Evening star., 1945-04-12
Mine Wage Contract
Awaits Approval by
Sterilization Officials
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.
The soft coal industry today
sent to Government stabiliza-
| ton officials its new wage agree
ment calling for higher wages
for John L. Lewis United Mine
Workers and higher coal prices
for the operators.
Moving swiftly toward consider
alton Of the agreement, the War
Labor Board summoned operators
and miner representatives to an ex-
planatory conference at 3 pm.
Today also was the deadline for
resumption Of operations at 235
mines shut down by work stoppages
and seized by the Government ear
lier this week But early reports
from the soft coal fields indicated
many of the miners were not heed
ing the Governments order to re-
turn to work, the Associated Press
reported.
2S Mines Still Idle.
In Pennsylvania, where the work
stoppage has been most acute, the
Solid Fuels Administration reported
% mines, normally employing l1,l34
men, still were idle and an estimated
5000 miners still had not reported
for work at pits in operation. This
compared with so mines and 20,S84
men idle yesterday.
Indiana's s A shaft mines, employ
ing 1000 men, also remained idle,
while United Mine Workers officials
in district 10, covering Northeastern
! Tennessee and Southeastern Ken
4 tucky. said some mines are still
out"
1 Opera tors said they would have
to get a coal-price boost OF from 25
). to 30 cents a ton before they could
pay the miners the approximately
S120 -a-dav wage increase called for
in the contract. They said the agree
ment would add 25 cents to produc-
ton cost of the fuel. The proviso
was written into the contract that
it was ineffective without the price
increase.
j Of1cialS admitted the coal agree
ment would be big lump for sta
biliza ton agencies to swallow under
current policy. but said the pressure
for preserving peace in the mines
probably would impel its acceptance.
Davis Has Final Say.
The agreement was formally
signed by operators and UNIV Off
cials late Yesterday 1t was then
submitted to the WLB. The Office
of Price Administration will have
to rule on the request for higher
prices, while Economic Sterilization
Director William H. Davis will make
the final decision on both points.
Union officials we're not in agree
ment with operators on the addi-
tional production cost involved in
the wage agreement, placing the
figure somewhat below IS cents
The agreement calls for Sl07
day more pay for the miner receiv-
ing the minimum inside work wage,
plus several hikes in fringe ADJUST
mentS such as S25 year more va
cation allowance, shift differentialS
of cents for the second and for
the third, and adjustments of wages
of crews of mechanical units. Work
ers above the minimum, and they
are in the majority, would get
larger boost
Operators estimated the agree
ment would add sl50,000, 900 a year
to the Nations fuel bill
Work Against Time.
Federal stabilization officials must
work against time. for the 30-day
extension of the old mine contract
expires April 30. Unless there is
new agreement by that date there
surely will be more trouble in the
mines. The Government already
has seized 235 struck mines.
Mr.. Lewis was asked whether he
liked the agreement better than the
one signed in l943 after four gen.
eral strikes, in which he supposedly
won a major victory. He smilingly
placed a finger over his lips and
said nothing.
Mr.. Lewis stripped down his origi-
nal Is demands to seven before the
agreement was concluded. Among
those he droped was one for 10
cent ton royalty payment. An
other would have unionized most
foremen
ReOpening Is Permitted.
Briefly, these were the other main
terms agreed to:
|. An open end" to the contract
after the first year, to be continued
Indefinitely until either party wants
to negotiate a new one. 1t could be
reopened before the year is up If the
Government eases or tightens its
wage policy. This is compromise
on Mr.. Lewis demand for contract
terminable on 20 days notice
g. Vacation payment of s75 in lieu
of time off. The old contract called
for $50, Mr.. Lewis asked for $100.
3. Return to the 35-hour week,
seven-hour day, with time and
half for one hour, and $3.50 for the
other extra hour spent underground
in travel and luncheon, totaling So
All day Saturday, if it is the sixth
work day, is at time and half
making the weeks basic pay for the
inside day miner spending 54 hours
in the mines $63.50 instead of the
present $57.06. The straight-time
basic pay remains 81 an hour. To
make up this increase for the out
side worker, a fiat SLOT a day is
given him, while piece or tonnage
workers-whose earnings depend on
the amount OF coal produced-would
! be increased by one-ninth of their
daily earnings.
Dr.. Isidor Robi Given