Evening star., 1952-07-06
Each Side Is Waiting
For Other 10 Move
Next in Steel Strike
By the Assoeioied Press

ing CIO United SteelWorkers andl
the steel industry's Big Six played
hide and seek today-each watt
ing for the other to make the next
move In the 33-day economy-de
fenSe crippling strike.
Already nearly 1,025, 900 are idle
across the Nation. The figure
mounts daily as more plants close.
Layoffs in allied industries alone
total $4,000. Steelworkers alone
have lost more than $500 million
in wages.
The end is not in sight as un-
ion and industry VOW battle to
the finish. No new negotiations
are on the books even though both
sides say they're ready.
Murray to Speak Tomorrow.
A tipoff on what's ahead may
come from the union Monday.
Steelworker and CIO President
Philip Murray is addressing a huge
rally of his strikers at nearby
DuqueSne. a small midtown with
plants employing 5000 steel
workers.
Mr.. Murray asked C. F. Hood,
executive vice president of the
industry Bellwether United States
Steel, to debate strike issues at |
the rally. But Mr.. Hood refused,
stating:
II am sure it will not bring |
about any constructive results or
assist In bringing an early termi-
nation to this unfortunate strike"
During the week Steelworker |
chiefs in their divide and conquer
campaign huddled in secret with
several small steel companies and
signed an interim agreement with
Pittsburgh Steel Co.. a basic pro-
ducer with 10,500 workers.
Fight to Finish Indicated.
And the induStry'S big six
United States Steel, Bethlehem,
Republic, Jones & Laughlin,
Youngstown Sheet & Tube. and
1nland-also met behind closed
doors and decided they will not
back down in their fight against
the union shop.
This indicates a long drawn out
fight to the finish, so said Charles
M. White, head of Republic
Steel, in a telegram to Presiden-
tial Assistant John R. Steelman:
I'VE have fully explored the
possibility of reconciling the union
shop compulsory union member
ship with the CIO and we see no
possible compromise.
One top steel executive says
several smaller concerns joined the
battle against union demands.
Sharon PaD Steel, with 10000
employees, quickly said it agreed
with the big fellows.
Taft Law Charges Failed.
But the union is signing them,
too. So far some 33 smaller COM
panies have signed up, reducing
the number of idle steelworkerS
by $4,000. That still leaves 100000
jobless.
Developments on the steel front
produced more evidence that the
outlook for a settlement seems,
hopeless. Here are the weeks de-
velopments:
l. The steelworkers fled unfair
labor practice charges under the
Taft-Hartley law against the Big
Six. The union claimed refusal to
bargain in good faith.
2. The Government indicated
industry requests for price relief
will not be acted upon until after
the dispute is settled.
Truman Charges Conspiracy.
3 President Truman said use Of
the Hartley law to end the
strike is not in the books. He
charged industry's Big Six with
conspiracy to block a settlement.
4. The Petroleum Administra-
ton reported the steel shutdown
means a loss of 5000 tons a day
of oil country tabular goods, which
is equivalent of 3,400 wells a
month.
S. Output of military items
such as tanks, gun barrels. artil-
lery shells, trucks, jeeps and
landing gear dropped considerably.
6. Civilian production lacked 20
million cases of canned food for
want of tinplate.
7. The motor vehicle industry,
already hit extremely hard, ex-
poets additional setbacks next
week. 1t is possible 70 per cent
of the industry's car and truck
output will be halted.
8. Highway construction slowed
for lack of steel.
Modified in Contracts.
Crux of the fight is the unions
ultimatum for a union shop. Top
producers say mo-" The union
signed more than 80 smaller firms
under a modified plan-new en-
ployes join the union but may
withdraw between the goth and
Both day of employment.
Asked If the union would ac-
cept contracts with the top pro-
ducers if they agreed to the modi-
fed union shop, a union spokes-
man replied:
That's pretty obvious"
Day by day the steel strike
dents the steelworkers' pocket
books. Some 65-year-olds are
applying for old age pensions.
Thousands seek relief and still
others are taking different jobs.