Evening star., 1943-11-06
WlB Approves Raise
OF $3.50 for Miners;
Men Return Monday
full-ScoIe Production
Is Expected When Men
Re-enter Pits Next Week
By the Associsted Press.

By the Associated Press.
The fight over coal miners
wages appeared virtually ended
today with the War Labor
Boards conditional approval of
the Ickes-Lewis pay-scale plan
and a nod Of assent from the
United Mine Workers.
The WLB's principal reservation
involves the formula for paying
pieceworkers. But official union
spokesmen observed, We'll peace
fully seek solution Of that. and
we'll go about the job of producing
coal"
After seven months of contro-
versy and four paralyzing strikes
which cost the Nation more than
40 .OO0, 900 tons of coal, this is the
picture:
UNIV President John L. Lewis has
memorandum agreement with
Fuel Administrator Ickes. Under
it the soft coal miner who formerly
received 81 day will receive $3.50,
agreeing to dig coal an hour longer.
partly by halving his 3O-minute
lunch period. After his 40th hour
underground, the miner starts get
ting paid for travel time at time
and half. In six-day week his
increase is about Sl1.5O, so that the
average daily increase is closer TO
81 than $3.50. His total weeks
earnings will be close to s57. Some
may earn more and the average
would exceed $50 Mr.. Lewis orig
lnal demand was for a 50 daily in
crease.
Anthracite Contract Approved.
Provisions covering anthracite
miners were fully approved. They
grant TO cents a day additional,
The mines generally are expected
TO be back in production Monday.
only lew -climactic chap
tiers of the 1943 coal drama ap-
peared to remain: % The meet
ing of conditions which the WLB
attached to its approval of the
lckes-LeWis agreement; (2) deter
mlnation of new ceiling prices. and
90 restoration of the mines to their
private owners.
The board voted IL to for ap-
proVal, with Wayne l.. Morse. pub
llc member, casting the lone dissent
ing vote. He denounced the policy
OF approving contract which ap-
pears to have been dictated at the
point Of the strike weapon"
Edward r. Burke, president OF the
southern Coal Operators Associa-
ton, commented: IF the new con-
tract really provides for one addi-
t1onal hour Of productive work, then
the extra pay can be justified.
Don't Expect More Production.
While on paper the board has
adhered to the stabilization pro-
gram, we think that no increased
production will result from the con-
tract. Maybe, if the miners are
really encouraged to work, the con-
tract may actually be effective
The four employer WLB members
who supported the decision said:
we are aware that recent de-
Velopments in the field of coal min
ing have shown the willingness of a
labor group to demonstrate the rela-
tive Importance to them of mining
coal for this Nation in time of war
and their principle of no contract
no work Our action is not mott
waited by our opinion of their choice.
The implications of their choice
we leave to the sober judgment of
the American people. Ours must
be a determination under the laws
and orders that govern the jurisdic-
ton and authority of this board.
I'VE are not unmindful that fail
ure to approve this contract might
precipitate a repetition OF recent
coal mine shutdowns throughout
practically the entire Nation. We
know that the circumstances of the
last several months have raised