Evening star., 1950-02-11
Text of Coal Inquiry Boards Report Submitted President Strike Suo

further. that tois procedure would
help avoid the possibility Of need
less displays OF antagonism.
The significant fact which
from this inquiry is that
this is basically a dispute. at the
present stage, over the wage and
welfare fund contribution issues.
Behind the tactical maneuverings
of the negotiators is fundamen-
tally an issue of dollars and cents.
1t would be entirely improper
to infer from this statement a
conclusion on the part of this
board that the non-wage issues
in this case are unimportant.
They are not unimportant. They
involve issues of significant prin-
ciple. 1t is evident, however, from
the bargaining which the board
observed, that mutually accept
able terms covering these nom
wage issues can be negotiated once
the money issues are resolved.
Responsible representatives of all
the parties involved reflected this
belief.
Money Issues Difficult.
The two money issues are more
difficult. That difficulty has been
enhanced, at least to a degree, by
some OF the bargaining tactics
which have been pursued. The
unions failure even at this late
stage to present specific demands
on the money issues has contrib
uted to the Illustration of the bar
gaining. Yet this factor might
have been neutralized if, at the
bargaining session On February 2
the representatives of the Northern
and Western operators had not
broken off negotiations at the first
concrete sign in many weeks that
bargaining without reservations
was being proposed.
Both parties have contributed
to prolonging unduly the fencing
stage Of their bargaining. 1t is an
important circumstance of this
case that this fencing was permit
ted to continue into a period of
national emergency. The conse-
quences which have resulted-the
strike, the coal shortage, and the
imminent possibility of an injunc-
tlon-have served to antagonize
the parties and to build up resent
ments which make voluntary set
tlement the more difficult.
The actual positions of the
parties on these money issues can
not, under the circumstances. be
definitely ascertained. The nego-
tlations observed by the board ano
the terms of contracts made by
this union with some other opera
tors permit the inference that the
union is seeking wage-rate anc
welfare fund contribution in.
creases in an amount, which il
estimates would cost % cents pei
ton. The basis for this figure is 81
cents per day more in wages anc
10 cents per ton additional for the
welfare fund. But the union:
stated position remains one of re.
fusal to specify any amount.
The operators stated position i.
still that no increase whatsoever
is warranted or can be made with.
out what they maintain would be
an unjustifiable increase in the
cost OF coal. Yet, at the February
8 negotiations, their reaction to
the suggestion which the union
seemed to be making was that it
would cost more than % cents per
ton on the average. They were
also critical of this suggestion be-
cause such an increase would be
out OF line with recent adjust
ments granted in the steel and
other important industries.
On these wage and welfare fund
contribution issues, as on those
mentioned earlier. the board. in
conformity with the statutory
mandate. takes no position regard
ing what could or should be done
It reports only that they are the
basic issues in this dispute,
The failure to resolve this dis
pute between the operators ano
the union by collective bargaining
has resulted in a cessation of WORK
in the mines producing the great
bulk of the output of the coal in
dustry. On January 25, 1850
prior to the current general stop.
page of production, DR.. James
Boyd, director of the Bureau OF
Mines, reported that "* the
situation is one of apprehension, >
and further that "* 3 unless
there is an immediate RESUMPTION
Of substantially increased coal
production the economy, health
and welfare of the Nation is now
or soon will be imperiled." At that
time the Bureau of Mines esti-
mated that coal stocks in the
hands of all industrial consumers
and retail dealers approximated
81. .795 900 tons, or an average of
% days supply.
Stocks Further Reduced.
The current stoppage of work,
commencing February 6. 1850, has
further reduced coal stocks. The
Bureau of Mines reported to this
Board of Inquiry on February 8,
1850. that overall stocks have
declined to approximately 22.1
million tons, which; based on an
estimated daily consumption of
1885 million tons, represents a l6
days supply in the hands of con-
sumers =" The Bureau of
Mines generally considered in the
past anything less than an aver
age of 80 days requirements as
near the danger point to the ma
tional economy and welfare" Un-
der the three-day week, the Bu-
reau of Mines set this figure at 25
days. Current stocks are there
fore 8 days below this danger