Evening star., 1945-02-25
Lewis May Challenge
Steel Pay Formula at
Session This Week
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,

jonn l.. Lewis this week will
drop new wage demands of his
mine workers into a labor situa-
tion already made explosive by
Government efforts. to tighten
wage and work controls on all
workers.
AS the United Mine Workers
Policy Committee prepared to meet
tomorrow to formulate new contract
demands to be presented to mine
operators in negotiations opening
Thursday, War Production Board
Chairman j. A. Krug warned that
work stoppages in the soft coal
fields would seriously and immedi-
ately impair steel production al
ready short of war requirements.
Mr.. Krug asked early agreement
on new contract for the bitumi-
nous miners. The present contract
expires April l. 1t was worked out
late in 1943 following six months
of strife, marked by four general
strikes and two Federal seizures of
soft coal mines.
Mr.. Lewis opens contract nego-
tiations at time when the general
war situation and the coal supply
are at most critical stages. 1t comes
at time when manpower and ma
terials, dependent on coal, are short
of needs and Congress is working
on legislation to correct the situa-
ton.
Lewis Causes Grave Concern.
Just how tough the bushy-
browed mine leader will be this
time is question that has caused
great concern among top Govern
ment officials. There have been re-
peated official references to the new
coal negotiations. Three recent
home-front edicts - racing ban,
"brownout" and night life curfew-
have emphasized the coal shortage.
Both Mr.. Lewis and the Govern
ment are on the spot" in what
should be one of the most inter-
esting dramas of the war here. AL
though on past performance he can
be counted on to play his part well,
Mr.. Lewis is caught between pres
sure of workers whose job is hard
er and pay is lower than in many
war industries and the realization
that any coal stoppage might pro-
long the war and cost lives.
The Government is pressured
from all sides. There is the utmost
urgency that coal production be
maintained this year at top speed,
for even then, there will be an esti-
mated deficit at years END of 40
100000 tons, not much larger than
the current stockpile. Only salts |
fled miners would work to keep the |
deficit that low even without stop
page. They couldn't do it under
Government mine operation.
Administration "On Spot"
But there is good chance that |
II the operators and union are able
to agree to new contract without |
conciliatory help it will include con-
cessions the administration cannot |
approve under wage stabilization
policy The miners long since re-
ceived the Is per cent base pay
increase to which the Little Steel |
formula entities them. New fringe"
wage adjustments were used last
time to bring agreement.
War Labor Board public members
have just released report to Pres
ident Roosevelt urging retention of
the Little Steel formula. The board
Is willing to approve fringe" ad-
justments where they hold such !
wage relief is needed, but Economic |
Sterilization Director Vinson has
tied its hands by ruling that even
fringe" increases cannot be made |
If they involve product price in
crease. officials said higher coal
wages almost certainly would neces-
state higher prices.
Effect of Mr. Wilson'S stand on
fringe" issues and the WLB rec
ommendation that base pay rates
be held firm has created the great
est unrest and tension of the war
in labor. Officials fear that an
other coal stoppage would touch off |
series of major strikes under |
these explosive conditions.
Lewis Is Silent.
Mr.. Lewis personally has given
no indication as to what demands
his policy committee may decide on
tomorrow. 1t is said they will ask
more pay for second shifts and
full travel-time pay.
In 1943 the miners asked for a |
s2-a-day increase in the basic wage
without further work, increased va
cation allowances, the purchase of
tools and dynamite by the COM
panies, among major demands. At
the time they were paid 81 an hour
for a seven-hour day of actual
work and five-day week.
The contract negotiated by Sec
retary of the Interior Ickes in No
vember, 1943, ending the coal
strikes, gave them extra vacation
allowances, free tools and dyna-
mite, all estimated to mean Is cents
day increase; only Is minutes
without pay for lunch instead of
30; an extra hour of work each day
Tor which they received the regular
dollar rate, plus SO cents for travel
time in the mine, or portal to
portal" Travel time later was
estimated to average As minutes, so
the miners got only a thirds
rate for travel.
Because the inclusion of travel
time in the hours of work each week
resulted in the miners reaching the
overtime scale of time -and-a half
for work over 40 hours a week
sooner, it was estimated thew ac-