Evening star., 1959-12-30
Chief Mediator
GivesUpSteet
Peace Efforts
Coils Both Sides
Adumunt as They
Prepare for Vote
By LEE NJ. COIN
Star stan Writer

Star Stan Writer
The chief Federal mediator
today abandoned steel peace
efforts as hopeless because la
bor and management are
"adamant."
Joseph F. Finnegan, director
of the Federal Mediation and
Cancellation Service, announced
that he plans no more media
ton sessions, at least for the
time being. He said he will con-
tact both sides next week to eX-
plore the possibility of resum-
ing mediation.
1t was understood, however,
that active mediation is un-
likely until alter steel workers
vote January 11-13 on their
employers last offers" of set
tlement terms.
THE publicly-stated ada
mant positions of the parties
which obviously stem from their
preoccupation with influencing
the outcome of the employees
vote on the last offer of the
companies-precluded the pos
sibility of any progress ensuing
from Joint meetings at this
time" Mr.. Finnegan said in a |
formal statement.
ElectiOneering Pushed
Mr.. Finnegan thus took for
NAL notice of the fact that
union and management nego-
tiatorS have given up hope for
reaching agreement any time
soon. and are concentrating
on electioneering among the
workers who threaten to strike
the industry late next month.
Chances for an early settle
ment of the steel dispute prac-
tically vanished in the smoke
of charges and countercharges
by union and management
leaders.
Despite the apparent hope
lessness of the deadlock, Mr..
Finnegan had considered re-
newal of his mediation efforts.
There is widespread feeling in
the administration that the
public wants the Government
to do something" to avert a
new steel strike.
Stalled Till Workers Vote
Barring a dramatic move by
President Eisenhower, the steel
dispute is expected to remain
stalled on dead center at least
until after the workers vote.
A board of inquiry will re-
port on the dispute to Presi-
dent Eisenhower by January 6.
DR.. George w. Taylor, chair
man of the three-man board,
yesterday reiterated with en-
phasis his opinion that the
deadlock is hopeless. Instead of
trying to mediate, he said. the
board will limit its work to
preparing the report to the
President.
Neither Side BudgeS
DR.. Taylor's board concluded
public hearings yesterday after
listening to management's de-
fense of it's settlement proposals
and attacks on the union for
demanding "infiationary" con-
tract terms. r. Conrad Cooper,
management's chief negotiator.
again rejected proposals for
submission of the issues to out
siderS who would recommend
terms of a settlement.
Neither side budged, and both
made it clear they were ready
to submit to a vote by more
than 100000 members Of the
United SteelworkerS of America.
The workers are on the job
under a Taft-Hartley Act in
junction which halted their
116-day strike November Z.
The 80-day injunction will ex-
pire January 26. Unless there
is a settlement in the mean
time. the workers will be free
to resume their strike then. But
first they must vote under
auspices of the National Labor
Relations Board on the last
offers" of their employers.
Almost no one expects the
workers to vote to accept these
offers against the advice of
union leaders. But the union
and the companies are eager
to make a good showing in the
balloting. Overwhelming re-
lection of management's terms
would bolster the bargaining
power of union negotiators. A
See STEEL, Page AS