Evening star., 1951-12-17
Steel Pay Talks Head
For Crisis as Union S
Top Strateuists Meet
BY the Asseeioted Press

PITTSBURGH. Dec. 17.-Steel
wage talks headed for a crisis
today.
The C1O- United Steelworkers
brought its Executive Board and
Wage Policy Committee to this
steel capital for possibly momen-
tous sessions.
The USW's top strategists may
either outline the way to a peace
full settlement or lay the ground
work for q Nation wide steel
strike.
While union leaders confer here,
Washington officials are getting
set to wade into the twin prob
lens OF wages and prices in an
effort to speed signing of a new
contract before the January /
strike deadline.
Should walkout be authorized,
Cyrus S. Ching, director of the
Federal Mediation and Concilia-
ton Service. is expected to call in
dustry and union negotiators to
Washington.
But II the union decides to-
withhold its first of the year
strike threat for a while, Mr..
Ching may delay arranging bar
gaining sessions in Washington.
Union Makes 22 Demands.
Most likely, Mr.. Ching will wait
for word from USW President
Philip Murray, who is meeting
here. before announcing his plans.
The union has levelled a %
point demand on the steel indus
try but all attention is centered
on its dealings with United States
Steel Corp. since that company
usually sets the pattern
The USW wants a substantial
wage increase, guaranteed annual
wage. union shop and improved
incentive and premium pay. Pres
ent wage controls provide a payI
increase too small to suit Mr.
Murray. The steel industry is
o60aAct ally Wage hOOSt uLlkCSS IL
gets price relief.
Negotiations. begun November |
n on new contract for workers
now earning an averags of about |
$1.95, made no progress Mr.. Muir
rays answer was to summon the
USW Executive Board and Wage
Policy Committee.
Situation Called Serious.
The 36-man executive board is
composed OF three International
officers and SO district directors.
1t is the policy-making group.
The 170-man wage policy COM
mittee. composed Of the board |
plus local union representatives,
is the ratifying agency of the
USW.
The Government moved into the
steel situation shortly after Mr..
Murray called his advisors. Two
top mediators came here to talk
to both sides. They reported back
to the United States Mediation
Service that the situation was
serious and a strike possible.
Their report brought an in
vitation to move future negotia-
tions to Washington. No. action
was taken on the proposal and
the next bargaining session is
scheduled for Pittsburgh tomor-
row.
Prices are considered the key. |
II the Government permits price /
increases satisfactory to the pro-
ducers, the companies are likely to |
grant a wage increase.
OPS officials In Washington are
discussing steel prices with indus
try leaders.
Economic Etabilizer Roger L.
Putnam says he had told the in
duStry that any automatic price
increase based on a wage raise
would not be permitted.
An informal conference Of steel
industry representatives with OPS
ofhcials was called for today to
explore the effect of the Capehart
provision. Under it producers can
add to their prices increased costs
from the outbreak of the Korean
war to last July 26.
Michael v. Disable, OPS admin
istrator, proposed the conference
n