AMERICAN MINERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN MINERS

ORDERED BACK TO WORK BY PRESIDENT PITS TO BE REOPENED. REPORTED RECOMMENDATION BY MEN'S LEADER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 4. Invoking his powers as the Com ma n der-in-Ch ief, President Roosevelt has ordered the 500,000 striking miners to return to work by next Monday on the wages previously applying and with minor concessions as offered by the War Labour Board. The Secretary of the Interior, Mr Ickes, has been directed to reopen the mines, and the order states that the dispute between the miners and the operators will be dealt with by the War Labour Board only after the men return to work.

A later message states that Mr John L. Lewi's, leader of the miners, has recommended the men to return to work on Monday.

Declaring that the strike was in defiance of the Government the President said: ‘T must remind the miners that they are working for the Government on essential war work, and that it is their duty no less than that of their sons and brothers in the armed forces to fulfil their war duties.” He did not specify how Mr Ickes was to reopen the mines, but he recalled that when he gave him control over the strike-bound mines he also gave him authority to obtain army protection. Earlier the President summoned representatives of the A.F.L., C. 1.0., and War Labour Board to a White House conference. In the meantime representatives of the operators and the U.M.W.A. resumed their joint wage conference, though both groups had been notified by the War Labour Board to obey its order not to negotiate on contract issues while production remained suspended. PRICE CONTROL PROPOSAL. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that A.F.L. and C. 1.0. representatives have asked Mr Roosevelt to establish a 2000 million dollars’ subsidy programme with the aim of rolling back prices to the level of May 15, 1942, the date on which the cost of living adjustments for labour are now based. The leaders of the two labour organisations, Messrs Green and Murray, said that they conferred with Mr Roosevelt, who seemed generally favourable toward theiq viewpoint. They submitted figures showing that food prices had risen 24 to 150 per cent since January, and they asked the President to instruct the Office of Price Administration to substitute action for talk in dealing with price control. The Governors of Tennessee and Alabama are preparing for the immediate induction of striking miners into the army after the local draft boards refused to induct any men till the Government took adequate steps to meet the strike.

The first closing down of an American war plant because of shortage of coal is reported. It is a Pittsburgh factory.

FINES & IMPRISONMENT

FCR PERSONS AIDING STRIKES.

BILL PASSED BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, June 4

The United States House of Representatives, by 231 votes to 141, passed a compromise on the Anti-Strike Bill which would permit the War Labour Board to subpoeana Mr J. L. Lewis and possibly make him liable to a 5,000 dollar fine, or imprisonment. The Bill, which is now returned to the Senate, would give the board statutory powers, including authority to enforce the appearance of witnesses. It provides for a 5,000 dollar fine and one year’s imprisonment for all persons aiding an operational interruption in war plants or mines which the Government has seized. It also provides for 30 days’ notice, a secret ballot and the registration of labour union leaders before a strike can be called.

Mr Lewis stated that he expected the Policy Committee of the Mine Workers’ Association to recommend the miners to return to work on Monday.