New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-14
OPEN SHOP ULTIMATUM.
WEEKS GRACE TO UNIONS.
Building Trades Not Locked ont
Mast 44LsO Declare Themselves.

Though the officers OF the Building Trades EN-
pioyers Association would not directly yester-
day that tho open shop would follow the refusal
OF the unions strike to return their men
TO work. an ultimatum 10 these unions which was
mace public yesterday contained the open shop
threat The ultimatum gives the unions whose
members are on strike and against which the
lockout has been declared to August p TO declare
the strikes Of. with the threat that If they fail
10 do SO the contractors VIII proceed TO fill their
places The unions which have no strikes and
against which no lockout has been declared have
also been told 10 confer through their representa-
lives with the members of the employers asso-
oatloa this week and state exactly what stand
they viii take IN case the terms Of the Ul;imatum
are rejected
The ultimatum OF the employees is contained in
the following circular sent TO The members OF the
Employers Association. who told their employers
Of its terms:
New-York. August ID.
At meeting OF she board OF governors held
y adopted, ana the members are hereby notified
Whereas. The unions that Struck on the Trinity
Building and the work OF the members Of the
way. IN violation OF their existing agreements and
OF the general arbitration PLAN have refused TO
Whsress, These Organizations were locked out
20 compel compliance with the terms of said
agreements which has resulted in a cessation of
work IN sad trades that Il continued will seri-
mage OF work in many trades not affected.
and cripple and discourage the building industry;
Resolved. That If the unions now on strike do
have struck on or before me morning Of August
= the members OF this association shall proceed
With such mechanics as will agree to work under
the conditions Of employment as they existed on
ments- WILLIAM X FERTIG.
Secretary.
The unions which are locked out because OF the
strikes and TO which the ultimatum applies are the
Amalgsmated Painters Society. New-York District
Council Brotherhood of Carpenters Electrical
Workers Union, Mosaic and Encaustic Tile Layers
ITaion, Plumbers and Gsshtters' Union. Opera tive
Plssterers Society, Tar. Felt and Waterproof
Workers and Wood. Wire and Metal Lathers'
Union. There are twenty-five unions under the
arbitration agreement which have not been locked
out, but which VIII be required what action
they VIII take If the Unions affected by the ulti-
do not declare their strikes of. In %
sheir refusal work with employed in place
OF the strikers. then general open shop fight
would appear 10 be inevitable and the greatest
labor this city has yet seen would take place.
Lewis J. Harding, chairman OF the press COM
Snsttee o. the board OF governors after making
public the ultimatum to the unions last evening
was asked # It meant an open shop declaration.
The unions he said, have week to think
over the matter. and am in hopes that they VIII
CONS 70 their before week and declare the
strikes of. Il the open shop declaration is forced
the responsibility Will be with the unions
We do not want the open shop The lockout will
never be declared OF until the unions observe the
terms Of the arbitration agreement"
How long do yoa propose to keep up the lock-
Out?" he was asked
1T VIII not be kept Up indefinitely" he said.
Our contractors viii go right with the work.
I'VE VIII hire individually. under the arbitra-
sion agreement, did last year, and form
than afterward into unions
And II the unions not concerned IN the present
lockout refuse 10 work with them?"
THE BIGGEST FIGHT YET
Then we win have bigger fight hand the
biggest have Yet had. That's all
zr4f~ r7rrff ale
statement that open shop policy was the al
tentative # the ultirnatum ignored. He would
NOT explain the atimatum. merely saying that IL
spoke for itself
Can you secure all the carpenters you want
except under the open shop plan?" he was asked.
1t would be hard get 400 carpenters under
any other method he continued. But that is
for the future. The unions nave a week think
and many things may happen in the mean time
expect that if an open shop fight comes it will
be the unions that will be blame"
Mr. Herding said that as far non-union
were concerned. there article in the ar
bitration agreement which allowed contractors, in
case the union could not furnish enough NE
chanics. TO hire non-unon men who would after
ward join the union If they were found competent
In reference to the suit OF the Building Trades
Alliance in the courts TO test the legality OF the
arbitration agreement, he said:
The suit referred to is considered a Joke ny
our members. Ihey accuse Us Of restraint of
sTsae; We eeTta1niy are an organization in re-
have probably restrained owners and Contractors
from trading with these agitators to the extent
OF several hundred thousand dollars during the
last year Our books and everything we have
IN the way OF agreement, contracts Constitutions
and forth. and forth. are open for inspection
at any time, TO any one. except workmen on
strikes or walking delegates. We have nothing 10
HIDE, have no secrets, and willing TO have the
question decided as TO whether or not we are IN
restraint OF trade q trust in any sense
II the union Is honest In this matter n NAV also
have decided for Il whether or not a union is a
trust in restraint OF trade and a trial Of THIS
kind would certainly interest every one employing
organized labor ''''e