Evening star., 1943-04-24
Miners
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Miners
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New York for two hours and then
recessed until 10 am. Monday, with
out issuing any statement.
Lewis in New York.
In New York, K. C. Adams, press
representative for Mr.. Lewis, said
he was in that city, and has no
plans to 60 to Washington today"
Both the Northern and Southern
Appalachian operator groups were
represented. Represen ing the
Northern operators were Charles
O'Neill, R. L. Ireland, r. E. Jamison,
Harry M. Moses, William Findlay
and Ezra Van Horn.
The Southern operators delega-
ton consisted of Edward R. Burke,
M. L. Garvey, H. A. McAllister, F. M.
Medaris and M. L. Scott.
Asked if Mr.. Lewis would go be-
fore the War Labor Board "at any
time," Mr.. Adams said he did not
know.
The WLB session here got under
way against a distant background
of mounting coal troubles. At
Cleveland, Republic Steel Corp.
officials said strikes affecting the
firms Western Pennsylvania coal
properties had spread to fourth
mine and soon would handicap steel
production at it's Cleveland, Youngs-
town, Warren, Canton and Massilon
plants.
Settlement Hopes Wane.
Hopes of speedy settlement ap-
peared waning. Company spokesmen
said no demands accompanied the
walkout except at one strip mine,
where wage controversy was cited
as the cause, They added that the
company had agreed to requested
rates, but that UNIV workers re-
jected a stipulation requiring WLB
approval.
Joseph Yablonsky, international
board member of UMW's District 5.
said in Pittsburgh that even if the
WLB "acts and approves the new
contract, things don't look any too
good to me now for settlement"
He said the WLB session here was
being watched by miners in many
areas and added, Il frankly don't
believe the men will want to 60 back
until that situation is cleared up."
The WLB called the meeting to
discuss preliminary procedure for
taking over the stalemated negotia-
tions. 1t also planned to pass on
Mr.. Lewis demand, which include
81 a day wage increase, portal
to-portal pay within the mines, and
recognition of the union as the rep
resentative of supervisory personnel
at the mines as we'll as the coal
diggers.
Challenges Jurisdiction.
Mr.. Lewis has baked at submit
ting his case to the board, challeng-
ing its Jurisdiction and opposing the
little steel formula by which the
WLB has restricted wage increases
to Is per cent above January l, 1941,
levels. In the bituminous case, that
yardstick would deprive them of
the 50 rise.
The UNIV president yesterday aft
ernoon went through the motions of
negotiating with operators who
weren't there He accused the North
ern Appalachian coalmen of taking
French leave and called a meeting
of the unions Policy Committee of
225 for Tuesday in New York.
The operators contended that by
meeting with the WLB today they
still were negotiating. Mr.. Lewis
said their departure for Washing
ton disrupted negotiations, thus
relieving the union of further adher-
ence to the temporary agreement
under which the. mines have been
operating since the contract expired
March 81 The extended contract
runs until April 80, under the agree
ment.
Strike Indirectly Threatened.
Mr.. Lewis did not say that this
meant the miners would strike, but
referred reporters to his letter to
DR.. John r. Steelman, chief United
States conciliator and personal
representative of President Roose-
welt in the conferences. In that
letter Mr.. Lewis said if negotiations
were broken off, the temporary
agreement no longer held.
Early in the negotiations Mr..
Lewis asserted that in the absence
of contract the miners could not
"trespass" on company property.
Paradoxically, Mr.. Lewis District
so Union at the Celanese plant,
striking over certification of the
rival CIO Textile Workers Union
as the bargaining agent, appealed to
the WLB to take over its fight.
The WLB last night asked the
President to intervene. because, it
said, the strike and accompanying
picket line was interfering with pro-
duction of 81 other war plants de-
pendent on Celanese for essential
materials.
Illinois Miners Announce
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