Letter from President Harry S. Truman to Philip Murray

407-15 FILED BY Stul thake MR. HOPKINS JAN A 1952 December 31, 1953 Dear Phil: I want to commend you and the officers of the Steelworkers' Union for your decision to continue work beyond the expiration of *1015 your contracts with the steel industry on December thirty-first. The decision to keep the steel plants of the Nation in full production until a special convention of the Union could be held was a good and patriotic step. 1 I am sure the American people applaud you for that decision. They will likewise heartily approve your motives in bringing before a special convention of rank-and- file delegates an issue of such crucial importance to them and to their country. I understand that the convention will consider and act upon your Government's request to stay at work while the labor dispute in the steel industry is before the wage Stabilization Board, I realize that a decision to continue work despite the expiration of a contract is a major decision -- not one to be lightly undertaken. Nevertheless, I believe the national interest requires such a decision by your Union at the present time. The Nation simply cannot afford a stoppage in steel production, even a stoppage x342 of limited duration. The demands for steel are too pressing. The mobilization program has lost none of its urgency. Losses in steel production would have an immediate and crippling effect on mobili- zation schedules. Under these pressing circumstances, the clear obligation of the Steelworkers' Union is to stay at work to maintain full pro- duction while their dispute with the steel industry is before the Wage Stabilization Board. The obligation of the steel companies is to maintain normal work and production schedules and to lay the full facts in the case before the Board. The obligation of both parties is to maintain the status quo under their collective bargaining agreements while the case is before the Board. The machinery of the Wage Stabilization Board offers a practical substitute for a test of economic strength. The Board is made up of representatives of labor, management, and the public. The Board will give the parties to the dispute the opportunity to present facts and arguments relevant to the dispute. It will con-