Evening star., 1946-09-01

IL Ue cLupildSlDcO lIldC I'LL pOTs
tions of the industry oppose at least
three major provisions of the Krug
contract. A split would mean that
some of the groups felt that it was
the best contract they could make under
the circumstances-they would not like
it. Acceptance would mean that the
past three months have proved that
they can operate profitably under its
terms.
Most Disliked Clauses.
The three clauses of the Krug contract
the operators dislike most are. in order
of Importance as barriers to final agree
ment:
l. Recognition of the National Labor
Relations Board ruling that mine super
vlsory employees are eligible to bargain
collectively and that the supervisory
union branch of the UNIV is an appro-
pirate unit for bargaining under the
Wagner Act when named by a majority
of foremen at mine.
2. The union welfare fund, raised by
a levy of 5 cents ton on all coal
produced and administered by three
trustees-representin the union, man.
agements and public.
3. The safety code worked out by the
Bureau of Mines after Mr. Lewis insisted
that steps on national basis be taken
to make the mines a safe place to work.
Operators say that compliance with the
code would be too costly and would give
the union more of a voice in operations
than it should have.
1t is possible that Admiral Moreells
conference would be entirely successful
if 1t were not for the foremen's issue.
1t is hot issue throughout American
industry and has resulted in coal strikes
in the past
Lose in Court Tests.
In compliance with the contractural
provision to follow NLRB rulings. the
Government entered into an agreement
with Mr.. Lewis supervisory union at
three Jones & Laughlin Steel Co. mines
where the foremen had voted in favor
of the UNIV.
The operators lost fights in both the
Federal District Court and the Court Of
Appeals here to restrain the Govern
| ment from entering into the contract
with the supervisors. The path has been
cleared for Supreme Court ruling on
the question and the operators feel they
will lose again
But the operators, especially the
! Southern group, have hopes they will
win even if all court possibilities are
exhausted They are pinning their
/ hopes on Congress. They almost won
in the last session, but President Tru-
man vetoed the Case bill which forbade
unionization of foremen.
Admiral Moreells hopes for a sue
cessful parley rest on the possibility
that Mr.. Lewis and the operators will
sit down and agree as to the classes of
supervisors to be covered by contract
and those to be exempted For two
years the parties have been trying to
do that and have never come close to
agreement
Additional Demands Seen.
In the way of demands above the
Krug contract, Mr.. Lewis is held GER
tain to make some. He may ask for
another wage hike. But it is known
| that he will ask for complete union
operation of the huge welfare fund and
for elimination from the present con-
tract of the provision for fines against
workers for illegal strikes. The latter
move is designed to protect the union
in event Congress passes legislation re-
stricting the right to strike.
| In the contract signed with the an
thracite industry in June, Mr.. Lewis
won sole union administration of the
welfare fund as we'll as the point about
penalties for violating strikes.
The hard coal agreement provides that
the men will work when willing and
able
Meanwhile, money is pouring into the
miners welfare fund and lying idle,
since, lacking agreement with the op-
orators, there is no machinery to oper-
ate it. The money is accumulating at
the First National Bank of New York
at the rate of more than s2,0OO0O0 a
month-S25, 100000 a year. Admiral
MoreeI named the Navy paymaster
general to count it, see that payments
are made.
There likewise is 10 permanent Or
ganization for carrying out provisions
of the mine safety code and keeping
it up to date. Lacking, too, is a pro-
vision for adjusting wages and hours
of work.
Welfare Study Progresses.
Rear Admiral joel T. Boone, who
was President Hoover's personal physi-
clan, continues his study as directed
by Mr.. Krug, of medical and hospital
conditions in the coal fields. 1t is
separate from the welfare fund, which
will be used for disability and death
payments and which the miners will
direct, supporting their own doctor and
hospital care by deductions from the
pay envelope.
To operate" the soft coal mines,
Admiral Moreell has staff of 230 naval
officers, enlisted nen and civilians,
nearly all of whom are in the field.
Despite all the difficulties, the bitumi-
nous mines are producing well under
the present arrangement. In the period
since June / production is up 100000
tons over last year. This coal is cost
ing consumers something over 40 cents
ton average above last winters prices
because of the wage and other con-
cessions of the Kr,lg agreement. Al
though price relief has been given, the
operators say that marginal mines. a
third of the total. arr hit hard. They
say many have closed. just how many
they don't know.