Toward Settlement

One of the longest industry-wide walkouts in U.S. history, the eight-month-old copper strike, has already drained well over $200 million from the nation's balance of payments and brought hardships resembling Depression-era days to families of 60,000 copper workers. Last week came the first big break in the dispute. Two of the four major copper companies, Kennecott Copper Corp. and Phelps Dodge Corp., reached tentative agreements with their unions. The strike-leading United Steelworkers of America went on to ratify the Phelps Dodge offer.

Subject to further union ratification, the agreements cover some 10,000 workers of Kennecott and 4,400 of

Phelps Dodge. The 40-month contracts would hike hourly wages by 540 v. the original union demand for 990. With fringe benefits, the increases would amount to $1.07 and $1.13 at Kennecott and Phelps Dodge respectively, according to the companies.

"The national interest requires that the parties, with the assistance I am providing, agree to contract terms which will end the strike," said President Johnson when he invited union and company representatives to start nonstop talks at the White House on March 4.

New Commerce Secretary C. R. Smith, along with Labor Secretary Willard Wirtz, met with negotiators to urge them on. As supplies dried up, users of copper have been forced to turn to foreign markets and pay inflated prices, almost double the prestrike domestic price of 380 a Ib. Thus far the 26 unions' key demand has been for company-wide bargaining, which is vigorously opposed by the industry.

There was bare hope for an immediate return to work at Kennecott and Phelps Dodge, and only part of each producer's operation is covered by the agreements, with additional settlements still to be worked out. But following their lead, American Smelting & Refining Co., a third major copper producer, seemed to be making progress toward a settlement.

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