COAL STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1943, Page 3

COAL STRIKE

IN THE UNITED STATES CASE REFERRED TO PRESIDENT FOR ACTION. SERIOUS POSITION OF STEEL INDUSTRY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 2. President Roosevelt has summoned the War Labour Board and the Secretary of the Interior, Mr Ickes, to the White Elouse for a conference on the coal crisis, states a Washington message.

The War Labour Board has ordered the cessation of the current negotiations between the United Mine Workers’ Association and the operators till the miners return to work in compliance with the board’s direction. The board notified Mr J. L. Lewis- and the operators’ representatives that it would not consider or approve any agreement reached while the workers were on strike. The board referred the case to President Roosevelt for such action as he deems appropriate. Washington sources suggest that the Government may take one of two steps —use troops to work the mines or seize the property of the U.M.W.A. and impound its funds. This would prevent the striking miners receiving strike pay from the union.

Mr Ickes stated that there was enough coal above ground to last for 41 days, but the owners of steel mills declared they would feel the effects of the strike within 10 days. Dim-out restrictions and the curtailment of train travel are expected if the strike is prolonged. Meanwhile the stoppage continues in practically all the soft and hard coal mines.

WAR LABOUR BOARD ATTACKED BY J. L. LEWIS. ALLEGATIONS OF MALICIOUS INTERFERENCE. LONDON, June 3. There is still no settlement in the American coal dispute, which is affecting 500,000 miners and is the greatest in American history. The chairman of the Wai’ Production Board. Mr Nelson, says that the steel output for war factories will drop sharply toward the weekend if the stoppage continues. A correspondent of the 8.8. C. says that the President spent two hours with Judge Byrnes, Director of the Office of War Mobilisation. Mr Ickes, and the War Labour Board. Mr J. L. Lewis has issued a statement alleging that the board was malicious and interfering in ordering the cessation of negotiations. An Anti-Strike Bill at present before the House of Representatives would give the board statutory power to make strikes illegal without 30 days’ notice and illegal in any case in industries controlled by the State.