Evening star., 1950-11-30
Steel Union Expected
To Accept Offer Of
16-Cent Increase
By the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 30.-The
policy makers of Philip Murray's
CIO United Steelworkers met to-
day to decide if they'll accept a
reported Decent average hourly
wage boost from United States
Steel Corp.-the leader of the in
dustry.
Big Steel didn't say how much it
is willing to pay the 5000 steel
workers on its payroll. But sources
close to both sides placed the fig
ure at Is cents, including fringe
benefits.
The men who make steel now
average $1.72 an hour throughout
the country.
That the price of steel and the
things from which steel are made
will rise is a foregone conclusion.
Guesses as to the amount range
from $6 to $40 ton. The au-
thoritative weekly trade publica-
ton Iron Age said yesterday
United States Steel Corp. will
raise steel prices about Sc a ton,
but they will distribute the in
creases so that all products will
not be advanced the same amount.
Acceptance Expected.
There is widespread speculation
the union will accept Big Steels
offer and that similar increases
will be granted the remainder of
the million members of Mr.. Muir
rays union. In the past the in
dustry has followed United States
Steel's policy.
Mr.. Murray laid the offer before
o 32-man executive board i'm
mediately after it was made yes
terday. He didn't comment when
he came smiling from the room
but the secret session had been
interrupted frequently by ap-
plauSe. =
Then Mr.. Murray promptly
called the meeting of the 170-man
wage policy committee. That
group has the job of ratifying the
executive boards decision. 4
May Start at 1919 Cents.
AS soon as Big Steel revealed its
offer there was considerable spec
ulation on how it is broken down.
The best sources declare it would
start with a 12l2-cent-an- hour
boost in the lowest of the 80 class
tf1cations in the company. Then
the boost would increase about 70
cent an hour through each classi-
f1cation.
The lowest paid man in the 50
classiflcations now gets $1.181a an
hour. The highest is paid $3.50
an hour.
MIR. Murray has never revealed
his exact wage demands, saying
only that he wanted a healthy
and substantial" wage boost.
The negotiations with Big Steel
began last October Is and were
conducted under a self imposed
cloak of secrecy.
Both the corporation and the
union said they felt they could
reach an agreement quicker that
way.
Under Two-Year Contract.
There never has been any ques-
ton the steel industry would
grant a boost. The only question
has been how much. an n
The steelworkers are operating
under a two-year contract which
does not expire until January I,
1852. 1t could be reopened for
wage talks November /. Mr..
Murray got the steel companies
to advance the date two weeks
because he said it was imperative
his men got q raise. .s-1sss..
Leading to speculation that q
quick agreement is in sight for
most Of the industry is the fact |
the union says it has scheduled a
meeting this afternoon with the
Wage Negotiating Committee of |
Bethlehem Steel Corp. Bethle-
hem employs around 10000.
No Increase Last Year.
MIR. Murray's steelworkers didn't
get q wage increase last year,
After a 42-day strike they ended
their walkout by agreeing to bet
ter pension and insurance bene-
fits.
In recent months auto workers
and other unions in the CIO
which Mr.. Murray also heads
have won increases of 10 and Is
cents an hour.
There have been many reports
the administration has been put
ting pressure on the negotiators
in recent weeks to reach a quick
settlement. Many believe the size
OF the wage increase will inf1u-
ence a decision on wage and price
controls.
The steel makers have said
they don't believe there will be
an important effect on imitation
or living costs-even If they have
to increase steel as much as $40
q ton.