Evening star., 1952-07-13
New Steel Move
|bo|sters Hope Of
Ending Strike
U. S. May Authorize
Price Boost Over S.;
Negotiotors Meeting
By jones Y. Newton

Prospects frightened last night
for an early end of the six-week-
old steel strike as company ex-
ecutives called at the White House
for a talk on a steel price in
crease and a management-union
group met in Pittsburgh.
Three officials of the United
States Steel Corp. conferred at
length with Jonh r. Steelman.
acting defense mobilizer. Mr..
Steelman has been the chief medi-
ator of the steel wage dispute. He
also will have the final say on the
size of the price increase to be
granted the industry.
The officials were Vice Presidents
Lewis Parsons and D. F. Austin Of
U. S. Steel, and Roger /. Blough,
vice chairman of the giant
corporation.
There was no formal announce
ment on the conference. But it was
learned the Government is willing
to allow a price increase of over
SIS per ton on steel in order to end
the industry-w wide strike. One in
formed source said the price raise
may run $5.25 a ton.
Negotiators Meet.
In Pittsburgh, negotiauors for
the "big six" steel companies and
the CIO United Steelworkers met
for several hours yesterday after
noon. They scheduled another
session last night after a dinner
recess, the Associated Press re-
ported.
Then CIO President Philip MUIR
ray told newsmen soon after hear
ing reports from Washington
about steel price increase pros
poets, that there would be no
further union-management meet
ings during the night. He added
that any meeting today lis con-
tlngent on Developments"
Neither industry nor union
spokesmen would comment fur
ther on the Pittsburgh talks. It
was reported they had struck an
unexpected snag which might take
some time to iron out.
The companies apparently were
prepared to make a new settle
ment offer to the striking union
If the Government price offer ID
satisfactory.
Mr.. Murray and company off,
cials have been meeting in Pitts
burgh the past two days. The
union struck June 2 for higher
wages, other contract improve.
ments and the union shop. In re-
cent weeks the union shop has
been about the only real barrier
to agreement.
$50 Plants Shut Down.
Top Federal officials, mean
while, warned that the strike of
100000 workers already has struck
the defense program a body blow.
So far. defense officials have
said little about the effect of the
strike on vital military programs
for fear of jeopardizing chances
of settling the contract dispute.
But one official said the "Ameri-
can people should be told the full
story of what this strike is doing
to the defense program" It was
expected the officials will start
talking early this week unless the
strike Is ended. ...
More than $50 plants of all
types having defense contracts
already have shut down for lack
Of steel. The number is increas-
ing daily.
The number Of workers made
idle by the strike is nearing the
is million mark. including the
100000 strikers. The steel shut.
down already has seriously
crippled operations in the auto
mobile, farm machinery, railroad
and railroad equipment and other
industries. The impact of the
steel shortage is hitting hard at
food Gamers, and all types Of
repair and maintenance work.
Weapons Program Hard Hit.
AS for the effect on the defense
prog1 am, one high official said
the steel shortage "is running
u.s." He added that it is hitting
hardest at the most important
parts of the military production
program, involving weapons which
we were straining to get out even
before the strike"
Some parts of the ammunition
program "are in serious trouble"
he said.
Because all defense contractors
are not affected to the same de-
gree by the steel strike. the of.
(See STEEL, Page A-6,)