The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-06-24
Mine Owners
Are Ready To
Alibi Lockout

! dSIillbIOl NLI - - w I'LL CN-
eral Mediation Director Cyrus
] Ching's statement last week that
his office has failed to reopen
contract negotiations between the
United Mine Workers and btu
minous coal owners, talk of new
anti-strike injunction was heard
in Washington.
No better demonstration can be
found Of the injustice of the in
junction method of settling la
bor-management disputes, union
men say. 1t is clear that there
will be no mine strike, but lock-
out, caused by owner obstinacy,
may we'll take place. An injunc-
ton, however, would be aimed
primarily at the NMW.
UNIV President John L. Lewis
made it clear last week that the
union is willing to do everything
that can be asked of it to avert
work stoppage. He offered to ex-
tend the present contract past the
June 80 expiration date if the op-
orators will agree to immediate ac-
tivation of the pension fund whose
outlines they approved a year ago.
The union takes the position that
the fund should be used to fill COM
mitments made under the 1916 re-
tirement plan, as we'll as provide
the retirement pay stipulated in
the 1947 contract.
Lewis said last week that the
coal owners who walked out of
contract talks apparently have
elected to fight in 1948 and not
SETTLE" Remember this when the
coal operators publicity barrage
that the UNIV is plotting a strike
begins. 1t was the owners, not the
union, which terminated the 1948
negotiations.
Operators spokesman Charles
O'Neil rather ineptly laid the
ground work for the campaign last
week when he said further meet
ings at this time may mislead the
public and the government into
thinking that an agreement may
be reached" His announcement
that 1--WE are recessing the ses-
sions until some further develop
ment may lead US to believe that
an agreement may be reached"
tipped the owners hands.
Since no date was even limited
as to when the owners will be will
ing to talk again with the UNIV,
it is almost certain that they in
tend to stall past the 1947 contract
expiration date, June 80. This is
a threat of a lockout of the coal
diggers who traditionally do not
work without a contract.
Lewis announced a meeting of
the UMW's 200-man wage policy
next week to determine
union policy.
Ching took his negative report
to the White House. President Tru-
man was expected to name fact
board to study the dispute
Immediately. The existence of such
a board paves the way for the at
torney generals applying for an
S0-day anti-strike injunction.
Meanwhile Judge T. Allan
was preparing to
hear arguments in Ezra Van
Horns suit against Lewis and
Sen. Styles Bridges, his co-trus-
tees of the 1947 pension fund. The
mine owners nominee is seeking
court action to keep the other two
trustees from paying over-age
miners the $100-a-month pensions
to which they are entitled under
the contract.
Sen. Bridges has submitted an
affidavit accusing Van Horn of
consistently obstructing the work
IF the panel. He says that he and
Lewis made nine different motions
20 put the fund into operation, and
Van Horn opposed every one of
hem. Now the owners man is con-
that the majority of the
BOARD has no right to put it into
operation without his consent.