Evening star., 1950-02-11

and welfare = fund contribution
terms, would be considered unless
the union would accept certain
changes in other provisions of the
l948 contracts. The last bargain
ing conference, on February 2,
1850, had ended upon the with
drawal of Northern operators
when the union moved this reso-
luton:
The mine workers move that we
proceed to negotiate a contract
and that in the negotiations all
matters before the conference are
subjects for consideration and ne
gotiation and are not to be con-
sidered as conditions precedent to
agreement"
The explanation offered for this
withdrawal by the operators was
that they regarded the resolution
as indicating that the union nego-
tiators were adamant in their re-
fusal to make the several contract
changes which the operators
deemed conditions precedent" to
any further discussions.
These non-wage issues included
these items:
(a) The provisions in the old
contract wherein the contract was
made applicable only during such
times as the employees "are able
and willing to work." and wherein
the union could designate memo
rial periods" The operators main
tanned that these clauses had been
used by the union to limit produc-
ton and the free use by the oper-
ators OF their mine facilities, and
that such practices violated the
intended purposes of these clauses.
The operators position was that
these clauses would have to be SUBJ
stantially changed. or eliminated
entirely. and a broad no-strike
clause included to guarantee con-
tract performance by the union,
Union Shop Provision.
b) The union-shop provision
In the old contract The opera
tors maintained that the union
shop provision had been held il
legal by the National Labor Rela-
tions Board and that this provi-
sion would accordingly have to be
dropped unless the union met the
statutory requirements of the La
Dor Management Relations Act
1947.
(c) The provisions governing
the administration of the pension
and welfare fund. The changes
demanded here were, in substance,
that rules and regulations cover
ing the administration of this
fund be included in the contract,
that changes be made regarding
the eligibility of pensioners and
oenef1ciaries, and that different
provisions be made for the ap-
pointment of trustees to admins
ter the fund. Reliance was placed.
IN support of these demands, upon
alleged maladministration of this
1und. resulting in it's bankruptcy. !"
just as the operators had insist
red on acceptance of the changes
indicated in these provisions prior
to any consideration of the money
matters. the Unions position until
the last negotiation had been that
no question could be entertained
on these non-money matters.
2. The current situation.
The board deemed it essential.
IN ascertaining the actual causes
and circumstances of this dis
pute. to get beyond what the par
ties themselves described as road
blocks" to their collective bar
gaining. At a public hearing on
February 8. at 10 am, spokesmen
for the parties were questioned
on why collective bargaining had
apparently been so barren. The
answers offered were plainly in
adequate. The board therefore
proposed that the parties engage
in collective bargaining in its
presence. SO that it might observe
the difficulties at first hand. All
the parties agreed to follow this
course.
Conferences Promptly Arranged.
Two conferences were promptly
arranged, one between the union
and the National Bituminous Coal
Wage Conference and captive
mine representatives, and the
other between the union and the
Southern Coal Producers Asso-
citation. These discussions started
at Q pm. on February 8 and con-
tinued, with recess for dinner,
until midnight.
At these conferences the parties
bargained over the terms and
conditions of an agreement. It is
believed that some progress was
made in the direction of Clarity
ing the issues and perhaps in
narrowing the gap separating the |
parties. It seemed that either be.
Cause of the desire to exhibit to