Evening star., 1943-04-15
Coal Owners Declare
j. ). Offer Violates
Anti-Innation Order
Charge Work Guorontee
Proposal Is Intended
To Boost Miners Woee

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 15.-Former
Senator Edward r. Burke,
spokesman for the Southern Ap-
pslachian soft coal mine opera
tcrs, informed Secretary of Labor
Perkins today that acceptance OF
the Governments proposal for
4 contract with the United Mine
Workers OF America would con-
stitute 4 clear. wage increase,
and as such would violate Presi-
dent Roosevelt's anti-infation
order.
The Government plan, laid yes
terday before the negotiators of the
Southern district whose operators
announced later its rejection. called
for 4 guaranteed six-day work week
for $50 900 miners in the Appalachian
coal fields, with time and one-half
for all hours over IS.
Northern operators rejected it also,
but John L. Lewis, UNIV president,
ACCeptcu IL IN pTitAClple.
Sees Motive In Proposal.
Mr.. Burke. in = telegram to the
Labor Secretary, said that your
proposal must be motivated solely by
q desire to increase the income Of
the miners
at must be obvious to you, as it is
to every one here, that no agreement
can be reached through collective
bargaining or ccnciliation," Mr..
Burke said. concluding by reiterating
the Southern operators request that
Secretary Perkins certify, without
further delay, which might be costly
the management-UMW dispute to
the National War Labor Board.
In announcing agreement to this
plan in lieu Of the unions demand
for a $2-a-day wage increase. Mr..
Lewis said yesterday that the miners
would not abandon their other de-
mands for portal to-portal pay and
eIinina ton of certain charges borne
by the miners.
Operators Stand.
Earlier, Mr.. Burke said in refer
ence to the proposal:
We feel that 1t amounts to this:
That every man would be granted
his wage for the six-day week,
whether he was ready or willing to
work. whether the mine had to be
shut down or whether he could work
or not-and We can't agree to that" !"
John OLesry. UNIV vice presi-
dent. and Mr.. Burke said each pro-
posal made by their respective sides
had been rejected by the other.
DR.. John r. Steelman, head of the
United States Cancellation Service
Who advanced the Governments
proposal for Labor Secretary .Perk-
ins. asserted that the Southern Con-
ference was Just where it has stood
ever since I came here-dead-
locked"
Unless You accept the operators
suggestion and request Miss Perkins
to certify this to the War Labor
Board Immediately" interrupted
Mr. Burke.
The Northern operators consid-
cred telegram from Miss Perkins
asking them to alter their attitude
on the Governments proposal.
Spokesmen for the Northern con-
ference said operators and union
representatives disagreed over in>
depreciation Of the six-day plan.
Interpret Proposal.
Charles O'Neill. spokesman for the
Northern operators, said the pro-
ducers did not interpret the Gov
ernment's proposal as requiring them
to guarantee 4 6-day week, 50 weeks
q year.
His Interpretation of the proposal
WAS challenged by Mr.. Lewis, who
said that Miss Perkins, in a con-
versation with him. had formulated
the proposal as applicable for 81
week period.
Mr.. Lewis has estimated that
computed on guaranteed 52-week
basis the overtime payments ac-
cruing to the miners under the
Government plan would increase
their earnings 1925 a day.
Hard Coal Men Weigh Plan.
Meantime, Thomas Kennedy, Sec
retary- treasurer of the UNIV and
union spokesman at the anthracite
wage negotiations. says the Govern
ment's guaranteed six-day work
week plan proposed at the bitumi-
nous conference has some angles
which we would like to consider
favorably."
Mr.. Kennedy said the plan guar
anteed 313 work days annually plus
~ days of overtime and added, "As
It Is now we're not sure Of any,
thing"
Federal authorities have not yet
spoken to anthracite negotiators
about the plan, however, said j. B.
Warringer. president Of the Lehigh
Navigation Coal Co. and operators
spokesman.
Robert Ringing Elected