Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-09

wages and working conditions-ir
spite of the fact that there haC
been substantial changes in many
other industries, and in spite Of
the fact that the steel industry
was making very high profits.
j No progress was made, and 8
strike was threatened last Decem.
Der 81.
Before that happened, I sem
the case to the Wage Sterilization
Board. I asked them to investigate
the facts and recommend a set
Element that would be fair to both
parties, and would also be in &C.
cordance with our rules for pre-.
venting imitation. Meanwhile,
asked both sides to keep the steel
Industry operating, and they did
Went into Facts Thoroughly.
The Wage Board went into the
facts very thoroughly. About three
weeks ago, on March 20, the Wage
Board recommended certain wage
increases and certain changes ir
working conditions.
The Wage Boards recommen-
dationS were less than the union
thought it ought to have. Never
theleSs, the union accepted them
as a basis for settlement.
There has been a lot of propa-
ganda to the effect that the rec
concentrations of the Wage Board
were too high. that they would
touch off a new round of wage
increases. and that a new wage
price spiral would set in.
| The facts are to the contrary
When you look into the matter
you find that the Wage Boards
recommendations were fair and
reasonable. They were entirely
consistent with what has been al
lowed in other industries over the
past 18 months. They are In
accord with sound sterilization
policies.
Under these recommendation
the steel workers would simply be
catching up with what workers in
other major industries are already
receiving.
| The steel workers have had nc
adjustment in their wages since
December l.. 1850. Since that time
the cost of living has risen, and
workers in such industries as auto
mobiles, rubber. electrical equip
ment. and meat packing have re-
celved increases ranging from 13
to II cents an hour.
Breaks No Ceiling.
In the steel case, the Wage
Board recommended a general
wage increase averaging 1884 cents
an hour in 1852. Obviously. this
sets no new pattern and breaks
no ceiling. 1t simply permits the
steel workers to catch up to what
workers in other industries have
already received.
The board also recommended
/ a 2t2-cent wage increase to go
into effect next January. if the
union would agree to an 18-month
contract. In addition, the board
recommended certain other provi-
sions concerning such matters as
paid holidays and extra pay for
Sunday work. The steel industry
has been tagging behind other
industries in these matters, and
the improvements suggested by the
board are moderate.
When you look at the facts, in
stead of the propaganda, it is per-
fectly plain that the Wage Board S
recommendations in the steel case
do provide a fair and reasonable
basis for reaching a settlement
that is consistent with our present
sterilization program. OF course,
neither party can ever get every
thing it thinks it deserves; and.
certainly. the parties should
bargain out the details. But in the
present circumstances, both the
companies and the union owe it
to the American people to use
these recommendations as a basis
for reaching a settlement.
The fact of the matter is that
the settlement proposed by the
board is fair to both parties and
to the public interest. And what's
more. think the steel companies
know it. They can read figures
just as well as anybody else. ]
think they realize that the board
recommendations on wages are
reasonable. and they are raising
all this hullabaloo in an attempt
to force the Government to give
them a big boost in prices.
Facts on the Price Side.
Now, what about the price side?
Is it true that the steel companies
need a big increase in prices in
order to be able to raise wages?
Here are the facts.
Steel industry profits are now
running at the rate of about $2.5
billion a year. The steel compa
MES are now making a profit of