Nation-wide Steel Strike In U.S.A.

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1949, Page 5

Nation-wide Steel Strike In U.S.A.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1. A nation-wide steel strike began today a minute after midniglit when the C.I.O. ' United Steelworkers' Union ordered 528,000 nienibei's out. Ihe strike was deelared after union negotiators ended a fruitless eonference with Federal mediators over an insuranee and pension dispute with the companies. President Truman had arranged truces in the dispute three times. j Throughout yesterday Government mediators sought the basis of a iasi minute agreeinent but last hopes faded when it was announced that President Truman would not intervene again. j The strike is the first national stoppage in steel since the 30-day walkout that paralvsed the industry early in 1916. The calling" of the strike today meant the automatic reinstatement of the union 's full original demands for a fourth increase of 12J cents hourlv and pension fund benefits that would bring the total increase paid by steel companies to 30 cents hourlv. The union, as negotiations progressed, dropped its wage demand on condition that the industry .complied with the Presidential faet-finding board's- recommendations that companies provide ten eents bourly for pensions and social insuranee with no contribution by the employees. The companies offered to contribute ten eents hourly provided employees also contributed an amount to be negotiated.