Evening star., 1949-07-04
Miners Finish HOLIDAY
Robertson Hits Lewis |
On 3-Day Work Week
By the Associo.sd Press

ey tne As3cCldIeo FteSs
PITTSBURGH, July 4.-For
most of the Nations coal miners
today marked the end of their
annual To-day paid holiday and
the eve of the disputed three-day
work week ordered by John L.
Lewis.
Last Thursday, while the miners
were on holiday, Mr.. Lewis an
nounced that although the BIZ
luminous contract expired that
day, he was ordering all soft coal
diggers east of the Mississippi to
work three days a week starting
tomorrow.
The miners usually observe a
mo contract-no work" policy.
Because Of the July 4 holiday,
this week the mines will be man
ned Tuesday. Wednesday and
Thursday. After that the work
days will be Monday. Tuesday
and Wednesday.
Action Stirs Protests.
Mr.. Lewis order-described by
the United Mine Workers Journal
as a move to cut down the current
coal stockpile to a normal rs
million tons - drew immediate
protest from Senator Robertson,
Democrat, Of Virginia who said
Eenate inquiry will be launched.
Most coal operators termed the
Lewis order "illegal" and said they
would post work notices for every
day Of the week.
MIR. Lewis did not indicate why
he excluded the Nations western
mines, which turn out about
100000 tons annually.
Senator Robertson questioned
the legality of the Lewis order
from a price-control standpoint.
Hearing Seen This Month.
II can't believe that Congress,
in exempting unions from the
antitrust laws, even intended to
confer on any union the right
to control production and thereby
to control prices" he said.
Senator Robertson said the
matter may come up at Senate
Banking Committee investigation
OF coal industry operations, sched-
uled to get underway late this
month or early In August. Mr..
Lewis would be given an opportu-
nifty to explain his action If he
so desires, Senator Robertson said.
Coal producers said the UNIV
leader was disregarding the eco
nomic needs Of the public, the
welfare Of his union members and
their families, and his contract
with the operators"
The coal stockpile looms as a
big issue in the current contract
negotiations. Northern and West
ern operators, and the United
States Steel Corp. have been
meeting with MIR. Lewis at White
Sulphur Springs, w. Va, while
Southern operators have been in
contract discussions at Blueheld.
w. Va.
Would Aid Lewis Position.
Reduction Of the coal reserve
would greatly enhance Mr.. Lewis
position in the contract talks.
The fiery UNIV leader save no
indication how long the short
work week would remain in effect,
but the UNIV journal said 1t
would take 20 weeks to cut the
present stockpile down to a nor
NAL Is, ,000, 900 tons.
Nor did the miners themselves
care to say how they felt about
working part time after ending
their third holiday" of the year.
Last March. Mr.. Lewis called
the diggers out for two weeks. as
sertedly to honor the memory Of
miners killed and injured. Many
believed, however. that work stop
page was to protest the appoint
ment Of DR.. James Boyd as direc-
tor of the Bureau Of Mines. The
Senate quickly confirmed the ap-
pointment.
And in June. Mr.. Lewis called
the miners out again--this time
for one week-to stabilize" the
industry.