Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-03
Miners Get Pay Increase
From Bituminous Group

CINCINNATI, Oct. 3 R.-
Vice President Thomas Kennedy
of the United Mine Workers Of
America announced today that
the union and the Bituminous
Coal Operators Association have
reached a tentative agreement
on new one-year contract call
ing for a package" pay in
crease amounting to $2.40 a day.
Mr.. Kennedy made the an
nouncement at the AID consti-
tutional convention of the mine
workers union.
The agreement must be rati-
fed by the convention and by
the BCOA, whose directors are
to meet today in Pittsburgh.
The contract with the BCOA
covers about two-thirds of the
coal industry. To become ma
tionwide it would have to be
signed by the Southern Coal
Operators Association and
other smaller unaffiliated oper-
ator groups.
The contract will be retro
active to last Monday and will
bring the basic pay for miners
up to $22.25 a day.
Heated Discussion Seen
Meanwhile, delegates to the
convention planned to discuss
today the annual report of the
unions officers.
And reports indicate the dis
cussion may be heated over at
least one issue" unauthorized"
work stoppages which prompted
the union to warn of possible
discipline" and fines.
The officers presented their
report to more than 5000 dele
of the convention. John L. Lewis,
of the meeting. John l.. Lewis,
long time UNIV chief. keynoted
the opening session with renewed
attacks on the Tennessee Valley
Authority and the Taft-Hartley
law.
No Presidential Choice
The opening days sessions
brought no word as to preference
between President Eisenhower
and Adlai Stevenson in the
presidential campaign.
Although Mr.. Lewis has said
he probably will vote for Mr..
Stevenson as a patriotic duty"
because he couldn't support
Eisenhower, he made no mem
ton of either in his conventions
opening speech.
The officers report itself criti-
cized both the Democratic and
Republican Parties, but seemed
to hit hardest at the G. o. P.
"There is still no place within
its ranks for the working men
and women of America" the
report said.
1t also declared President
Eisenhower is responsible di-
rectly for the deeds. misdeeds
and lack of deeds in his Repub-
lican administration"
big Business" Influence
"He can no longer bask in
the plaudits of the populace as
a war hero" it said. His do
nestle policy was consistent in
only one direction. 1t was and
had to be controlled by and for
big business"
The report predicted that coal
production in the United States
might reach billion tons by
1875.
In his speech, Mr.. Lewis, who
has headed the Miners Union
for SO years, said the Taft-Hart-
ley Law is a hateful act" which
"can be used in any period of
depreSsion--if the organized en-
ployers of the country elect to
do so--eompletely destroy a la
Dor organization.
He said the law sis used
against the UNIV from time toI
time. not by major operators
under agreement with the I'M
ion. but by those operators on
the perimeter Of our contracts.
who find it cheaper to sue the
union for damages which are
tripled under provision of the
hateful act"
Wants Firmer Stand
The union chief said he thinks
1t unfortunate that the Amer
lean labor movement has not
taken a more firm stand against
this un-American statute"
Mr.. Lewis said he thinks the
IVA is "un-American and anti
social and that it gets around
the minimum wage law
up to this time. this agency
(the TVA) has not been told,
either by the Congress or the
Chief Executive, to follow the
proclaimed policy of the United
States and buy coal from mines
that pay industry wages and