Evening star., 1949-09-19

OIL 10 SCflOOl dS USUAL. n SCdGCeT'
ing of diggers went to the mine'
but never entered.
Sentiment Favors Stoppage.
Sentiment among Western
Pennsylvania miners seemed solid
ly in favor of a work stoppage
Typical comment came from Jot
Leverotti, 80, of Bridgeville, neal
Pittsburgh, He said:
II am in favor of the walkou
because it looks to me as if thi
is the only way we can save ouI
welfare fund"
In Eastern Pennsylvania some
anthracite miners said privately
they don't think the current stop.
page will become a full-scals
strike. They considered it &
show of strength" and "a demon
stration of what could happen" i
something isn't done about tht
welfare situation.
But Mart Brennan, president O.
UNIV District 7, said there il
growing sentiment for mo worl
until the welfare question il
settled"
Third Stoppage of Year.
For most UNIV members thi.
is the third work stoppage O.
1949. In March they quit worl
for two weeks as a memorial tt
miners killed and injured las
year, and to protest Presiden
Truman's appointment of DR.
James Boyd as director of tn,
Federal Bureau of Mines.
In June Mr.. Lewis ordered
them out of the pits for one week
saying there was too much Goa
above ground and the industr,
needed a "stabilizing period O.
action"
Observers were quick to poin
out then the depleted stockpile!
would give him a f1rmer hane
at the bargaining table.
But MIR. Lewis hasn't been abb,
to do much with the coal opera
tors about a new contract. Tn,
old one expired June 80, but MI
Lewis abandoned the UNIV
traditional mo contract, no worl
policy"
Instead, he allowed his men t,
work under the old contract Will,
he sought new one. Miners cas-
OF the Mississippi have been work
ing on a three-day week ever sine,
with those west of the Mississippi
putting in five days.
Suspended Royalty Payments.
Some Southern operators tossed
the bombshell at Lewis which ha.
resulted in the walkout. The,
suspended the 20-cent-a-ton roy.
atty payment to the unions re.
tirement and welfare fund.
That was like setting a firt
under Mr.. Lewis. He prompt,
asked the mine operators to remit
They didn't, declaring:
mo contract, no royalty pay.
Mr.. Lewis and Senator Bridges
Republican, of New Hampshire
another trustee of the fund, sale
their only course was to suspend
out of the welfare fund
1t dwindled from 10000, 900 or
July /. to $14,000,000 on Septem.
Der and is probably even lowe
now.
While the Southern operator.
are holding fast to their theory
the Northern operators are sched.
uled to make a $4,000, 900 paymen
into the fund tomorrow-a day be.
fore scheduled resumption of con.
tract talks with Mr.. Lewis.
Lewis Gets Support.
Even as the walkout began, Mr.
Lewis got some unexpected sup.
port from the Central Pennsyl.
vania Coal Producers Association
A spokesman who asked that hi
name not be used, declared the
association will keep paying the
adding:
Since Lewis offered to extend
the contract on a three-day week
basis and mine owners accepted IT.
they have an obligation to comply
with all portions of the agree
nent."
That one statement could mean
that Mr.. Lewis will win his point
quickly. As for agreement on a
new contract, that's another mat
ter. Its an open secret that Mr.
Lewis will insist on operators up
ping the royalty payments, pos
sibly to as much as 80 cents a ton
And Mr.. Lewis wants a seven
hour work day without loss Of pay
IN place Of the present eight-houl
day. This would mean a wage
boost of approximately Sits q
day. - D.
Miners now receive d base ratt
Of $14.05 for six and one-hal,
hours of production. Anothe,
hour and a half is allowed fol
underground travel and meals.
Industry is Silent.
Industry representatives didn't
have great deal to say about
the walkout. One said a short
mine shutdown might be q
healthy thing. He explained /,
would reduce stockpiles to the
point where the entire industry
might get back on a five-day
week.
Generally. the Nations stock
piles are estimated at about S..
Doc, 900 tons. That's enough tc
Keep industry going full pace fol
1t least 20 days.
The steel industry, biggest usel