New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
STRIKE ENDS THIS WEEK.
MORE ACCEPT THE PLAN.
SeUenteen Unions AIreadg an Line
Others to FoILOzc-The Loss.

Informal notifications were received by the board
of governors of the Building Trades Employers
Association that several unions in the build
ing trades had decided to accept it's plan of arbtra
ton. The Electrical Workers Union, which had
been too late for last weeks conference of the
board of governors decided to accept the plan and
sent letter that effect TO the board yesterday
over its official seal Seven unions. 1t was
nounced have assured the board which will hold
a special meeting tomorrow, that they will ac-
eept the plan before Wednesday, which will make
seventeen unions, all in the skilled trades in line
with the plan.
1t was learned last evening that a meeting of
bricklayers' unions held in the forenoon, at
which a vote of confidence in Edward A. Moffett,
editor of the official organ of the brcklayers was
passed behalf of the brickayers unions of
Manhattan and The Bronx. The bricklayers'
unions have aggregate membership of nine thou
sand, and their Endorsement of Mr.. Moffett it is
believed, means q favorable leaning to the plan
of arbitration, as he is a member of the concilia-
ton committee of the Civic Federation and repre-
sented the bricklayers at the recent conferences
with the board of governors of the employers as
sociation.
ALL AT WORK THIS WEEK.
William X Fertig, secretary of the Employers
Association, said last evening that he believed this
week will end the entire trouble. This means that
the 125 600 men thrown idle will be all practically
at work again, including the men who work for
the George A. Fuller company. BY Wednesday
5000 are expected to be at work.
The Board of Building Trades is to take action
on the plan tomorrow, but, it is thought, will not
place any very serious obstacles In its way. Some
members of the board favor the plan. Michael
Stanton business agent of the Electrical Workers
Union. said in discussing the plan:
Il really very little to object to in the
plan as amended at the last conference. 1t does
not abolish the business agent, but provides that
he cannot be an arbitrator. AS a rule, business
agents put arbitration boards. If the
plan were in operation # would leave matters
very little different, except in or two minor
points. from what they were. as.it does not con-
hict with existing agreements If the adoption of
the plan had not been put to the unions an ulti-
matum 1 believe both sides would have come to-
gether sooner"
Another business agent said that the plan made
the calling of sympathetic strikes more difficult
than under the old conditions. He not sure,
however, to whether this would not be an
advantage.
The union supposed to be holding the key to the
situation is the Housesmiths and Bridgemen's
Union which has formally repudated the plan.
1t said yesterday, however, that the conserva-
tive members of the union. who are In the ma
jority, though they do not make as much noise
the radical men, attend meetings in such
numbers, willing to go to work under the
plan. 1t was also said that if the Board of Build
ing Trades passes a resolution tomorrow objectng
to the plan it will be perfunctory one Mem
bers of unions believe the only value of the
fight that will years perhaps before strikes
and that while they will never recover the wages
lost directly both sides have grown tired of the
fight that the will gain in the future by
fewer periods of enforced idleness AS to the cost
of the strikes and shutdowns though they affected
only Manhattan and The Bronx, it is regarded as
the most expensive affair of it's kind, for the time
it lasted that the building industry has ever ex-
perienced
ESTIMATES OF THE LOSS.
The following is considered, in the opinion of
some employers, a fair estimate of the probable
of the strikes and shutdown since May Is,
when the shutdown started
Employers loss including loss of expected -
office
1900 skilled and from
$4,000 unskled workers. 1S.OOOONO
Indirect loss workmen in other trades
through stoppage OF production caused by lack - -.
of demand Ao,VOO,VOO
Total SOC 100000
There is a difference Of opinion among people on
both sides to whether the expensive shutdown
will be benefit ultimately. The more optimistic
say that it will mean tranquility for a long time
in the building trades and eventually more wages
at the end of the year owing fewer Interruptions
Of work. and consequently more stable conditions
a nd for