Evening star., 1952-10-18
Waqe Board Cuts Miners Raise
To $3.50 by 8-to-4 Decision;
Lewis Strike Call Held Certain
10-Cent Increase
In Welfare Fund
Isn't Contested
By jones Y. Newton

Inc FeU6FdI wage 0tdUlIlAdGlOIl
Board today refused to approve
in full the new wage agreement
negotiated by John L. Lewis for
his 100000 soft-coal miners.
The decision was held. almost
certain to provoke a Nationwide
coal strike. Already nearly half
the bituminous miners have quit
work in protest against the Gov
ernment's delay in approving
their new wage boost.
The board ruled that only $3.50
of the $190 wage increase re-
Gently granted to the miners by
the coal operators could be ap-
proved under wage control regu-
lationS. The vote was TO 4,
with the labor members of the
panel dissenting. The majority
decision was made by the eight
public and industry members on
the board.
Welfare Boost Upheld.
At the same time the board
ruled that specific approval was
not necessary for the 10-cents-per-
ton increase won by Mr.. Lewis for
the United Mine Workers welfare
and retirement fund. The increase
raises the total of operator pay
ments into the fund from 80 to
40 cents per ton.
"The real issue before us in
this case is whether We shall now
abandon the fight against infla-
tion when inflationary pressures
have not subsided and the cost of
living continues to rise. Our deci-
sion is against such a step. This
conforms to the will of Congress,
which wrote into law a program
of economic stabilization. We be-
lieve it also conforms to the hon.
est desire of the American people
for effective anti-inflation con-
trolls"
Breakdown Of Grant.
OF the $1.50-per-day increase
which the board ruled the miners
should have, $1.05 was allowed TO
offset higher living costs incurred
since the miners got their last pay
increase in January, 1851.
An additional increase of IS
cents day was allowed, as the
board said. to maintain proper
wage relationships and prevent
hardships and inequities." The
board pointed out that in other
cases, including that of the steel
industry, wage rates have been
permitted to rise above a rigid
cost-of- living formula. The extra
As cents. Mr.. Cox said, was due
the miners in fairness" to them
The final board decision to clip
30 cents from the miners new
wage agreement came after the
public and industry members had
voted down the motion of labor
members to allow the full $1.9O
increase.
Explains Board Stand.
Referring to the boards deci-
sion to reduce the size of the in
crease granted the miners by the
operators, Mr.. Cox said:
"A wage sterilization program
which deliberately violated the
democratic principle of equality
would soon become intolerable. A
wage stabilization program under
which an excuse was found for
approving every increase requested
by powerful groups would be g
fraud"
Although the Nations coal
operators had asked the WSB tc
approve the full $1.90 per day
industry members of the boarc
refused to go along with them.
In brief statement, Millard E
Stone, chairman of the industry
members, said:
To have approved the increase
as required would for all practica,
purposes have meant the end oi
any semblance of wage stabiliza.
ton. To contend otherwise woule
be a fraud upon the American
public"
Speaks for Labor.
Joseph w. Childs. speaking TO
the labor members, said they be-
lieved that it was "the intent O.
Congress as explained by tn,
Sterilization Act the law shoul'
be applied in such a manner a
to assure maintenance of soun'
labor relations, including the col
lective bargaining process"
Mr.. Childs pointed out that tn
contract which the board mem
bers' majority refused to approv
had been freely bargained by tn
miners union and the coal opera
tors. He indicated that the board
decision might destroy collectiv
bargaining in the industry. H
contended that the full amour
of the wage increase was allow
able under board wage contrc
regulations.