AMERICAN COAL DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23976, 17 June 1943, Page 5

AMERICAN COAL DISPUTE

ANOTHER CRISIS EXPECTED FIVE DAYS OF TRUCE REMAIN (Rec. 12,30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 16. The tentative wage agreement be* tween Mr John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America, and the Pennsylvania coal mine opera, tors has fallen through, and with only five days of the strike truce remaining a new crisis appears certain. The dispute has now been referred to the War Labour Board. The official reason for the collapse of the negotiations has not been announced, but it is believed that the United Mine Workers have refused to release the operators from legal claim? for back payment of portal pay (payment for time spent travelling between the mine entrance and the face). The United Press says: "Ordinarily, predictions of another walk-out would be general, but uncertainty is introduced by the fact that a drastic antistrike bill is awaiting Mr Roosevelt’s signature. If the President signs the bill, as many Congressmen predict, Mr Lewis could be gaoled for a year or fined 5000 dollars, or both, for instigating a fresh miners’ strike.” '