Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-23
Welfare Fact-Finders
Urged by U. 5. Aides
To Help Labor Peace
BY the Associated Press

10 Hell p Labor Peace
BY the Associated Press
Government labor experts yester-
day proposed an impartial cost
analyzing body to help industry and
labor find a safe middle ground in
pension and welfare fund negotia-
tons.
The suggestion was advanced by
some of these officials as they noted
a change in union tactics. The en-
phasis has switched from outright
demands for new wage increases to
proposals for better pension plans
and other social benefits.
Walter Reuther, president of the
CLIO United Auto Workers, a nils
lion member outfit, has announced
his union will demand 500 a month
pensions when contract talks be-
gin with the car makers this spring.
Other Items Coming Into Picture.
John L. Lewis, head of the United
Mine Workers, already has set up
such q retirement system for coal
miners. But the mine owners pro-
test they still are unable to esti-
mate accurately how much the plan
will cost the industry.
Besides pensions, other so-called
welfare items like insurance, disa-
bility and medical care are figuring
more and more in the discussions
between unions and their employees.
In advancing the suggestion for
an impartial cost study agency,
Government labor experts said it
would be handy in contract bar
gaining for both sides to have a
clear analysis of what the impact
would be on an industry, and how
well it could meet union demands
without endangering its stability.
Labor Department Control Urged.
One labor adviser to President
Truman said he thought the sug-
gested agency should be in the La
Dor Department.
If not in the Labor Department,
such an agency might be attached
to the Social Security Administra-
ton, some officials said.
Mr.. Reuther's auto workers will
make wage demands this spring,
the CLIO union has announced, but
this will take the form of seeking
to restore wage-price relationships
to those of June, 1916, when price
controls were abandoned.
While the General Motors Corp. Is
free from wage negotiations this
year because of its two-year pact,
made last May, there will be crucial
bargaining sessions with Ford Motor
Co., possibly starting around May
Is. The Chrysler Corp, the other
member of the automotive industry
big three" has contract until
August, 1850, although it may be
reopened for wages once after June
is.
Coal Disputes Spurred Decision. +,
That would seem to put the major
pressure for security demands on
Ford, unless the other two big man
ufacturers agree to discuss the sub
ject with Mr.. Reuther in the mean
time
The need for q Government ad-
visory agency was emphasized, in
the opinion of advocates of the
idea, by what happened in the coal
industry.
Mr.. Lewis demanded. and after
three costly strikes finally got, a
welfare and retirement fund A.
nanced by a royalty on the coal
produced.
But neither the union nor the
industry could agree to the others
figures on how much pension plan
would cost, nor how many families
would share the death and dis
ability benefits which Mr.. Lewis
envisioned.
Union Might Temper Demands.
In the end, the operators bowed
to Mr.. Lewis demand for 20-cent
royalty on each ton of coal mined
for use or sale. The market was
stable enough to stand that extra
20 cents in price. In the meantime,
Senator Bridges, Republican, of New
Hampshire, the neutral" among the
three trustees administering the
500 00O, OO0-a-year pension and well
fare fund, Is having new actuarial
study made.
But the Federal experts say that
a Government agency could work
out experience figures to estimate
how many persons would use a pro-
posed pension plan; how much OF a
backlog would be needed to carry
out the welfare aims of the employ
ers and unions.
Thus union demands might be
tempered, or employer arguments
on the cost of financing them might
be answered, in the opinion Of these
off1cialS