Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-01-04
valued the package at % to "a

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cents.
Kaiser's contract provides
for submission of the work.
rules issue to a study commit
tee. Recommendations of the
committee would not be bind
ing. The other companies in
sisted on binding arbitration
Of their demand for increased
authority to change local rules
governing such matters as
crew sizes and wash-up time.
But reports indicated the
companies yielded, settling for
study without binding recon-
mendations or rulings on work
rules. They maintain they need
a freer hand to change "obso-
lete" work rules which increase
their costs and damage their
competitive position.
Meetings In Nixon Home
Secretary Mitchell said the
Vice President held eight or 10
meetings with principals in the
dispute at his home. starting a
few days before Christmas,
and also met with heads of
the II companies in New York.
The dollars-and-cents recori4
mendation that formed the
basis for the settlement was
made last Thursday, Just be-
fore the Vice President flew to
California for the Rose Bowl
pageant, Mr.. Mitchell said.
Recommendations were spe-
cific. the Secretary said. re-
porting that I'VE talked dollars
and cents"
II doubt It," he replied when
asked whether the dispute
could have been settled sooner
If the Vice President had not
delayed Intervention. Leading
Democrats have criticized the
administration for declining to
take a firm hand in negotia-
tons.
Climax Began Yesterday
Climactic negotiations started
yesterday morning and con-
tinued through the night and
well into this morning. Mr..
Mitchell participated through
out. Mr.. Cooper and his team
bargained for management,
while Arthur ]. Goldberg. the
Steelworkers' general counsel,
represented the union. Mr.. Nc
Donald participated last night,
but not this morning. He APP
peared at the Sheraton-Carl-
ton at about Q am, some 40
minutes before the settlement
was announced at a press con-
ference by him, Mr.. Cooper and
Secretary Mitchell.
Steelworkers' earnings, in
Guiding incentives and premi-
UNI pay, average about 1910
per hour.
| The 1856 strike resulted IN
hourly wage increases totaling
3S.5 cents an hour over three
years. Steel prices were raised
by $3.50 per ton in 1856, So in
1857 and $3.50 in 1858, for a
total of $l9. The composite
price Of steel, taking into &C
count all the varieties, was
estimated last June at $3.50 per
ton.
Price Concept Challenged
The union and some members
of Congress challenge the in
dustry's claim that wage in
creases have forced steel prices
up. They contend profits are
large enough to absorb wage
increases without price boosts.
Senator Kefauver, Democrat
Of Tennessee, and other mem
bers Of Congress are expected
to keep close watch on the in
dustry's price policies. Steel
directly affects prices Of auto
mobiles and many other prod
ucts. The steel industry said it
was trying to hold the line
against the "wage-price spiral"
in behalf Of the whole economy.
Secretary Of Commerce Muel-
Ter said elimination of the
strike threat should make the
Nations economy bound for
ward to make 1860 the most
prosperous year in our history"
He predicted the gross national
product, the most compre-
hensive index of economic &C
tivity, will rise from its cur
rent rate Of about $3.50 billion
annually to the half-trillion-
doller mark by next summer.