The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-03

/ no strike agreement. The board re-
peatedly has ruled that settlement
efforts in cases under its jurisdic-
ton may not proceed while strikes
are in progress.
1t was believed the White House
conference was concerned not only
with possible methods Of reopening
! the mines, but the relationship of
Ickes and the WLB to settlement of
the strike. The board has consist
emily opposed moves by Ickes to set
tie the dispute because OF Lewis
obvious desire TO deal with Ickes
and bypass the board. Lewis never
, has recognized the boards jurisdic-
ton.
Ickes proposed settlement for
mula this week 1t called for
temporary agreement on portal to
portal pay while commission de-
termined the average miners I'M
derground travel time. The UNIV
accepted the proposal, stipulating
that the miners receive $1.50 daily
in portal to portal pay. The opera
tors rejected Ickes' formula.
May Back Board
Most observers believed the Presi-
dent was supporting the boards pc.
sition, although some did not rule
out the possibility that Ickes ulti-
mately might be asked To mediate
the dispute.
The boards days probably would
be numbered If Ickes took over the
case exclusively. Board members
themselves have said that the agen-
cy's survival depends on getting a
settlement in this, It's most impor-
tant case.
Lewis wrecked the old defense
mediation board-WLB's predeces-
sor-and there were few who doubt
ed that WLB would be wrecked, too,
If 1t did not deal with the coal case
successfully
Mr.. Roosevelt always has taken
the position that Lewis had to deal
with the WLB, and there was no
reason to believe he changed his
position yesterday Board members
refused to comment on that point,
but their attitude seemed to indi-
cate that they had not lost yet,
anyway.
While the White House conference
! was in session, Lewis issued a state
ment charging the WLB with "un-
warranted, illegal action in order
ing collective bargaining suspended.
He called the order a violation of
the National Labor Relations Act
(which legalizes collective bargain
ing and said it was malicious" in
reference intended TO prolong the
controversy.
Lewis recalled that Ickes had
asked the operators and miners this
week to bring negotiations to
speedy conclusion. He did not in
dictate whether he expected to file
legal action against the WLB either
In federal court or before the Ma
tional Labor Relations board, but 1t
was known that the union was con-
sidering the move.
Comply with Order
The southern Appalachian opera
tors announced that they we're COM
plying with the WLB order to sus-
pend negotiations and reiterated
that they saw no prospects of reach
ing an agreement. Signs of a rift
between the northern and southern
operators we're seen in the refusal
of the northern group to sign the
telegram sent to the WLB by the
southern representatives.
1t was understood that the north
ern operators also notified the board
they would comply but they did not
make the contents of their message
public. The message repeatedly was
couched in milder language which
did not suggest that agreement was
impossible.
Union sources reported that the
northern operators had been more
conciliatory in bargaining.
UNIV and operator representa-
tives agreed to reconvene today de-
spite the WLB prohibition on nego-
tiations. 1t was explained that the
rules of their conferences require a
unanimous vote for adjournment;
hence the union could block any
move to adjourn. II 1t wished.
The mine strike figured in Con-
gressional debate as the House con-
sidered the Smith-C onnally anti
strike bill. Supporters Of the meas
ure cited the strike and charged
that Lewis was undermining gov
eminent by law.