Evening star., 1943-01-15
Operator Sees
Crucial Test Of
.0rganizedLa
Kennedy Of UNIV
Calls Wildcat Strike
"A Terrible Mistake
BULLETIN.

Andrew Yevcak, hard coal
miner representing the Tri-
District Anthracite Commit
tee told the War Labor
Board today that unless the
board was prepared to give
consideration to its request
for increased wages and de-
creased union dues, the men
in so-called Regions 7 and 8,
comprising several thousand
miners, would join the strike.
Earlier Story on Page A-1)
BY the Associated Press
William w. Inglis, spokesman
for the anthracite operators in
the Pennsylvania fields, where a
wildcat strike" threatens to
impede war production in the
East, said today that termina-
tion of the strike depended on
whether the United Mine Work.
ers of America can deliver"
Mr.. Inglis' statement came as the
War Labor Board at a hearing
called in a desperate effort to end
the stoppage, heard Thomas Ken
nedy, secretary treasurer of the
UNIV, declare that the union had
exerted every effort to have produc-
ton resumed pending settlement
of other issues at stake.
Mr.. Kennedy, first witness at the
hearing which packed a depart
mental auditorium conference room,
characterized the strike as a ter
rible mistake"
Lewis Asked to Appear.
The operators arrived here at
midday to attend the hearing. The
WLB also asked President John L.
Lewis and other officials of his
UNIV as we'll as striking miners to
appear before it and explain causes
of the strike. Strikers have said
one cause was an increase in union
| dues.
Mr.. Inglis, who is president of the
Glen Alden Co., said in statement
that the operators ask for nothing
but adherence to the union agree
ment, which if carried out is in
every way designed to protect the
public interest in this crisis He
termed the stoppage "a violation of
| the no strike agreement of the
anthracite miners an da violation of
the pledge of organized labor to the
Government
He said organized labor has had
the most advanced form of industry
government in the anthracite indus
try that existed in the Nation.
The UNIV, he said, has closed
shop with the checkoff; provisions
for the arbitration of all disputes
and prohibition of strikes against
which, by express language, the
mine workers union is under an
affirmative obligation to take action
by disciplining its members.
Test for Organized Labor.
II there ever was situation
which tested the capacity of organ
lied labor to secure observance of it's
own agreements and to function in
the public interest, on the basis of
its own philosophy, this is the one"
Explaining efforts made to have
production resumed, Mr.. Kennedy
sharply criticized the walkout at
this time when the demand for
| coal is the greatest we ever had"
He reiterated his previous declara-
ton that the miners could not ex-
pect redress for any of their griev-
anceS, and certainly not any con-
sideration of wage increases, by
resorting to a walkout.
L am not questioning the patriot
ism of these miners Mr.. Kennedy
said, referring to the fact that many
of their sons are in the armed serv-
ices.
But I think it is a serious mis-
take to have walkout at this time.
The country is being hurt"
Mr.. Kennedy expressed the hope
that, as result of the WLB hearing.
our house will be placed in order,
production will be brought to the
maximum including the six-day week
and that we con solve all our diff
ficulties.'
The increase in dues to the UNIV.
which has been protested by some
of the striking miners, Mr.. Kennedy
(See coal, STRIKE paoe o-Y0