Evening star., 1950-03-06
Coal
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man for the Northern Western
group, said:
1--WE have had good fight,
but we are all glad it's over. This
2h-year contract gives the in
dustry It's first real opportunity
for stability in the last decade.
Both the union and operators
made concessions. The operators
definitely established the right to
control their production and their
mining facilities
Lewis Accepts Limitations.
Mr.. Love referred to the drop
ping of an old contract clause
stating that the miners will work
only when liable and willing"
Mr.. Lewis has used that clause
to control work at the mines. He
also agreed to limitation of mine
memorial work stoppages. Under
the new contract such stoppages
are limited to five days year.
The early reports from the field
showed this Spotty work situation:
Pennsylvania-Less than half a
dozen of the big mines reported
operating. The 2,400-man Robena
pit-world's largest-scheduled to
resume tomorrow. Others expect
ed to start up later today.
Some miners limited they may
not go back to work until We'd
nesday, explaining they will get
an extra weeks relief check that
way.
West Virginia-At least seven
mines in operation.
Ohio-Four mines reported op-
Grating, but big back-to-work
movement expected when after
noon shifts report.
"Real Days Work Ahead.
One of the jovial diggers at
the Montour No. 10 mine of Pitts
burgh Consolidated Coal Co. in
Library. Pa, set the theme when
he remarked:
Let's cut out the fooling. We
got a real days work ahead of us"
The miners pay is increased 70|
cents, to STATS a day, by far the
highest wage of any big industry.
The other big money victory was
on the UNIV welfare and retire.
ment fund. Operator payments
into the fund were raised 10 cents
to a total of 80 cents on all coal
produced. The fund take" now
will be about $40 million a year.
Miners Win Control of Fund.
Mr.. Lewis also won undisputed
control of administration of the
fund. That was done through the
personnel of the new fund trustee
board.
The UNIV chief will stay on as
the miners trustee. Charles "A.
Owen, mine owner of New York,
will represent the operators. The
third or neutral" trustee will be
Miss Josephine Roche, time
friend of Mr.. Lewis and the pres
ent director of the fund. Miss
Roche succeeds Senator Bridges,
Republican, of New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, peace talks for the
anthracite industry will be moved
here from New York, probably to-
morrow.
Anthracite Peace Expected.
The 10000 anthracite miners,
located mostly in Pennsylvania,
have not been on strike recently
but are working a three-day week.
They are not affected by the soft
coal settlement. Agreement in
that phase of the industry usually
follows quickly after completion
of soft coal pact. Negotiations
were resuming in New York this
afternoon. but officials said they
will be shifted here.
The final scene in the soft coal
settlement was dramatic.
A grim smile fickered now and
then over the grizzled face of the
7O-year-old Mr.. Lewis as he and
the operators signed the contract
under the glare of photographers
flash bulbs in the Statler Hotel.
Mr.. Lewis called the contract
"a reasonable assurance that for
a reasonable period of time the
industry can abate it's labor war;
fare and apply itself to the con-
structive problem of producing
COAL"
Rution Stores Ask India