Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-01-04

settlement. unless both the
1nion and the companies re-
luested such Intervention. Man.
2gement refused to ask for rec
concentrations. But then the
Vice President, presumably with
the Presidents approval, did
recommend terms Of a settle
ment.
Companies Add to Pay Offer
The companies had said re-
peatedly they could not give
the workers more than they
offered in November-about 80
cents per man-hour during a
three-year contract, according
to their NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
initiating production costs and
presumably prices.
Today's agreement gives The
workers a bigger package than
that, however.
InformantS said the S9-cent
package includes two annual
general wage increases Of 7
cents per hour. Increments be-
tween claSSiflcations of workers
would give those higher on the
scale bigger wage boosts.
Details of the compromise on
coSt-of-living allowances were
not disclosed. But the agree
ment settles this issue, making
1t unnecessary for the union
to press in the courts its de-
mands for payment Of a Accent
adjustment due January / I'M
der the old contract.
Full Cost Of Insurance
The companies also agreed
to pay full costs Of some in
surance programs. The workers
have been paying half.
Union sources said the settle
ment was in line with the
Kaiser Steel Corps earlier
agreement. prorated for differ
ing lengths Of the contracts.
These sources also said the
companies gave up completely
on the work rules issue-agree-
ing to submit their demands to
a study committee with no
guarantee that the union will
accept the committees recon-
mendations. Study has been
the unions proposal right
along.
Although the companies had
placed great emphasis on work
rules, these sources said. lit
was no issue at all right at the
wire" That is. everything fell
in line once agreement was
reached on dollars-and-cents
issues.
voluntary" Key Word
Roger M. Blough, board
chairman of the United States
Steel Corp, had promised not
to raise the general level of
steel prices If the Government
let the industry work out a
voluntary" settlement with
the union. He implied that all
bets would be of on prices If
the Government imposed a
settlement.
Mrfl Blough, the industry'V
top man. participated In meet
ings at Mr.. Nixon's home, but
was not present during final
negotiations. The Vice Presi-
dent stayed out Of the final
bargaining session, letting Mr..
Mitchell clinch the agreement.
Secretary Mitchell took pains
to say that the Vice Presidents
recommendation was accepted
voluntarily" But the COM
panies may raise a question as
to whether the settlement was
completely voluntary.
Compromise Seen
Mr.. Cooper said: The rec
commended settlement which we
have accepted represents a
compromise which goes beyond
what the companies had previ-
ously offered. But 1t is clear
that in light of all of the cir
cumstances at hand. the best
course Of action was for the
companies to accept the rec
commended settlement"
Threat Included
There was little doubt that
the circumstances" included
an administration threat Of
tough legislation. In addition.
there was the fact that the
Vice President could have made
his recommendations public if
either side refused to accept.
relying on public opinion to
exert pressure for a settlement.
Naturally we are relieved
that this controversy is over
and that the Nation wide fear
Of another steel strike on jan
uary 26 has been removed, "
Mr.. Cooper said. while we
have not attained our full OBJ
jectives. progress has been
made on many of the issues in
volved in this dispute" he
added.
Steelworkers had been sched-
uleG to vote next Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday on
the industry's November offer.
There was little doubt that the
workers would reject this Of
fer, but both sides were cleo
tioneering to make a good
showing.
Neither side was disposed to
make major concessions before
the vote, but Mr.. Nixon and
Mr.. Mitchell apparently con-
WINGED the companies that they