Document ym6r9mLybqVYGq5j0ZLQzB20d

LIA21757 iEL. LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION Grayber Bo&img, 420 Lexington Avenue J *3 N*wYori,N.Y. December 23, 1933. To Veabers of tha Beal Industries Association! At the public hearing of our Cole, pre.rtica.lijr no opposition developed except to the labor clauses. Thors was one representative present of the Inter national Mine, Kill A Shelter *orkir Onion retained by the labor Advisory Board, whs salt certain objections to our Code, namely, to rates of pay and maximum hours, anl tri.'ugn'i up, for the Mining Division, the controversial question as to whether working time was at the face or begun at the collar of the shaft. The objections expressed by the labor Advisor of the {.HI. were directed at the averaging clause, at the minimum rates of pay, and at tbs aaxisaa hours of work. Me feel that It ia necessary that at a subsequent conference, which will probably take place the 3rd or 4th of January, cur Bombers be prepared to show to `shat extent they have already made use of the averaging clause, (in all Divisions) to what classes of labor the averaging clause Is aost necessary to thecs, what their minima rates of pay are in the case of the Mining Division for both underground labor and for surface labor, with the number of employees who are in receipt of these average minimum rates. In ths '-tiring Division, most of the discussion was directed at underground work find it was asvmed by the labor Advisor that our minimum adght be applied to underground vork. It may be helpful to us Vo provide sepalate minimoms for underground and surface labor. ' In regard to naxisun hour* there was a disposition on the part of the labor Advisor to favor plants which had been running longer hours before the adoption 'of the President's Modified He-icployment Agreement by the industry, over those whose ; sen had already been working at less than maximum. In other words, the labor Advisor would/probably be willing to recommend 40 hours for the manufacturing division,, but would be Inclined to insist on 36 hours for the Mining and Smelting Divisions, tak ing no account of the fact that the sen in these Divisions had already code large : sacrifices in order to share the vork with their fellows. A comparison was made In tne '.lining Division of wages paid in the coal and oil Industry and the labor advisor ' asked that the minimum wngo be something like 60d Instead of 351 as proposed in the Code. In the case of the Mining Division, if there are any local coal nines In your ! district, you suit ascertain the facts as to the amount of wages which they hacre paid for underground and surface workers, and llketrise the extent td'whlch those workers havs been employed. T should also be prepared to furnish facr d as to the existing . wage scales and as to what the wage scales were before operations wsrt begun under J ths President's Se-Srployment Agreement. Some of these data ere already In our possession. In order that the mattor nay be fully discussed by the Industry before the hearing. It Is aost important that a large representation of our members aeet, either In lashlcgton or.Bsv York. the day before the date set for the next conference 'y IJ ' "' .--Vf ! -3- .-***** * *<&<*&*+> '- :>>* LI A21758 So data hat been tet except that It will not be before the latter part of tha first week la January. We will adrleo you by telegram a* toon as the exact data la (at, and hope wo can count on your attendance at the preliminary meet In; aa wall a* your pretence at tha conference, to rubetantlate our position with fact*, and to meet any facta which may ha pretented by tha labor Heitor. Is our Judgnent, the Adalnietmio;\ la finally deciding be*woen our poaltlon and that of tha labor representative, suet be governed by the facts presented by both aides. Jl labor questionnaire for your use Is attached. Pleats return it promptly with the da tired Information. Beepectfully ytrare. $crtu7 / t .