Evening star., 1943-06-12
Coal
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|. Coal
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claring Government operation of
the mines by itself failed to con-
tlnue terms of the contract.
Protest Is Twofold.
The Pennsylvania development. a
union official said was a twofold
protest. In addition to the fines,
the miners were objecting to what
they called failure of the War Labor
Board to approve wage increase
of S1.30 a day. representing under
ground travel time.
That sum was agreed on by Mr.
Lewis and the Central Pennsylvania
Producers Association as a compro-
mise after the entire group of oper-
ators rejected fatty the UNIV de-
mand for 50 day more
WLB sources said a decision on
the underground travel pay figure
the focal point in the three-month
| dlspute-Would be handed down next
week, and it was indicated that the
issue might wind up in the courts.
Union officials were reported as be-
lieving law suit should be brought
If the leadership believes the WLB
decision is unjust.
The miners now are operating
under Mr.. IckeS' direction on a truce
which expires at midnight June 20.
Mr.. Ickes held out an olive branch
to the miners last night, "a hours
after he disclosed that fines for
absenteeism would be imposed. Still
sticking by the terms of the old
UNIV contract, he said the penalties
could be appealed to the Govern
ment managers of the pits and could
be rescinded by mutual agreement
between the operators and the
miners"
Soft Coal Men Liable.
The men in the soft coal fields
would be liable to fines for total
Of four days absenteeism-or more
than 81 each. Those who walked
out in the anthracite belt would not
be subject to the penalties, it was
explained by Mr.. Ickes' Office, be-
cause the hard coal contract con-
tanned no such stipulations.
Mr.. Ickes issued this statement on
the issue
The relationships between the
operators of the coal mines and the
mine workers are governed by a
number of agreements, some general
and some local
When the miners failed to return
to work on May l, the Government
took the position that the agree
ments were to remain in effect.
VIRTUALLY all of the agreements
provided that a strike or stoppage
Of work on the part of the mine
workers should constitute a viola
ton of the agreement. and that
there should be deducted from the
wages of the mineworker either one
or two dollars per day for each day
the mine remain closed
Operators Face Penalty.
THE agreements in general fur
ther provided that if the fines are
not assessed, the operators must pay
to the mine workers twice the
amount of the fines which should
have been assessed pursuant to the
agreement
These reciprocal provisions make
it clear that the purpose in mind
was to assure, in the interest of both
the operators and the labor union,
that the contracts would be re-
spected.
when I said at my press confer
ence last Thursday that the fines
were to be assessed in accordance
with the contracts. upon those who
had absented themselves from work
in violation of their contract prior
to their return on June 7, I was
under the impression that not only
the mine workers themselves but
the public generally understood that
the Government was operating on
the basis that the old contracts were
still in effect. 1 am not in favor
OF taking summary action in dis
regard of existing contracts.
There is a provision in the con-
tracts relating to fines and provid-
ing for machinery for adjusting dis
putes. In the circumstances the
orderly way for considering differ
ences and settling any dispute con-
corning the collection and remis-
sion of fines for past absences is by
means of the machinery which is
set forth in the contracts.
accordingly, instructions are be-
ing issued to the effect that If there
is any dispute as to the assessment,
collection or remission of fines, it
shall be handled between the per-
sons Immediately in charge of the
operation of the mines and the ap-
propriate committee of the union"
The contract provision respecting
fines, an aide to Mr.. 1ckes said, is
in this language:
"All fines - shall be auto
matically collected =. In no
case shall any fine be refunded ex-
cept by mutual agreement of the
accredited representatives of the
operators and the miners"
The mine managers appointed by
Mr.. Ickes when he took over the pits
for the Government May were men
who previously had operated the
mines for the private owners, and
these men will handle the bargain
ing with union committees.