppage has become
one of the most extensive strikes in
the anthracite field since John l..
Lewis became head of the United
Mine Workers % years ago. While
no official figures are available, a
Pennsylvania State official esti-
mated the miners had lost approx
mately s2000,0OO in wages to date.
Had 26-Day Strike in 1941.
The Tri-District Committee is
headed by rank-and- leaders
within the UMW's District 7, where
similar protest over increased
union dues led to a 26-day strike
in l94l, involving approximately
1900 workers. That increase was
voted by the district convention.
Mr.. Lewis finally put down the
revolt by resembling the increase
and taking over administration of
the district.
Some of the men now on strike
are members of locals represented
on the Tri-District Committee, COW
ering Districts l, 7 and 9 of the
UNIV. Their strikes followed votes
by local unions. A total of Is locals,
representing Is collieries, now are
participating. About 1000 other
strikers have returned to work in
compliance with WLB demands.
Urges Return to Work.
While the Tri-District Committee
met at Hazleton, leaders of other
striking local unions convened at
Wilkes-Barre where the walkout has
centered and also voted to send rep
resentatives here.
After the Hazleton session, Carl
Kratz, president of Local 14O7, said
he would recommend that his local
return to work Monday.
We've got what we wanted"
Mr.. Kratz said, Il am sure that
now that the Government has taken
hand we'll get some action"
The meetings were held amid
mounting criticism of the walkout,
which has cut production by 10000
tons daily and created a hard coal
shortage throughout the fuel
rationed Northeast.
Representative Satterfield, Demo-
crat, of Virginia declared in the
House that the stoppage was IAN
unspeakable affront to the people"
and that there was mo more appro-
pirate time" to invoke President
Wilson's work-or- fight policy of the
World War.
Strikers Answer Criticism.
Strike leaders, irked by public
statements challenging the strikers
patriotism, have said the miners
were fighting a dictatorship here
at home just as our sons are fighting
relationships abroad" The state
ment followed expressions of dis
satisfaction with UNIV leadership.
With coal stockpiles dwindling and
many sections, particularly New
England, raising strong protests,
Solid Fuels Co-ordinator Ickes said
producers temporarily had suspended
shipments to Canada and to points
west of Erie, Pa.
A spokesman for UNIV president,
John L. Lewis. contending that he
had done everything possible to
end the work stoppage, said Mr..
Lewis had appealed to the local
union leaders to observe the terms
of their existing contract and as
serted that there had been no pro-
test to the international against the
dues increase.
The insurgent Tri-District Com
mittee voted weeks ago to call for
general walkout in the industry
January Is unless operators granted
a wage increase which the miners
contend is necessary because of in
creased living costs.
Strike Over Wages and Dues.
Most of the committees purported
strength IS in the UMW's Districts
7 and 8 CHazleton and Shamokin
areas. respectively, whereas most
OF the 1900 already out are con-
centrated in District (Wilkes-
Barre and Scranton section). 1t
was In District that the strike
started December 80, chiefly over the
dues increase. The wage issue grew
in Importance as the walkout spread.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. B. P. Disque,
assistant deputy solid fuels CO.
ordinator, called on Northeast coal
dealers to supplement anthracite
supplies with bituminous coal.
"The, supply of anthracite for the
time Being will be inadequate to
meet your requirements in serving
domestic and other customers who
require fuel for heating purposes"
Gen. Disque said at New York.