Evening star., 1949-07-12
Truman Studies
Action 10 Avert
Steel Strike
Unions Policy Group
Meeting in Pittsburgh
On WuIkout Order
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
PITTSBURGH, July IL. A
meeting of the CIO-United Steel
workers Wage Policy Committee.
which is expected to result in a
strike order for 100000 basic en-
ployees of the industry, began on
schedule here today as indications
grew in Washington that President
Truman may intervene in an effort
to avert a walkout.
Philip Murray, president of the
steelWorkers and of the CIO, said
last night he would recommend
strike this week end in support of
the unions wage and pension de-
mands. The strike call will be
effective at midnight Thursday or
Friday. dependent on the dates
the union contracts expire.
His recommendations are ex-
pected to be approved speedily
by the 170-man Wage Policy
Committee. The group began its
meeting at 10 am. Mr.. Murray
said about 1s9 companies. includ-
ing the giant United States Steel
Corp. would be affected by a
strike.
Truman Studying Situation.
Meanwhile. in Washington,
Charles G. Ross. White House
press secretary. said President
Truman has the situation under
consideration" and there may be
a statement later in the day"
Asked if Mr.. Truman might Gre
ate an emergency board to look
into the dispute. Mr.. Ross said:
Il can't say what he may oc."
Cyrus S. Ching, Federal con-
ciliation director, conferred with
management and union repre-
sentatives for two and one half
hours yesterday.
There were indications after
this meeting that the Cancellation
Services effort had collapsed.
Mr.. Murray called the negotia-
tions "hopelessly deadlocked" and
limited that only presidential in
tervention could avert a walkout.
Reports to White House.
Mr.. Ching said he reported to
the White House, but made no
recommendations. His report was
to John r. Steelman, presidential
assistant.
A possible course open to Mr.
Truman is to invoke the national
emergency provisions of the Taft
Hartley Act.
Under that law, the President
could declare that the dispute
threatens a national emergency
and appoint a fact-finding board
to investigate.
After the board reported, the
Government could seek court
order barring a strike for as long
as 80 days.
Murray Opens Session.
News that President Truman
might intervene was telephoned
into the union Wage Policy Com
mittee meeting. There was no
immediate comment from the
union.
Mr.. Murray opened the session
with the statement that:
1--WE are convinced that. with a
Little Steel price cut, in coniunc-
ton with the appropriate Govern
ment actions and a wage increase,
the industry could easily return
to an operating rate of approx
mately capacity operations. Our
investigations show that the in
dustry could easily grant a sub
stantial increase in wages, reduce
it's prices and still make a high
profit"
He said the union "hopes" to
avert the possibility of a strike
and declared industry would be
to blame If a strike came.
Mr.. Murray put the steel in
dustry's 1948 profits at nearly
$500 100000 and called them
grossly excessive"
Calling prices "a real measure
of the greed of the industry" Mr..
Murray said they have far out
run increases in wages or pro-