Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-06-08
Settlement Of Steel Strike TODAY
Or Tomorrow Expected as Result
Of Negotiations at White House
Agreement on Pay
Reached /, Issue
Is Union Shop
By. jones Y. Newton

Reports that a settlement OF
the Six-day-old steel strike may
be near trickled from the closely
guarded White House peace nego-
tiations last night.
There was some hope agreement
may be reached today in the Bit
ter six-month dispute over wages
and other issues. Negotiations
will be resumed at II am. today.
but it seemed more probable that
peace would, not return to the
strike-torn basic steel industry
until tomorrow.
Real progress toward accord on
new contract terms was being
made by the three-man teams OF
negotiators representing steel
management and the striking Go
United Steelworkers.
The translation of discussions Of
issues in dispute to firm contract
was dependent, however, on the
removal of several remaining obs
tacles. The biggest one was the
unions insistence on a union shop
under which all steel employees
would be compelled to join the
Steelworkers.
Understanding On Wages.
A tentative understanding it was
learned, has been reached on
wages and other money issues.
This calls for an increase to the
$4,000 workers of from 20 to %
cents an hour in wages and 'frin-
ges"-paid holidays. higher late
shift rates, notwithstanding
on the effective date of the con-
tract.
But the agreement on wages and
'fringes" is not firm. It will be-
come so If the union shop issue
and some comparatively minor de-
tails can be worked out to the
satisfaction of both union and
arrangements.
The negotiators, 1t was learned.
are talking about a two-year con-
tract which would provide for re-
opening on wages at the end of
the first year.
The wage increase of Is or 16
cents an hour would be average
rather than the Stepped-up ar
rangement proposed by the Fed
eral Wage Sterilization Board.
Pay-BOost Steps Approved.
WSB proposed an immediate
wage boost of 1914 cents an hour,
retroactive to last January and
two additional step-ups of 22
cents an hour payable July and
next January /. The whole WSB
package, including wages and
fringes would rise to 26 cents an
hour by next January.
But by making the immediate
wage increase larger and doing
away with the later step-upS. the
workers will get as much money
as they would in the WSB 20
cent package"
The steel companies are strong
~ opposed to the idea of granting
pay boosts in steps. They fear
the arrangement might become
customary in the industry.
In debating the hot union shop
issue the negotiators are discus
sing many types of union security
arrangements. These are COM
promises of the traditional,
straight union shop. They include
an arrangement which would
compel all new employees to join
the union but would exempt old
employees who may not want to
join.
Escape" Periods Provided.
Another plan would provide
escape" periods at the time of
expiration of contracts. In other
words, there would be periods
when a worker could freely with
draw from the union If he chose.
Still another plan would compel
all employees to pay union dues
whether they are members of the
union or not. This would do away
with "free riders"-workers who
share the benefits Of union action
but do not contribute to its sup
port.
The six negotiators held two
length meetings in the White
House Cabinet Room yesterday.
The last session ended at 6 pm.
Neither CIO President Philip
<-.., -, 81. ,