Evening star., 1949-09-22
Steel Union Accepts 6-Day Truce
Delaying Strike Until October |;
Farley May Reopen Tomorrow
Murray Reveals
Workers Decision
For Further Talks
HOPE OF COAL SETTLEMENT
Fades as Operators Await Steel
Action. Page Az.
By jones Y. Newton

doOo 90 SPC1 dVO1o xlWa alU AOCCA
Action. Page Az.
By jones Y. Newton
The CIO United Steelworkers
notified President Truman today
they would accept his proposal to
extend the steel industry truce
six days beyond the Saturday mid
night deadline, thereby removing
the immediate threat of a walk
out by the million member union.
Philip Murray, the Steelworkers
president, announced the decision
after a brief meeting of the
unions Wage Policy Committee in
Pittsburgh.
Mr.. Murray said he was con-
tacting the various big steel COM
panies and that he hoped to
resume bargaining on a new
contract with the United States
Steel Corp. tomorrow. Although
Mr.. Truman asked for only a six
day extension of the truce-until
October 1-he also requested the
resumption of bargaining on the
controversial pension and insur-
ance issues at one. That could
postpone steel strike indefinitely.
Big segments of steel manage
ment, led by United States Steel
Corp. already had approved Mr..
Truman's latest propoas1.
The picture had been darkened
earlier when about 5000 workers
in three Pittsburgh district plants
walked off the job yesterday. some
Of them apparently jumping the
gun on the strike deadline. Steel
officials described the strike as
unauthorized and said the men
were "jittery over the whole situ-
alton in the steel industry"
A union official said the walk
out of $500 workers at two of the
plants was the result of the presi-
Dental request for a new truce.
The men. employed by the Univer-
sal-Cyclops Steel Co. and ST.
perior Steel. failed to report to
work today. The third strike, ct
an American Bridge Co. plant, was
caused by a shop grievance.
"The men are tired Of extern
sions in the steel dispute and that
has resulted in this walkout." the
union official commented Of
strikes at the Universal and Su-
perior plants. x
Benjamin F. Fairless. president
Of United States Steel, answered
the Presidents request a few
hours after it was made to union
and management officials who
were attending a meeting here
with Cyrus S. Ching. the Federal
mediation chief, who was attempt
ing to bring about resumption Of
bargaining on the big issues of
pensions and social insurance for
the workers.
Second Extension Obtained.
Mr.. Fairless said big Steel"
would give the greatest weight
and earnest consideration" in
bargaining with the union to the
recommendations of the Presi-
dents fact-finding board. Ap-
pointment of the board delayed
q strike 60 days, and another IL
day extension of the deadline was
obtained after the board reported
to MIR. Truman.
The board turned down the
unions request for a fourth post
war wage increase. It proposed
that the companies finance pen
sion-social insurance plan which
would cost 10 cents per man per
hour, six cents of which would go
to pensions.
Main stumbling block to re-
sumption of negotiations has been
Mr.. Murray's .insistance that the
companies accept board recon-
mendations as basis for settle
ment before bargaining is re-
sumed. The employers fatty re-
fused to do that. They say that
any pension insurance plan must
be supported jointly by the COM
panies and the employees.
Both Mr.. Murray and the steel
company executives held that the
Presidents carefully worded letter
Of yesterday vindicated their re-
spective positions in regard to the
basis for new bargaining. For a
long time United States Steel re-
fused to discuss pensions with the
union. Now they are willing to
bargain on pensions and give
weight to the presidential boards
findings.
II believe the Presidents state
ment is complete vindication of
the steelworkers' position" MIR.
Murray told reporters.
MIR. Truman described the board
report as "a Statesmanlke furmu-
Ia for fair and equitable settle
ment" Of the pension and insur-
ance issues. He added that he is
In fullest agreement" with the
boards opinion that its recon-
mendations for company paid
plans form a suitable basis" on
which agreement can be reached.
Industry spokesman said the
Presidents request for bargaining
upholds their position-they want
to bargain but without agreeing to
accept the boards recommends
tions. The board was merely an
tnvestigative body-its recommen-
dations are not binding.
Macarthur Heods Jop Scouts