Evening star., 1944-09-01
U.5.Comp|etes5ei
OF 10 Soft Coal Mines
In West Pennsylvania
BY the Associated Press.

PlIISBURGHy Sept. l.-Ten
coal mines in Western PennSyl-
vania we're under Government
control today because of strikes
which have made nearly 5000
miners idle.
President Roosevelt, on request of
the War Labor Board, ordered the
seizure late yesterday because OF
existing and threatened strikes" in
the soft coal fields.
The walkouts were called by the
newly organized supervisory workers
branch of the United Mine Workers
of America. Operators estimate
more than 1000 tons of coal have
been lost during the strikes which
started August 16.
The Solid Fuels Administration
said in a statement accompanying
the executive order that the struck
mines will be reopened for operation
Monday, adding:
Every man is expected to be back
on the job"
Demands of 300 Unsatisfied.
The walkouts involved demands by
supervisory workers-numbering less
than 300-at the mines for company
recognition of the clerical, technical
ard supervisory employees union,
affiliated with the UMW's District
so "catch-all" Union.
Early today, John McAlpine, pres
ident of the Supervisory Workers
Unit, said he had not received off,
cial word of the seizure from the
White House or the Interior De-
partment and refused comment.
Members of Mr.. McAlpine's union
are charged with making daily mine
safety inspections in compliance
with making daily mine safety in
spections in compliance with a
Pennsylvania law.
John P. Busarello, UNIV district
5 president, declared: Our miners
production workers. are not on
strike. They cannot enter the mines
without safety inspections by the
supervisory employees. The miners
will resume work when the mines
are inspected by the supervisors
under provisions of the State law
Heath Clark, president of the
Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal firm,
said:
The mines are ready for operation
as soon as they are properly
manned"
Recommended BY WLB.
AS unanimously recommended by
the War Labor Board, the presi-
dental order asked seizure of eight
mines employing more than 5000
men of Rochester and Pittsburgh
Coal Co., Indiana, Pa, and two
mines employing 1000 of Ford COL
Ieries Co., Curtisville, Pa.
The presidents of the two COM
panies were appointed as operating
managers under the American flag.
The employees will now work for the
Government and the criminal pro-
visions of the Smith-Connally anti
strike law apply to any one fostering
a strike.
Of the 4,2OO employees, 265 were
listed by the National Labor ReIa-
tions Board as foremen, clerks and
technicians They voted two weeks
ago to strike after the companies
had refused to recognize the new
union as collective bargaining
agency.
The Walkouts spread yesterday
from these mines to five other pits
in Central PENNSYLVANIA, raising the
total of those involved to almost
5000.
Strike Polls Taken.
AS required by the 30-day cooling
of" period under the Smith, Con-
naily Act, strike polls were taken at
these pits, with supervisors at three
of the mines voting in favor of strik-
ing. One other at which a tie vote
was recorded and another which
voted against striking, also were
closed by pickets. These, however
have not as yet been seized by the
Government.
Some 60-odd strike votes are
scheduled in the next week at addi-
tional mines in Western Pennsyl-
vania, West Virginia and Kentucky.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary of the
Interior Abe Fortas said at WASH
ington:
1T is unthinkable that any union
or other group of America would
deliberately commit an act that
would endanger the flow of arms
to our fighting men and risk pro-