MINES IDLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1941, Page 5

MINES IDLE

IN APPALACHIAN FIELD FAILURE OF AMERICAN NEGOTIATIONS. C. 1.0. LEADER'S CHARGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, November 16. Mr J. L. Lewis, the miners’ leader, announced that the negotiations for a settlement of the Appalachian mine dispute had terminated without agreement. As a result 53,000 miners in coalpits owned by the major steel companies will apparently remain idle tomorrow despite Mr Roosevelt’s urgent requests that there should be no interruption in production. Mr Lewis said the position of the steel executive was that they would only make an agreement on the 'basis of no compulsory unionism. The position of the United Mine Workers was that the steel executive should accept the Appalachian agreement according to the rule of the industry. Both parties will report separately to the President tomorrow.

The executive board of the C. 1.0. unanimously voted unqualified support of the United Mine Workers in | their effort to obtain compulsory I unionism in the Appalachian coalmines. The resolution declared that the steel companies attitude was “unAmerican and not conducive to the best interests of the defence programme.” In his report prepared for the opening of the C. 1.0. convention tomorrow, the president, Mr Philip Murray, asserted: “Hitlerism must be destroyed and the C. 1.0. offers its complete support to President Roosevelt’s policy of furnishing all possible economic and material aid to Britain, Russia and China.” The report added that the defence programme was being sabotaged by those who purported to further it through the- destruction of the basic rights of labour. NEXT STEP GOVERNMENT SEIZURE OF MINES. LONDON, November 17. Following on the failure to settle the coal mine dispute in America, steps are now being taken to secure the necessary authority for Government seizure of the mines, which will continue to operate under the same conditions as before. ACTION BY CONGRESS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN SHORTLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) WASHINGTON, November 17. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Rayburn, said today the House would be given an opportunity to pass defence strike legislation at the earliest possible date consistent with its proper consideration. The Acting-Chairman, Mr Cox, said the House Rules Committee may “put the lid on” all other legislation until Congress has had an opportunity to act on Bills dealing with this mutiny and insurrection in the ranks of Labour. UNION STANDPOINT STATED BY MR LEWIS. CLOSED SHOP ONLY ISSUE IN DISPUTE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day. 10.15 a.mJ WASHINGTON, November 17. Mr J. L. Lewis sent a letter to President Roosevelt stating that the United Mine Workers’ Association refused to accept an open shop agreement with the coal mines supplying the steel industry because it would invalidate other agreements operating throughout the soft coal mining industry. Mr Lewis said the union executives had no authority to execute an open shop agreement, thereby destroying assets of the membership represented by existing collective bargaining agreements. Mr Lewis did not-call at the White House, as requested by President Roosevelt. Mr Lewis told the Policy Committee that he blamed the impasse on to Mr Eugene Grace, the President of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, who was the only intransigeant, and declared that some day the union shop would be achieved, but that this would not come until industrialists and Congressmen “understand that the Army is not going to shoot our people and that soldiers are not going to mine coal. Editors,” he added, “should note, that the close shop is the sole issue in dispute.”