Evening star., 1952-09-21
Strike Averted
.-.N- r-.
By Pact Giving
Miners $1.9O
Northern Operators
Sign Up; Price Boost
Of 40 Cents Likely
By Robert K. Walsh

OOA1A1 41s AOWlo dk1O 4NOl
soft coal operators late yesterday
agreed on new contract terms that
will avert threatened strike,
boost the miners basic daily pay
by $1.90, and perhaps cause a
40 cents a ton price increase.
The agreement for a new one
year contract. effective October l
and affecting about 10000
gives the United Mine
Workers other broad concessions.
These include a 10-cent a ton
increase in the royalty which mine
operators pay into the miners
welfare fund. The present royalty
is 80 cents a ton.
Mr.. Lewis, as UNIV president,
and Harry Moses, head of the
Northern group known as the BIZ
luminous Coal Operators Associa-
ton, agreed on the new terms.
They made this announcement at
a joint news conference in Mr..
Lewis Office:
"The new contract provides for
an increase of $190 in the basic
daily rate for our miners, now
$l6.35; a 10-cent a ton increase
in the operators contribution to
the welfare fund, and other
changes in the old agreement
which will not increase costs.
1--WE are gratified to be able to
inform the American people that
they will have an uninterrupted
supply of bituminous coal this
fall and winter"
Expects Price Boost Soon.
Mr.. Moses and Mr.. Lewis did
not disclose the changes in various
miscellaneous items. They ex-
planned that these would not add
to costs or revise working hours.
Estimating that the pay and
royalty increases would cost the
operators almost 40 cents a ton.
Mr.. Moses indicated that the
price will go up soon.
I'VE feel we have an obligation
to apply for a price increase and
We probably WILL" he said.
He and Mr.. Lewis said they be-
lieve the Wage Sterilization Board
will approve the agreement. MIR.
Moses noted that coal now is SELL
ing below ceiling prices. He re-
called also that the industry has
taken the position that coal should
be decontrolled.
The 72-year-old. bushy -browed
president of the UNIV broke in
to comment: THE mine workers
agree that it should be decon-
trolled entirely"
Working Day Not Cut.
Outcome of the negotiations
was regarded as a major gain for
Mr.. Lewis. although he apparent
ly was not successful in a re-
ported demand for a reduction in
the present eight hour working
day. In January, 1851, the UNIV
got a $1.60 basic day rate in
crease.
Instead of going on strike to-
morrow, as had been threatened.
the miners employed by the
bituminous operators
will continue on the job. Mr.
Lewis, describing the agreement
as "a triumph in collective bar
gaining" announced that within
a few minutes after the settle
ment he telegraphed district Of
fees to see that work continue
without interruption.
Mr.. Moses estimated that the
$1.90 a day pay increase amounts
to a boost of about 80 cents an
hour for the miners. This means
that it was an increase of 11.6
per cent in wages, he told report
erS.
"Are you pleased with the
agreement" he was asked.
"We're satisfied with it or we
wouldn't have signed it," he said
with smile. Il didn't say
pleased"
Southern Group Not Covered.
Mr.. Lewis said he was satisfied
because obviously the settlement
is of tremendous Importance not
alone to the miners and the in
dustry but to the economy of the
Nation and to all the people," He
added that leach side made def
mite contributions to the agree
ment."
Earlier last week there were re-
ports that the UNIV originally had
been willing to settle on a $l.80
increase in the basic daily wage
but that Mr.. Lewis upped the de-
mand to about 81.
Southern soft coal operators
were not involved in yesterdays
agreement. That situation still
hangs fire. Mr.. Lewis said he was
willing to continue talks with the
Southern group at any time.