Evening star., 1952-03-16
Government Requests
New Postponemenf
OF Steel WaIkouf
By james Y. Newton

VI JIGCI w 0lNVUI
By james Y. Newton
The Government last night re-
quested another postponement of
q Nationwide steel strike threat
ened for midnight next Sunday.
and the chances appeared good
the stay would be granted.
Chairman Nathan p. Feinsinger
Of the Wage Sterilization Board
asked Philip Murray, president of
the CIO and the United Steel
workers, to postpone strike action
at least until April 4, and to give
96-hours' notice Of intention to
strike after that date.
Mr.. Murray said he would reply
to the request today. He refused
to say what the answer would
be, but it was expected he would
tell Mr.. Feinsinger that the post
ponement request would be pre-
sented to the Steelworkers' Execu-
tive Board for a decision.
Board Called Here.
Earlier yesterday the union an
nounced Mr.. Murray had sum-
moned the Executive Board and
the Wage Policy Committee to
meetings here Thursday.
Hopes were high that the union
board would go along with Mr..
Feinsinger's request. It was made
after the Wage Board chairman
had conferred separately with
Mr.. Murray and John A. Stephens,
vice president of United States
Steel Corp. Mr.. Stephens is
chief representative of the steel
companies in the dispute.
The union already has granted
three postponements of the strike.
originally set for last January l.
1t did so to allow the Wage Board
time to consider the dispute with
the steel producers over wages
and other issues and to make re-
concentrations for settlement.
MIR. FeinSinger, in his telegram
yesterday to Mr.. Murray and off,
cials Of six big steel companies,
said the board will make every
effort" to have its settlement re-
concentrations for presentation
to the parties by Thursday.
Asked to Negotiate.
After the disputants receive the
recommendations, Mr.. FeinSinger
asked what they enter into nego-
tiations with view to reaching
settlement. -
In Pittsburgh, Mr.. Stephens
wired Mr.. Feinsinger that COM
pany Representatives will be pre-
pared to meet with the union
after wage-board settlement rec
concentrations are handed down.
But he warned that unless the
strike shall be further postponed
it will be necessary to begin to
curtail ferro manganese "a spe-
cial type Of hard steeD operations
by Tuesday, March 18, and other
operations by Wednesday night.
March 49,"
The reference was to precau-
tionary steps which must be taken
to bank furnaces and protect steel
plants against damage in case Of
a shutdown Of operations.
Serious Consideration Promised.
Mr.. Stephens said his company
will give serious consideration to
the Wage Boards recommends
tions.
Mr.. Feinsinger said it would be
understood that the companies and
union will continue work and
production and that If by April 4
a mutually satisfactory agreement
has not been reached and the
union intends to strike thereafter
1t will give 96 hours prior writ
ten notice to the companies"
Mr.. Feinsinger said the board
els confident that both sides wish
to avoid strike through the con-
summation Of a mutually salts
factory agreement, and these sug-
gestionS are being made to fa-
cilitate that objective"
Mr.. Murray has been empow-
cred by the union Executive Board
to call a strike if an acceptable
basis for settlement Of the con-
tract dispute has not been reached
by next Sunday midnight.
Up to Union Board.
But he said yesterday it would
be up to the union board to de-
eide whether forthcoming board
recommendations for settlement
are fair.
The union has Is new contract
demands outstanding, including
ones for a wage increase of 1917
cents per hour, a union shop
guaranteed annual wage, pay fol
holidays. and premium pay fol
Saturday and Sunday work even
though it does not constitute
overtime"
Wage board officials have moi
indicated what they would rec
ommend, but they are expected
to suggest that the monetary
issues be settled for about Is.
cents-an-hour increase.
The steel companies have made
no wage offer to Mr.. Murray:
million-member union.
They contend they cannot raise
wages unless the Government per-
mits them to raise steel prices
enough to Offset the higher labor
costs. They estimate a 15-cent
wage rise would necessitate 9
price increase of $3.50 per ton.
The Government comedies thu
producers are entitled to raiSe
prices about 81 per ton to com.
pensate for past cost increase.
but officials steadfastly have sale
no price increase will be allowed
to Offset a forthcoming wage