Evening star., 1946-05-05

Of special compensation law designed
solely for miners. Their work is hard
and statistics show it to be the most
hazardous of ALL Even those who escape
injury are likely to fall victim of some
malady resulting from the underground
work
In the mining industry, the worker
burns out" physically earlier than in
other lines of endeavor This frequently
occurs under go and, except in rare in
stances where he has put aside some Of
his wages. the miner has no means of
support until the Federal pension
starts at IS.
The broadening of State compensation
laws and the Social Security Act prob
ably would take care of a majority of
cases, but special industry fund is
urged as better method.
Mr.. Lewis not only insists that the
operators contribute the whole fund
but that his union have entire charge
Of its administration. Those taking part
in the contract negotiations here say
he is adamant on both points. 1t is
highly unlikely that the operators will
yield on either point.
The average miner now squanders
money, has no voluntary savings plan.
Nearly all of the large number inter-
viewed in the recent survey are easily
able to contribute to such fund.
Three Man Board Urged.
oictro of
the Federal Government or by board
established jointly by the operators and
workers is suggested, the latter being
preferred. Each side, for example could
name member to a three-man board
II they were unable to agree on an
impartial chairman, provision could be
made for the Government to appoint
him.
The operators contend they now pay
out s60,000,000 a year for welfare
and various types of insurance schemes.
Mr.. Lewis says an equal amount is "ex-
tracted' yearly from workers pay en-
yelopes for pseudo hypothetical and
substandard medical service, hospital
ization and insurance" worth a third of
its cost Put the two sums together and
you could 60 long way toward elimin-
ating coalfield suffering and injustice.
So far as housing is concerned, oper-
ators could improve conditions greatly
by replacing and repairing the old
houses and novels which they provide
for their workers on rental basis.
The union could aid by conducting an
industry-wide campaign to educate its
members in the better ways of living and
should encourage the miners to secure
homes OF their own. Filth in houses Of
good repair as we'll as the shacks was
found during the survey.
On safety, Mr.. Lewis demands that
the operators bind themselves contract.
ually to cary out the safety recommen-
dation of Federal Bureau of Mines in
spectors.
He says the state laws are inadequate
and improperly enforced That would
appear to be true in number of in
stances.
Too Many Lose Lives.
Both sides admit that far more men
than necessary are killed and injured in
the mine. In recent years, fatalities
have averaged more than 1000 a year
and many others have died indirectly
or directly as a result of injuries. The
number of injured has averaged around
10000.
Miners Often Careless.
The survey showed that large num-
ber of men are killed and injured as q
result of their own carelessness and dis
regard OF regulations promulgated for
their own protection. Some of the
stories such as smoking in gaseous pits,
knocking out roof supports and setting
of explosives openly, are almost unbe-
lievable.
Some operators do seem to have too
little regard for the safety of the work.
ers where the expenditure of a small
amount of money would prevent injury
and death. But, the attainment of
safety definitely is two-way fight. In
no other phase of mine life did CO.
operation between worker and manage
ment appear so badly needed.
In that field, too. it appeared that Mr..
Lewis union could go a long way to-
ward attainment of his goal through
education of its members.
The acceptance of Bureau of Mines
recommendations, which the operators
say would invade States rights and
bankrupt many mines, undoubtedly
would make the mines safer. But in
<vestigations of accidents and the expe-
rience of mines where valuable prizes
have been offered for safety prove that
a lot of it is up to the worker himself.
Mr.. Lewis charges that the operators
are caloused murderers have not helped
toward an agreement.
Joint committees to advise the States
on necessary changes in safety laws and
set-up in each mine to advise on indi-
vidual steps that may be taken to make
the pits safer have been urged
Those close to the soft coal contract
negotiations believe that the safety issue
can be worked out satisfactorily to both
sides
AS for hours and wages, the average
miner expects to return to the flve-day
week and to receive about the same
sized pay boost as those won by the steel
and automobile workers.
1t is not expected that unusual diff
Guilty will be encountered in settling the
coal wage issue if agreement can be
obtained on welfare and the other de-
mands. Mr. Lewis has refused to dis.
cuss wages and hours because he knows
If they are settled it would weaken