Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-06
OTHERS MAY STRIKE
PLUMBERS LABORERS' UNION
DEMAND INCREASE IN PAY.
If Concession Be Not Made Members
Will Go Out the LIST of
May.

The troubles of the master plumbers OF
Washington were increased today by the
announcement that the plumbers laborers
union will declare a strike on May 1 unless
their demand for an increase of pay is
promptly acceded to, and by the further
announcement that the plumbers appren-
tees union may decide tomorrow to go on
a sympathetic strike with the locked out
journeymen. This. 1t is said. would almost
paralyze the plumbing business here.
Each of the employing plumbers MEM
bers of the Masters Association has re-
ceived an ultimatum from the union of Ia
borers that the wage scale must be raised
from So to $3.50 or the workmen will go on
strike May l. which Is the beginning or the
active building season.
As to the apprentices, who are now doing
the major part of the plumbing work for
the numerous establishments here, mas
ter plumber informed a Star reporter this
afternoon that the boys union was under
the control of the union of journeymen,
and that the latter may call the appren-
tees out at any moment.
In order to meet the conditions that con-
front them 1t is said the master plumbers
at the meeting of their executive commit
tee late yesterday afternoon decided to use
every effort to secure supply of plumbers
from other cities. 1t is also said that Mr..
Caverly, chairman of the master plumbers
committee, has gone to Baltimore and
other cities IN an effort to secure force
of workmen. In his efforts Ii is stated he
will be assisted by the master plumbers
associations of other cities.
Apprehend No Trouble.
Master plumbers do not apprehend that
the present strike will seriously interfere
with the building season. They say the pri-
mary work on the new buildings, bricklay-
ing, ETC., will go on as usual and when
the structures reach the point of compile
ton where It becomes necessary to put in
the plumbing work, the masters expect to
have a sufficient force of journeymen to go
on with their part of the operations in any
event, whether the lockout is declared on
or not.
The outlook this afternoon was that the
conditions of the lockout would be further
complicated before long. The plumbers
laborers are said to be in hearty sympathy
with the plumbers, and 1t was limited to-
day that they may decide, should they
deem 1t necessary as an emergency meas
ure to go out even before the date an
nounced in their ultinatum May l. The
emergency may be considered to have
plumbers In their shops. The laborers may
then decline to work with the non-union-
lists and their strike be precipitated
Some of the master plumbers were IN
formed today that the journeymen have a
surprise they intend to spring on them, but
the nature of the alleged surprise could not
be learned.
Deal With Five Unions.
A master plumber today explained that
the employers have to deal with five unions
of employees. These are the journeymen
plumbers, the apprentices, helpers, an as
ISOLATION of laborers who now receive ST.
day as wages, and the better grade OF
skilled laborers. who receive 81 day. The
helpers and apprentices unions are sepa-
rate and distinct bodies. The apprentices
are allowed to handle tools, while the help
ers are not.
Only two apprentices are now allowed TO
each shop no matter whether the shop en-
ploys two journeymen or twenty. The en-
ployers however, are entitled to two help
ers to every three journeymen. There IS no
rule as to the employment of laborers in
either number or grade.
The masters claim that the existing lock-
out Is really for the protection Of the help
ers and they are not expected therefore to
go ON strike should the apprentices do so.
Further, the master plumbers have notified
the helpers that should they go on strike
they will never be re-empioyed, but their
places filed with other men,
It Is said the "hang-out" place, or clear
Ing house for the e per day plumbers Ia
borers, is about the pub1c fountain at et9h
street and Pennsylvania avenue northwest.
while the $l.7B per day men conGregate at
9th street and Louisiana avenue. It Is to
these points the nasters 50 when they de-