Evening star., 1943-05-25
Goa

developed into a full-scale strike
in this war essential industry.
Discussing the denial of the gen.
eral increase, the boards decision
pointed out that the miners had
received wage increases in excess of
the IS per cent allowed by the Little
Steel formula since January l, l94l
That yardstick,' said the deci-
sion, has been applied by the board
from that time april, 1912 to this
to great masses OF American workers
which in the aggregate include the
great majority Of all such workers.
Must Apply Equally.
ut would be manifestly unfair to
apply any other vardstick to the
mine workers. The War Labor Board
exists and acts by exercise and del
esatlon of the war powers of the
President as commander in chief
In its exercise of those powers it
must certainly apply them equally
to all men in similar circumstances
That is the very essence of justice >
In discussing the miners portal
to-portal pay demand, the decision
referred to Circuit Court ruling
in an iron ore mining case in which
underground travel time was ruled
to be working time. 1t also cited
the operators claim that under
ground travel time always has been
included in the contract rates.
Thus, said the board, this con-
troversy over portal-to-portal pay
presents mixed question of law
and-fact which. in the absence of a
specific court determination binding
on these parties, can and should be
settled by them in collective bar
gaining.
Alternatives Outlined.
ut should be recognized by the
parties that any agreement reached
by them in collective bargaining on
this matter must be genuinely and
reasonably related to the portal-to-
portal issue
The board understands that
there is considerable varition in
portal-to-portal travel time among
the different coal areas in the coun-
try. Although the Appalachian area
only is before us, it is the practice
Of outlying areas to a large extent
to follow the Appalachian agree
ment. If the parties in their nego-
tiations choose to negotiate on the
basis of area adjustments, then the
board would be able to approve
wage adjustments based on travel
time In any area on basis shown
to be justified by the facts of that
particular area. -
1T should be understood that if the
parties decide to settle their differ
ences over the portal portal issue
and share the benefits among all the
miners. including those who work on
the surface as we'll as underground
the total sum distributed shall not
be In excess of sum computed on
the basis of the average time spent
by underground workers in travel
from portal to portal
Guaranteed Wage Hit.
Although saying that it was re-
ceptive to any reasonable proposal
to assure all miners the benefit OF
fixed days of operation, the WLB
said that IAN annual wage based on
So weeks of production at 6 days
a week cannot be guaranteed the
mine workers without imposing an
undue burden on the industry or
greatly increasing the cost of coal
to the public
The board recommended that a
commission be set up in collabora-
ton with the administrator of solid
fuels to consider the problem of the
six-day week and other matters re-
lating to improvements and working
conditions that the two parties might
wish to refer to it.
The board rejected the demand of
the miners for the payment of dou-
BILE time for all work performed on
Sunday.
The directive set the term of a
new contract at two years beginning
April l. 1943. except as to general
wage rates. which may on 80 days
notice from either party be re-
opened for negotiation at the end
of the first contract year.
Every time you lick 4 War sayines