Evening star., 1943-02-12
48-Hour Week
Held Aimed al
Coal and Steel
Pittsburgh, Coal Area
Put on Eligible List
For VINO Control
Rv JESSE q. IRWIN.

work week order was designed
primarily to effect increased
production in the war-vital iron
and steel, ferrous metals
and bituminous coal industries,
authoritative sources said today.
The order caught the War Man.
power Commission by surprise. these
sources said, inasmuCh as stretching
of the work week in war industries
never had been included in the COM
missions overall planning.
Meanwhile, Eric Johnston, preSl-
dent Of the United States Chamber
Of Commerce and member of the
WINGS Management-Labor Policy
Committee, has informed President
Roosevelt some business and labor
leaders fear his 48-hour work week
edict will have a tendency to ac-
celerate initiation.
Caught completely unaware of the
White House move, authoritative
sources said, the ManpoWer Commits
sion was forced hurriedly to issue a
statement indicating its procedure
IN administering the order, the OBJ
1ectlve, the agency said. being to
release workers for war and essential
jobs
On Potential Shortage List.
This statement said the 48-hour
week would take effect in 80 critical
labor shortage areas, which did not
include the steel center of Pittsburgh
and the Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Kentucky and the Western States,
bituminous coal fields and the non-
ferrous metal pits. On Wednesday
the VINO experienced difficulty in
answering routine questions con-
corning the order, and yesterday it
issued list Of 102 potential labor
shortage areas in which it said the
48-hour workWeek might be en-
forced. Pittsburgh and the nom
ferrous metals and bituminous coal
areas are included in the new list.
Authoritative sources say war
plants in the 80 critical labor short
age areas. except Government de-
partments in the District, are not
now able to maintain 48-hour week.
The principal factor, it was ex-
planned. is the unbalanced, erratic
flow of materials to war plants, prin-
cipally iron and steel and non fer
rous metals. Increased industrial
output and conversion of some
industries, from fuel oil to coal,
are now reported to be placing
heavy demands on the bituminous
industry.
24-Hour Basis Urged.
Negotiations between the Govern.
ment and these industries have been
going on for several months, it was
said. The Government has been
urging the industries to place their
daily working schedule on three
shift, eight-hour basis and the in.
dustries have countered with a de-
mand for manpower to avoid the
Fair Labor Standards Acts premium
overtime rate, especially in view of
the War Labor Boards Little Steel
formula, its increase in copper wage
rates and the United Mine Work.
ers' demand for 81 day increase in
bltuminous wage rates.
Latest Labor Department figures
show the iron and steel industries
are averaging AZ hours a week, non
ferrous metal, 45 hours, and IS per
cent of the bituminous coal mines
are on 42-hour schedule, with the
remaining Is per cent averaging 35
hours.
Last July, eight Government
agencies issued joint statement
stating that for wartime production
the eight-hour day and 48-hour
work week approximates the best
schedule for sustained efficiency in
most industrial operations.
During discussions leading to- ap.
proval of this statement the man.
power commission and it's Manage.
ment-Labor Policy Committee re-
ceived a tentative plan for tempo-
rarily staying the 40-hour week in
less essential industries to meet
labor shortages. No action, how
ever, was taken.
Absenteeism Important Factor.
Shortly after President Roosevelt
signed the executive order on De-
cember 5 broadening the commits
slon'S powers, a report on absentee
ism was completed by staff members
showing that the uneven flow of ma
terlals to war plants was one of the
principal causes. The report indi-
Gated that this was not only affect
ing workers morale but was In
creaslng the absence rate.
Congl essional hearings have re.
vealed that the three main man.
power problems are labor turnover,
boarding and absenteeism. The
turnover rate is said to be due to
lack of housing and other COM
munity facilities. Hoarding is said
to be practiced in some war plants
while nearby plants are experiencing
acute labor shortages. Besides ma
terlal shortages. other absenteeism
causes include high pay rates.
Since its creation the commission
has concentrated mainly on these
three problems.
Speed Urged by Ickes.
Secretary of the Interior Ickes
meanwhile today asked coal miners
and operators to expedite negotia-
tions for new wage agreements in
order to avoid possible interruption
OF production.
He suggested that bituminous coal
wage negotiations be open by Feb
ruary % and anthracite negotiations
by March %. The basic wage agree
ments in the soft coal industry ex-
pire March 81 and the anthracite
industry April 30.
Mr., Ickes sent identical letters to
John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers. and heads of
operators organizations.
UAW Chief Reports
Labor Surplus in Detroit