DEADLOCK IN COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 190, 8 May 1943, Page 5

DEADLOCK IN COAL DISPUTE

Workers’ Attitude

(Received May 7, 10.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 7. When the War Labour Board began the hearings of the coal dispute, representatives of the mineowners attended, but the United Mineworkers’ Association ignored the board’s invitation to appear. Mr. Lewis has alleged that the board is prejudiced against the miners. The “New York Times” says the conflict between the miners and the Administration has become a war of nerves. Mr. Lewis is maintaining silence at. union headquarters. Mr. Harold Ickes is likewise making no move to facilitate an agreement, as the union apparently, expected the union, leaders to have intimated that if an agreement was not reached during the 15 flays’ truce tna mines would come to a standstill a&am ou May 18. , , The union spokesman emphasized today that the union would refuse to recognize any findings of the War Labour Board. Meanwhile, the union and tne owners are continuing negotiations in New York.

ANTI-STRIKE BILL

WASHINGTON, May 6. The Senate has adopted the anti-strike Bill, making it a criminal offence to instigate a strike in war plants taken over by the Government. The Bill, which has been sent to the House of Representatives, gives Congressional sanction for the Government seizure and operation of strike-bound factories and establishes the War Labour Board’s statutory power to settle disputes. The present board operates under a Presidential order, and factories are seized under Mr. Roosevelt’s executive war powers. The “New York Herald Tribunes Washington correspondent points out that the Bill has been lying on the legislative shelf for months, and has been taken down as the direct result of the coal strike.