Evening star., 1959-12-24
Steel Men Ask
Courtfor Raise
. Union Seeks Boost
To Offset Prices

PITTSBURGH, Dec. "a (AP) .
The United Steelworkers Un-
ion went into court today with
a claim its members in the
basic steel industry are entitled
to a Accent hourly coSt-of-living
pay increase.
Union attorneys filed pc
tition in United States District
Court asking that the pay in
crement become effective on
January l.
At the same time the union
requested that benefits under
any new contract finally negoti-
ated be made retroactive to
| November 7. That's when 500.-
900 steelworkers ended a 49,
day strike and returned to work
under a Taft-Hartley Act in
| junction.
The 80-day injunction, is
sued by United States District
Court Judge Herbert P. Sorg
specified that work was to be
resumed under the terms and
conditions Of all agreements in
effect last June 30"
Disputed by Industry
The old contracts with stee,
companies contained provision!
for a cost-of-living pay ad-
justment January l based or
the Labor Departments con-
sumer price index for Novem'
ber.
The union contended tha'
the cost-of living clauses re-
main in effect during the in
junction period, and steel
workers should get a 4-cen
raise based on the higher prict
index.
Judge John L. Miller signed
an order setting a hearing TO
January 4 at 10 am. befor,
Judge Sorg.
The steel industry has dis
puted the union contention
about cost-of- living and retro
activity. When Judge SorI
issued the injunction, he re
served decision on both theS
matters.
Union and industry negotia
tors met with Federal mediator
in Washington yesterday in
continuation of attempts t,
7 reach agreement on a new con
tract. MediatorS reported n
progress and recessed the talk
to Sunday when company-by
company rather than industry
wide talks are scheduled to ge
under way throughout the Ma
, ton.
Federal officials briefed Pres
, ident Eisenhower yesterday o.
, steel development during his 19
day goodwill tour overseas.
The White House made n
announcement as to whethe
the President plans any fur
: ther action to break the stee
statement.
The 80-day Taft-Hartley pc
riod expires January 26. If n
-. new contract is agreed upol
by that time, the union woul
be free to strike again.
Member Backing Seen
! Under the Taft-Hartley Ac
the National Labor Relation
Board is required to conduct
: secret vote among union mem
bers on management's late!
proposal. The results of tn
balloting are merely advisor
and do not mean mandatol
acceptance of management
proposal.
The NLRB said it will cor
duct the vote on January ILL
Industry calculates its last O.
fer would give workers 80 cen
an hour more in wages ar
fringe benefits over three yeal
Union President David
Mcdonald said yesterday Il
unions own secret ballot amor
some of it's members indicat
the workers will vote heavi
to reject the industry offt
Meanwhile, Judge Sorg rult
last night that workers will n
have to work Christmas Day
United States SteelS Irv
Works near Pittsburgh. T.
company had scheduled 6
i men for work Christmas, b
Local 1927 appealed on groun
: the schedule violated the Tai
, Hartley injunction.
! The union said no producti
3 work had been done at t
T. plant the last nine years
- Christmas Day, a