The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-06-03
TRUCE DECLARED
Work on Schools 2 and 20
Hats Pending Settle
Illent Of Trouble.
BUILDINGS HlY BE PROTECTED
Business Agent Westlake $
Statement in Replying to
Rowland and Ward.

The action of Architect Rowland, at the
instigation of President John Ward Of
the Board Of Education. in notifying the
sub-contractors on Public Schools Nos.
and g. whose men were on strike because
of the presence of the New York stsarn-
filters on the jobs. that the difficulty was
Strengthened out was promptly repudlated
yesterday when Business Agent JOIN r.
Westlake, of the Building Trades Cum
cil and w. ]. Gallagher. of the HUDSON
county steamfitters, called on both build
ings the local mechanics of the other
trades who had returned to work when
the New York steamfitters were Ordered
off by the architect.
Later a conference between the labor
representatives, the mason sub-contraac-
tor, the architect and the President OF
the Board of Education was held with
the result that the two business agents
agreed to allow the roof to be put on
No. 2 School SO that the building as far
as completed would not be injured by the
elements. This concession was made on
condition that the New York steamfftters
should not be allowed to do any more
work on either Of the two buildings until
the difficulty between them and the local
organization OF the trade over the aues-
ton Of jurisdiction was settled. It was
also stipulated that only such work as
was necessary for the protection Of the
building should be done. Under these
IL roS ed
day afternoon.
The allied trades are determined that
the difficulty between the steamfitters,
organizations shall be settled before either
building is completed. and the only terms
Of settlement 10 which the local me-
chanics OF the trade will agree is the
recognition of their organization by the
New York body. With the object OF
strengthening out the difficulty Business
Agent Keefe of the New York steamnt-
ters is in consultation this afternoon with
the representatives of the local building
trades.
"wnat Architect Rowland did yester-
dav was what we asked over week ago
but President sTa-d said then that i
. c,,,,4d aot ee 1oHe;,' ssta Bussaess Agent
Gallagher this morning. AAt that lime
negotiations were pending for a settle
ment of our grievance, out the city au-
thorities would give Us no assistance with
the result that the New York steamfitters
seeing that they had the support of the
city officials hava refused TO consider any
terms of settlement. It seems strange to
rs that what was impossible a week ago,
according to the statement of Mayor
Fagan's representative in the Board OF
Education. was so easy of accomplish
mant Yesterday. when it could do us little
or no good in bringing about Satlsiae-
tory adjustment of the difficulty.
1--WE allowed the roof to be put on NO. z
School because we had the interest OF
the public at heart and did not want 10
see the city's property injured.
Mr. Rowland or Me-. Ward in notifying
the contractors of the withdrawal of the
New York steamfitters from the two JOBS
did not think it worth While to notify
either Mr. Westlake or myself, VINO nave
been handling the difficulty for the local
unions. The men who returned to work
Yesterday morning did so under the mis-
apprehension that the difficulty had been
settled, but promptly withdrew from the
building when ordered to do so by the
agent of the Council.
Business Agent Westlake said;-'I was
surprised when l learned that the arehi-
tect had notified Mason Contractor Con-
molly and Carpenter Contractor Cook that
the New York steamfitters had been with
drawn and the trouble settled as result.
The men did not know to the contrary
and returned to work. 1t looked like a
sharp piece OF business on the part of
somebody.
1--WE allowed the contractors to put the
roof on No 2 because some part of the
terra Gotta work was in danger of falling
unless secured, and the building would
be injured If storm occurred.
Before this matter was settled we
called up the architect on the telephone
but could get no satisfaction as to
whether the steamfitters' local union was
to be recognized on the jobs hereafter. /
then ordered all local men off the job and
they promptly obeyed Neither school
building will be finished by local me-
chanics unless the Hudson county steam
filters are recognized on them. Nothing
can be done under the agreement entered
into except to protect the building on
Fri street"
RRANr nnGn on0uTe