The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-24
BUILDING UNIONS FIGHT BACK.
GENERAL STRIKES TO Re CALLED
AGAINST LEAGUE SHUT-DOWN.
Tile Layers and Helpers Begin--Strikes
Carried to Other (1ties-P1asterers
ard Plumbers NeNt-WOn't Have En-.
plOyers' Plan "FOrced" on Them.

Auc Layers anu hfiperS be6n--S'T'hes
Carried to Other C1ties-Piasterers
ard Plumbers NeNt-Won't Have En-.
plO.ers' Plan "Forced" on Them.
The labor unions in the building trades
have begun to fight back against the new
league Of employers to make them call
on the shutdown on buildings as pre-
liminary to considering q plan Of arbitra-
ton. The first aggressive move on the
part Of the unions was made yesterday
by the tile layers union. which ordered
general strike against the Crate. Tile and
Mantel Association and through it against
the Building Trades Employers Associa-
ton. The steamfitters helpers and the
plasterers' unions are expected to take
similar action in day or 30, and other
unions will follow them.
The union leaders have decided on this
course as the result Of the conference be-
tween the building employers committee
and the committee Of the Board OF Building
Mechanics which discussed the employers
plan Of arbitration on Monday night. The
labor men regarded the closing remarks
Of Otto NJ Eidlitz. to the effect that the
plan must be adopted before the shutdown
ended, as an ulumatum. Most OF the
delegates have 80 reported to their unions.
The strike OF the tile layers union.
which is officially known as the Mosaic
and Encaustic Tile Layers Association.
was ordered when this report was received
at a meeting OF its executive board be-
ginning on Monday night and ending early
yesterday morning. W II. Farley, walking
delegate OF the union, said last night that
the tile layers helpers are striking with the
tile layers. He said also that the tile layers
in ST. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago, Phila-
delphia and other cities are out in all build
ings and shops where members OF the
Building Trades Employers Association
hold contracts.
The tile layers union is small one, but
the strongest of its class in the country
There are only about 500 tile layers and
coo helpers altogether. or these, 700 tile
layers and helpers are in this city. The
tile layers can earn from IS to 81 in day
of eight hours Their union in this city
has a reserve fund OF $4,000 and their
helpers union fund Of SIS, 900, but accord
ing to the strikers the International, Tile
Farley, the tile layers delegate, said yes
terday:
-1'he unions will all strike and remain
out indefinitely rather than have this ar
bitration plan forced down their throats.
What guarantee will We have OF any modifi
cations il we adopt it before the shutdown
is declared on? Until that is done as q
guarantee Of good faith the unions will
not accept the plan in whole OF. in part.
Some OF the other union delegates said
that the closing remarks Of Chairman
Eidlitz at last Monday nights conference
meant that the unions were To be starved
into submitting to the plan, and they pro-
posed to make fight against these tactics
at once.
The Crate. Tile and Mantel Association
met Yesterday at the Building Trades
Club. Secretary c. j. Bogert said:
I'VE have tried to find out the cause Of
the strike and have failed. We received
no notice that strike had been declared
until it was actually on"
A member Of the Building Trades En-
ployers Association said that If the unions
struck against the shutdown it couldn't
be helped. It would make the fight longer.
plan.
Until the unions accept that plan,' no
said, .we can have no guarantee Of unin-
terrupted work They will have to come
10 it whether it takes one, two or six weeks"
Sam Parks, having been "vindicated' by
the Housesmiths' Union by being reelected
walking delegate, spent yesterday in bed
the building situation. John j. Donovan,
walking delegate Of the Plasterers' Union.
said yesterday: 1T will not affect matters
in the slightest degree
Parks will attend the meeting OF the
Board Of Building Trades this afternoon
The movement to rcunite this board and it's
seeding members is still in progress. but
unite unless the Building Material Drivers
Tpop Ia mt