Evening star., 1952-05-05

industry.
A two-day attempt by the
steel management and the CIO
agreement was ended late yes
terday. John r. Steelman, the
assistant to the President, said the
parties were so far apart" that
further efforts to win agreement
were useless at this time.
Both union and management
SpokeSmen indicated privately the
wage freeze imposed late Satur-
day by the Supreme Court played
an important role in the break
down of negotiations.
The high court agreed to review
District Court ruling that the
April 8 seizure of the steel mills
was unconstitutional. But the
court forbade President Truman
from raising steel workers wages
meantime. The decision against
seizure was given by Judge David
A. Pine
The President, before the Su-
preme Court ruling. said he would
raise wages probably today. The
Government was using the threat
as a club to force concessions in
the White House contract bar
gaining.
After the breakoff of the talks
by Mr.. Steelman, CIO President
Philip Murray, the principal union
negotiator, said the industry was
on strike against collective bar
gaining" Mr.. Murray, however,
instructed the steel workers to
keep on working for the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Murray and five union
aides had been talking with top
officials of the six biggest steel
companies at the White House
since Saturday morning.
Hope for Early Ruling.
The Supreme Court will hear
argument on Judge Pines ruling
next Monday. The Government
was hopeful for an early ruling,
possibly by May II.
Publicly both sides refused to
say just what part the high courts
wage freeze may have played on
the breakdown of contract talks.
But privately an industry at
torney said the industry wished
the Supreme Court to rule on the
legality of seizure. If the issues
leading to seizure had been set
tied it would not have been likely
that the court would have passed
on the big issue. The court prob
ably would have held the case
moot" and that would have
ended it.
Union sources said there was a
marked change in the attitude of
industry leaders after they re-
ceived word late Saturday of the
high courts action.
During the two days of White
House conference there was no
marked change in the position of
either the industry people or the
union,
The companies did not improve
their settlement offer made just
before seizure. This called for a |
wage increase of 121a cents an
hour plus five cents in other bene-
fits.
Neither did Mr.. Murray retreat
from his position that manage
ment must grant the full settle
ment package" proposed by the
Federal Wage Sterilization Board.
This includes 26 cents an hour in
wages and other benefits over an
18-month contract period. The
board also proposed a union shop.
Two Bars TO Agreement.
In the White House bargain
ing the two big bars to agree
ment were the Union shop and
time-and-a-q quarter pay for Sum-
day work starting next January l.
The industry objects violently
to granting the union shop under
Government order. Under this
provision all employees are forced
to join the union.
The industry fears the SEEM
ingly small premium pay proposal
would give the union a foot in
the door" which could be ex-
panded in future contracts. On
the principle that steel-making
is a continuous. seven-day a week
proposition. the Industry does not
pay overtime for Saturday and
Sunday work, as such.
Persons inside the White House
conferences said the sessions Sat-
urday morning and in the early
afternoon were quite friendly. The
parties seemed to be making some
progress toward agreement.
Saturday afternoon Mr.. Murray
and Benjamin F. FairleSs met
apart from the main group of
negotiators to work out bargain
ing procedure.
They decided to reduce the con-
ference to three representatives
from each side. Management Sc
lected Admiral Ben Moreell, chair
man of Jones & Laughlin; A. B.
IT, \A/>~LL>.