STRIKE ENDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 24 November 1941, Page 6

STRIKE ENDS

AMERICAN MINERS “CLOSED SHOP” ISSUE ARBITRATION ACCEPTED (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 24, 10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. The United Mine Workers’ Association Policy Committee dramatically called off the coal strike and voted unanimously accepting President Roosevelt’s suggestion for arbitration of the “closed shop” issue in the captive mines. The concurrence of Mr. John L. Lewis, president of the Association, reversed his stand on Wednesday. “We accept in the public interest,” Mr. Lewis wrote to the President, i Mr. Lewis told the press that the United Mine Workers’ Association had accepted the President’s suggestion fully., and without qualification. ■The decision of the Arbitration Board which President Roosevelt designated will be binding on both the owners and miners. The board comprises the president of the United States Steel Company, Mr. Benjamin Fairlees, Mr. John Lewis and the Director’of the United States Conciliation Service, Dr. John Steelman. Within minutes after the arbitration agreement was announced, back-to-work telegrams and telephone calls flashed from the headquarters of the United Mine Workers’ Association. Within an hour the pickets had left some of the mineheads. Full Blast by Monday In Pittsburgh miners started down into the mines' on the night shift and virtually full operation appeared probable on Sunday, with full-blast mining assured on Monday. Mr. Lewis said that with the miners returning to work and the controversy well on the road to a just settlement, the coal supply was assured until April 1, 1943 when tne present contract terminates. Congressional leaders were cheered at the news but a number stressed that the end of the strike will not deter the enactment of legislative labour control.

On Friday fear of additional gun battles on the coal strike front prompted the: Pennsylvania sheriff to ask the State Governor for State police to maintain order in Pittsburgh. A total of 130,000 commercial miners were out in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, and Ohio, as well as 53,000 captive miners.

On Saturday it. was stated that the new £15,000,000 Irvin works of the Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation would close within 48 hours as a result of a. shortage of fuel caused by the coal strike. The plant is one of the largest producers of sheet tinplate and employs 4,400. Appeal to Colliery Owners

Mr. Davis;'chairman of the‘Defence Mediation Board telegraphed to the owners of the cbmrriercial soft coal mines asking whether they are willing to freeze “union shop” conditions in their pit for the duration of the emergency. It was sent at the request of President Roosevelt who suggested the step'to counter Mr. John L. Lewis’ contention that commercial operators might seek an “open shop” contract if he entered into such an agreement with the captive mine owners. "A Pittsburgh message states that 3,000 employees of the Columbia Steel Company working on £1,250,000 worth of defence contracts struck oh Friday and demanded a wage scab; equal to that of the San Francisco plants. Y ....... .....The Senate' Judiciary Committee began the hearing on a.'bill introduced by Senator T. Connally empowering. the Government to seize defence,.,industries that are closed by strikes. The bill would freeze working conditions for the duration of the emergency. Giving evidence, the Under-Secrb-tary of the Navy, Mr. J. V. Forrestal, said:' ,l We do not regard this bill as aimed at either capital or labour. The Navy Department approves the measure to ensure vital defence production:”’ Move to Prevent Strike T . j Negotiations between Labour leaders and officials for averting tpe threatened strike reached a deadlock when the latter declined to'■’consider any proposals ■ except those recommended by the emergency board; The belief persists that a settlement will be reached before December 7, the date fixed for the strike.

- Following a plea from President Roosevelt that the strike be averted, railway executives and union representatives agreed to resume negotiations which broke down the previous night. ■ ■ The convention of the Congress of Industrial Organisations at Detroit p'assed a resolution calling on President Roosevelt to direct that training military for strike-breaking be immediately stopped. Such training, the resolution stated, was contrary to the intent and letter of the Selective Service Act and a breach of faith with Labour.

The convention re-elected Mr. Philip Murray as president. Mr. Murray offered President Roosevelt the C.1.0.’s “full resources” of 5,000,000 members in exchange for greater Labour participation in the defence programme.

Mr. Murray alleged that Federal defence agencies are virtually infested with corporation executives acting on the inside of the Government to get fat, juicy and profitable contracts for their own companies, thus sabotaging national defence efforts.

Mr. Murray called on President Roosevelt to give Labour a better and more wholesome chance to join him in the conduct of great defence enterprises.

The convention earlier urged employers to accept the “closed shop" in the interests of industrial harmony, and approved of a resolution alleging that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is a potential Gestapo and protesting at the use of G-men to “oppress and harass Labour elements.”