The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-16

by settlement Of the critical dis
putes involving $4,000 striking
General Motors Corportion en-
ployes. Nearly 100000 United Elec-
trical Workers (C1o), and employees
Of the packinghouse industry. But
while Government labor off1cials
may then relax, they will be mind
full Of the fact that they have not
heard yet from John l.. Lewis and
his United Mine Workers.
Expect Agreements Early
The USW expected agreements to
be reached with most Of the basic
steel industry before the middle OF
next week. The basic steel COM
panies, which produce raw steel as
distinguished from steel products,
employ about 100000 workers.
The Iron and Steel Institute said
the industry's electric steel furnaces
can be In production ~ hours after
the men return to work. Open
hearths may take from two days to
three weeks and blast furnaces will
require three to four days. Rolling
mills, If not damaged, can resume
quickly.
Terms for the agreements with
the basic steel companies as well as
for manufacturers Of steel products
will be an 10 Ia cent hourly wage
increase with retroactive payment
Of 8 IL cents an hour for work
since Jan. /. Since only mainten-
ance employees have been working
since the walkout Jan, 81, the re-
troactive payment would cover only
three weeks OF work.
Dramatic Announcement
Those were the terms Of the
agreement for the U. s. Steel sub
sidiaries-the Carnegie Illinois,
American Steel and Wire, National
Tube, Columbia Steel and Tennessee
Coal and Iron Companies.
It was 10 p. m. last night when
White House Secretary Charles G..
Ross stepped from an elevator into
the lobby of the Carleton Hotel,
three blocks from the White House,
to summon reporters to the corpora
tons eighth floor suite for the an
nouncement.
Representatives Of the union and
the company had been comforting
there since the Administration
agreed on its new wage-price policy
late Thursday. Secretary Of Labor
Lewis B. Schwellenbach and John
r. Steelman, presidential assistant,
Joined the conferees yesterday after
noon.
Thanks Leaders
They left the hotel about 9:15 p.
m, explaining they planned to re-
turn in few minutes. Back at $50,
they admitted they had been to the
White House. Ross summoned the
reporters 10 minutes later. Recon-
version Director John w. Snyder
also was present with USW Pres
ident Philip Murray, John A. Ste
phenS, the company's vice president
in charge Of labor relations, and
other union and corporation repre-
sentatives.
II want to announce on behalf Of
the President that the steel strike
has been settled" Snyder said. THE
President wished to express his ap-
probation to Phil Murray and Ben
Fairless benjamin F. Fairless, pres
ident Of U. s. SteeD for their fine
cooperation in bringing these nego-
tiations to close"
Schwellenbach then explained the
terms Of the agreement.
Compromise on Retroactive
The corporation had been ready
to meet the 10 liz cent proposal as
soon as the steel price question was
settled but 1t had been unwilling to
make the raise retroactive to Jan. /.
as Mr.. Truman had suggested. That
dispute was compromised at 8 la
cents.
I'VE split the difference" said
Stephens.
Murray said arrangements were
being made to confer with other
companies and that he hoped those
negotiations would begin today.
Asked If the strike in those plants
might continue for weeks, he replied
ITS hardly conceivable.
Union representatives expected to
confer AZ New York today with OFF,
cials Of the Cruciable Steel Com
pany and perhaps with other corp
grafton spokesman before Monday.
Its l75-member policy committee
will be called to Pittsburgh Tuesday
or Wednesday to ratify the agree
ments then completed. Murray and
other union leaders planned TO leave
for Pittsburgh today or tomorrow.
The major factor In the steel set
Element was the Administrators
proposal for q price increase Of IS q
ton on Steel. The figure was dis
closed oficialiy for the FIRST time at
Mr.. Truman's press conference yes