Evening star., 1946-03-12
Lewis Launches
Fight for Mine
Pay Increase
U. S. Official Says
UNIV Chief Holds
Sterilization Fate i
By Jones Y, Newton

John l.. Lewis began his battl
with the soft coal industry fol
higher wages and other conces-
sions here today with the Gov
ernment's stabilization and re-
conversion programs hanging in
the balance.
The National Bituminous Coal
Wage Conference got under way at
the Shoreham Hotel at II am
The United Mine Workers and
operators will drive to reach agree
ment by April /, expiration date of
the present work contract. If they
fail, there will be real danger of a
strike of the 100000 miners.
Mr.. Lewis will present the miners
new demands and then will make
his traditional speech in support of
the demands.
Van Horn Heads Meeting.
After few preliminaries this
morning Ezra Van Horn, Cleveland
chairman of the operators Nego-
tiating Committee, was reelected
permanent chairman of the meet
ing. The conference then ad-
journed until 2:30 pm.
The other conference officers, also
reelected, are Thomas Kennedy
UNIV vice president, as secretary
and j. j. Ardigo, Williamson, w
Va, assistant secretary. John p
Jones, an official of the union from
Cumberland, Md, was named secre-
tary pro tenn. Committees on rules
and credentials were then appointed
Federal officials fear the impact
Of Mr.. Lewis demands on the new
wage-price policy. If the miners
break the new stabilization line and
insist on higher wage boosts than
the general pattern of most of the
recent settlements in other indus
tries, the officials say it will cause
widespread unrest among other
workers.
One top official, emphasizing the
Importance of the coal negotiations,
said, Mr.. Lewis will decide whether
or not we have sterilization pro-
gram"
No Exceptions, BOwles Says.
The Nation can afford neither a
break in the new wage-price policy
nor coal strike, he added.
Sterilization Director Chester
Bowles said yesterday that the new
policy would flt the coal situation,
He added that no exceptions would
be made for Mr.. Lewis or the soft
coal operators on wages or prices.
Besides wages the most contro-
versial issue likely to be raised by
the miners revolves about their de-
mand for recognition of the right
to organize mine supervisory work
ers. The National Labor Relations
Board last week held that most
supervisors are free to join the
UNIV. The operators have warned
they would fight such a develop
ment all the way to the Supreme
Court If necessary.
To meet Mr.. Lewis anticipated
demands the operators prepared
volumes of statistics to prove the
industry was declining competitively
and that another price increase to
offset wage concession would fur
ther depress the soft coal business.
Labor Costs Are 60 Per Cent.
Declaring that labor costs repre-
sent go per cent of the average coal
price of $2.93 ton at the mine,
the operators said in a statement
that during the last decade in
creases in labor costs have con-
sumed virtually all of the savings
made possible by impressive eX-
penditures for mechanization.
They called on the union and
miners to join "in strengthening
the competitive position of the coal
industry as matter of self-preser-
vation."
This can be achieved, they said,
by ending unauthorized work stop
pages" which last year cost z per
cent of the total working time, and
promotion Of more cordial work.
ing relations within the mines to
insure increased productivity per
worker"