Evening star., 1943-03-23

existing DaSlc district ana supple
mental agreements
A union representative said in
New York:
Want Time Limit Set.
The President has called for
negotiations to continue without a
time limitation" the union repre-
sentative said I'VE do not want
this thing to go on indefinitely.
I'VE want a time limit set. and
30 days seems plenty long enough.
In fact, 10 days should be long
enough.
With men leaving the mines
every day for better jobs and the
armed services. they may be cheated
out of their retroactive pay if these
negotiations go on for too long"
The Southern operators. meeting
separately, postponed their session
TODAY with the miners until pm.
IN order to spend the morning draft
ing their reply to the President.
The unions offer to the Northern
operators today was almost identical
in language to one made Saturday
which the operators rejected. The
operators made counterproposal
then TO continue negotiations with
the proviSo that the retroactive date
be fixed by the proper governmental
agency. This. in turn, the union re-
jected
Northern Owners Caucus.
The Northern operators went into
caucus in New York this morning to
reconsider the union proposal, which
read:
Temporary Appalachian agree
ment: 1t is Jointly agreed by the un-
dersigned representatives in the Ap-
palachian Joint wage conference as
follows:
That pending continued nego-
tiationS all mines in the Appalachi-
an coal producing area remain in
operation for period of 80 days
from April l under existing basic
district and supplemental agree
mnets, with the understanding that
any increase in wages or improve
ments in hours or working condi-
tions later agreed upon shall be
computed and applied retroactively
from the date of April l. l943.'
The proposal bore the names of
John L. Lewis and other members
of the UMW's Negotiating Commit
tee.
The operators counter proposal
read:
Whereas, the President Of the
United States in his telegram dated
March % l943, addressed to the
miners and operators of the Appa-
lachian Joint Conference, requested
that uninterrupted production of
coal continue after April l. l943:
therefore be it
Resolved, that pending continued
negotiations. the terms and condi-
tions of existing contracts shall re-
main in force and effect until the
differences that now separate the
mine workers and operators are
peacefully and finally resolved with
the understanding that If the new
agreement includes any wage ad-
iustments, such adjustments shall
be computed and applied retroac-
lively from April l, l943'
No final decision. it was under
stood was reached on either pro-
posal at the morning session.
The President. who called for the
uninterrupted production of COAL"
stepped into the controversy at the
instance of Charles O'Neill. Chair
man of the Operators Negotiating
Committee, Appalachian Joint Con-
ference. and Mr. Burke.
While calling for settlement, the
President emphasized that it must
be made in accordance with the
Price Sterilization Act At the same
time the War Labor Board, in ses-
sion here, reaffirmed its present
wage policies under the act which
have been assailed by Mr.. Lewis. re-
jecting by an 8-4 vote a petition
from its American Federation OF
Labor members asking that it put
aside the Little Steel formula which
permits wage increase Of is per
cent above the level of January l,
l94l, to cover increased living costs.
The two CIO members on the board
sided with the AFI. but employer
and public members voted in oppo-
sition.
Unanimously 4-n' The hoard