The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-12
BUILDERS LINE UP FOR FIGHT.
UHETHER THEY on THE UNIONS
ARE TO CO.NTROj. ~ THE ISStE.
Meeting Representing Al Capital Invested
In the Industry. $500. Ot,O 600, or
More to lie Held Employers Are
Finding Union agreements Worthless.

More to lie Ifcd-En,plOyerS are
Finding Union agreements Worthless
1t was agreed yesterday by all the en-
ploying associations in the building trades
that the demands of the different unions
have brought on a crisis which can only
be met by concerted action on the part OF
the employers The unions now ignore
agreements at will, even the iron workers
who recently made an agreement with
their employers for year beginning with
May 1, having already broken it by violating
aprovision against going out on sympathetic
strikes.
The situation ia considered so serious by
the employers that call is TO he issued for
a general meeting Of all the employing
associations in the building trades. TO be
held in the rooms of the Building Trades
Club some time this week. This will he
the first meeting of the kind ever held in
the history of the building trade in this
city. Some step OF the kind is considered
absolutely necessary in view of the alarm
ing conditions which have arisen through
the exacting demands Of the labor unions
especially the unions OF unski)ed labor, and
their disposition I o break agreements at the
slightest provocation,
The meeting will represent more than
$500 600, COO capital invested In building
operations The following organizations
will send representatives:
United Building Trades Association, Marble
Industry Employers Association. Master
Carpenters Association. Master League of
Cement Workers Electrical! Contractors :
Association. Tile. Graf and Mante Asso-
citation. the New York Electrical APP
pllance Association, Mechanics and Traders
ko,,.
terers' Association, Hosting Association
Society Of Architectural Iron Manufacturers
Employers hssooi8tio of Roofers and sheet
Metal Workers Association of Interior Deco
rators and Cabinet Makers Manufacturing
Wood Workers Association. Lighting Fixt-
IRE Makers Association. Mason Bui lders
Association. Muster Painters and Decorators
Asso citation.
In addition to these, several other or
CARNATIONS which have recently joired
the Building Trades Association will be rep
resented, including the Lumber Dealers
Association ard the Building Material
Dealers Association, both now engaged in
r. conflict with the Teamsters' Union and
The Building Material Drivers Union against
union domination.
A meeting Of the Executive Committee
OF the Master Carpenters Association wss
held yesterday afternoon at the Building
traces StuD 10 cOHklCeT tne question OF
joining with,the Mason Builders Associa-
tion u standing by the Lumber Dealers
tions in their present conflict against out
rageous union demands The meeting
was addressed by J. Sherlock Davis of the
Lumber Dealers Associat ion. who made
stong plea for cooperation in the present
fight. Among other things he said:
The master carpenters are probably
nearer to MS than any other class of en-
ployers. This il a crisis which IL fraught
with great danger for the future Of Ameri-
can industry II s q question as to whether
the labor organizations, especially the
United Board of Building Trades, or the
employers will control the building bust
ness. The lumber dealers have decided to
stay out in the fight for Independence
or conditions of work THAI would bo
small matter. 1t is simply question Of
giving over our business and our affairs
into the hands of the Board Of Building
Trades. II we lose in this fight we might
as well go out of business. To weaken now
would simply mean that labor unions would
run the entire business Of the country,
beginning with New York. and that would
mean chaos and confusion and disaster
everywhere"
MIR. Davis was loudly applauded and
the master carpenters passed resolutions
of sympathy in the fight and declared that
IT the bylaws of their organization per-
mitted it they would take the same action
as has been taken by the Master Builders
Association. In that case they will not
handle any lumber from non association
yards until the present crisis is over A
decision on this poin. is expected to day.
The official organ of the mason builders
for May gives the following list Of buildings
affected by the present troubles: