Evening star., 1943-10-24

fuel oil. Page A-4.
Ry the Associated Press.
Leaders of the United Mine
Workers strove last night to get
striking Alabama coal miners
back to work and avert possible
Government seizure of mines in
| the State as the five operating
railroad brotherhoods decided to
take a strike poll among their
members.
Called before the War Labor
Board TO explain why 10000 Ala
bama miners are conducting a Wild
cat strike in defiance of board or
ders, the union leadership was
warned that the WLB expects pro-
duction to be resumed by tomorrow.
/ Chairman William H. Davis said
that otherwise it appeared the board
would have to refer the case to the
White HOuse-a step which could
mean the Government would take
control of the mines again and in
woke sanctions against the union
locals for noncompliance with the
boards orders
Rail Crisis Nears.
AS the WLB acted in the Alabama
strike. the railroad wage dispute
moved another step toward crisis
when chiefs of the five operating
unions, meeting in Chicago, voted
to conduct "a strike poll among their
$4,000 members.
The operating unions formally re-
jected a hour wage in
crease recommended by a Govern
ment emergency board. They had
asked 30 per cent increase with
minimum of So a day, and some
Spokesmen termed the Accent award
an insult"
Delegates to the joint meeting
arranged 10 appoint three men from
each union to prepare and distribute
the strike ballots. Officials esti-
mated the results would be known
in 20 or 80 days.
Some inkling of the sentiments Of
railroad men throughout the coun-
try was provided by David Robert
son. president of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen. who reported Hundreds
and hundreds" had sent messages
advocating strike call.
Would Force L. S. Action.
| If the members vote for a strike,
a spokesman said, a date will be
set, and the next move will be up
| TO the Government, which presun-
ably would take all steps necessary
to forestall paralysis of the war
essential carriers. .
The brotherhood leaders adopted
a resolution maintaining the over
all cost Of living had gone up ell
most 25 per cent since January, l94l,
the date used in the disputed Little
Steel formula, while food costs
alone had scared more than 40 per
cent.
The strike referendum will be
conducted among members of the
BrotherhoOdS O. Locomotive Engi-
neerS, Locomotive Firemen and En-
! glnemen and Railroad Trainmen,
the Order of Railway Conductors
and the Switchmens Union of
North America.
/ Chieftains of the Is nonoperat-
ing rail unions-clerkS. mechanics,
teiegraphers and others - were
meeting here and were reported as
divided on the question of a strike
poll, though the two sets of rail
labor organizations usually follow
parallel paths in pay disputes. An
emergency board recommended an
increase of 8 cents an hour for the
100000 incorporating workers last
May, but it was vetoed by Stabiliza-
ton Director Vinson.
, Coal Contract Shelved.
In order to hear the UNIV lead
ers on the Alabama situation the
WLB took time out from considera-
ton Of a proposed contract cover
Il ing mining of coal in Illinois. Mem
oers had hoped to act on it last
week and announced they would
hold session today to expedite
decision.
The UNIV has expressed hope
that the Illinois proposal will be
approved, and that it will form the
basis for a general contract cover
ing the industry. 1t would put the
miners on an 3D. hour working day,
figured from the time they enter
the mine until the time they leave.
At present they have 7-hour day
(See LABOR. Page Ais