Evening star., 1946-05-13
Soft Coal Operators Clear WAY
To Talk Over Major Issues by
Agreeing on 3 Million Back Paw
Wages for Holiday
Weeks Involved
In Lewis Claim
BY the Associated Press

Soft coal operators today
agreed to pay S3,0OO,O0O in back
holiday pay claimed by John L.
Lewis miners, clearing the way
for discussion of key issues in
the deadlocked negotiations.
In a statement the operators said
that in agreeing to make the pay
ment the action sis not to be con-
strued as a recognition in any way
OF any merit in the demand made
nor as establishing a precedent for
future action"
The sole purpose is to open the
way for real negotiations, they said
The operators now call upon the
union to proceed Immediately to
negotiate a contract"
Worked Full Holiday Week.
Mr.. Lewis claim involved over
time payment he said was due to
those workers who worked full
week during the weeks in which
Labor Day. Thanksgiving, Christ
mas and New Year holidays oc-
Cured.
Prior to President Truman's reve-
lation of Executive Order 9240 last
August q the miners. as we'll as
other war workers, were guaranteed
pay for six major holidays in the
year, including the four involved in
the mine dispute.
After revocation of the order, the
operators contended they no longer
were required to pay for the holi-
Gays or to consider them as days
worked in computing overtime for
SIX consecutive days of work.
81 to SIG Each Involved.
The operators estimated the claim
involved will range from 81 to SIG
each for workers who had labored
during the holidays.
The operators said they had Of
fered to settle the controversy under
a grievance provision of the con-
tract or to submit the question to
arbitration. The union rejected the
proposal, the operators said.
President Truman earlier re-
viewed the soft coal situation with
congressional leaders.
House Democratic Leader Nc
Cormack told reporters after the
weekly legislative conference at the
White House that the coal situation
had been convassed in "a very gen.
eral way
Everybody hopes" he added.
that the negotiators will get down
to an agreement"
This was the overall picture:
l. Restrictions on freight, express
and parcel post shipments came off
at midnight, hours before the first
full crews descended into the mines
to end the 42-day shutdown.
2. Other conservation measures
including tight controls over all coal
to be produced during the truce
remained in effect.
Meeting Deadline Doubtful.
). The Government prodded miners
and operators alike to reach a
swift agreement on a new contract,
but both sides said privately there
"oS AAeoAC ilOpC Va lllCCGlllS Ullt WGU-
nesday deadline fixed by President
Truman.
4. Congress showed no inclination
to back down from it's determination
to seek legislative barrier to future
crises growing out of labor disputes.
The Senate turned its attention to
writing a strike control bill.
The attitude of some 10000 Penn
sylvania miners introduced a jarring
note into Lewis back -to-work ap-
peaS They voted to abide by their
traditional ND contract no-work"
policy.
Balloting in Pennsylvania showed
SO union locals-or which Sc were in
tne Pittsburgh UNIV district-fav-
oring the return and 50 rejecting it.
John P. Busarello, district presi-
dent, withheld names of mines
which were to resume work, explain
ing dissenting groups might picket
them.
Miners in the Johnstown- -Somer-
set-Indiana districts in Central
Pennsylvania refused overwhelm-
(See COAL, Page A-6.)