Evening star., 1951-12-14
Z Federal Mediafors
Begin Conferences in
Steel Pay Dispute
BY the Assoeiofed Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
PITTSBURH. Dec. 1.-two
Government mediators trying to
stave off a Nationwide steel strike
New Years Day, conferred today
with a top representative of
United States Steel Corp. the bell
wether of the industry.
Vice President John A. Stephens,
who is heading Big Steels Negoti-
ating Committee in crucial wage
contract talks, met with the medi-
ators about As minutes before go
ling into another session with
Philip Murray, head of the mil
Ilion-member CIO-United Steel
workers.
Mr.. Stephens had little to say,
merely commenting:
II simply talked to the negotia-
tors and answered their questions. u
Silent on Questions.
Mr.. Stephens refused to say
what questions had been asked
him by Clyde Mills and Walter
A. Maggiolo.
The mediators we're not immedi-
ately available for comment, but
a source close to them indicated
they planned a private meeting
later in the day with Mr.. Murray
and other top CIO negotiators.
Mr.. Mills. assistant chief of the
United States Mediation Service
and Mr.. Maggiolo. acting general
counsel, arrived by plane too late
| to attend yesterdays session OF
company,union talks.
Wasn't Going to Wait.
Mr.. Mills Immediately sought to
spike talk of breakdown in the
negotiations by saying:
Nothing specific prompted the
Government to take a hand in
the steel wage talks. We weren't
going to wait until the last min
ute"
The New York Herald Tribune
said today the steel workers plan
to authorize Mr.. Murray to call
strike against the steel industry.
1t stated:
"The authority is; slated to be
granted. on Mr. Murray's recon-
mendation, in Pittsburgh on Mon
day at meeting of the
Unions Wage Policy Committee,
which Mr.. Murray has summoned
because of lack of progress in ne
gotiations."
The newspaper said the union
"is not expected to strike on the
heels of the authorization" add
ing "the move is to get the case
into the hands Of the Govern
ment."
Speculation Starts.
Mr.. Murray was not immedi-
ately accessible for comment on
the report.
Mr.. Murray set off a round of
speculation when he stepped from
a session Wednesday and an
nounced union negotiators will
meet with the unions Executive
Board and Wage Policy Commit
tee Monday.
The Wage Policy Committee
usually is called only to ratify a
strike or make a wage settlement.
Mr.. Murray said before the con-
tracts talks started November 27
that he would present the industry
with % demands, including a sub
stantial wage boost, a union shop.
guaranteed annual wage and i'm
proved incentive and premium
pay.
Contract Ends December 81.
The present contract expires at
midnight December 81. After
that steelworkers would be free
to strike if new contract has not
been signed.
Sources close to the steel in
dustry say Big Steel is not in a
position to make a wage offer to
the union until it has some idea
of what the Office of Price Sta
bilization will give in the way of
steel price increase.
Mr.. Murray also is dependent
on the StabiliZation board, for un-
der present conditions his STEEL
workers are entitled to no more
than a 5 per cent hourly pay in
crease. Mr.. Murray has said he
would not be satisfied with that.
Mobilization Chief Charles E
Wilson gave some idea of Govern
ment views on the possible in
crease in steel prices and steel
workers pay yesterday when he
told the National Press Club in
Washington:
Il have read in the dope sheets
supposed to contain the inside
stuff on Washington that we are
going to scrap our wage control