New-York tribune., 1906-07-22
BIG STRIKE NOT LIKELY
Building Trades Secretary Denies
Story of Secret V0te.

The attempts which have been made in the
last three months TO create the idea THAI there
was going to be general building strike all over
the city 20 force recognition OF the Housesmiths
and Bridgemen's Union were discredited yester-
day by the officers of the Associated Building
Trades, as well the building contractors. The
reports have become more frequent since the
strike Of Plumbers Union No. against the
Master Plumbers Association took place. The
latest rumOrs of the kind are that the strikes
are 20 be ordered ON behalf Of the striking
plumbers as well as the housesmiths.
II is admitted that the trades under the arhi-
tration agreement do not like 20 see the house
smiths organization wiped out. but so far they
have lived up to the arbitration agreement. and
say they intend TO continue TO live to IL.
II is admitted unOfElcially by the conservative
delegates Of the building trade unions that to
bring about a general sympathetic strike ON
behalf OF the housesmiths and the plumbers
would be impossible at the present time, unless
something entirely unforeseen took place TO
change the sentiments OF the unions. The latter
have had enough Of lockouts and strikes in the
last three years. and are against any such move
ment Just now. 1t is believed that by the time
the next building season comes round, however,
. the housesmiths viii be quietly reorganized. ana
a strong attempt will be made to gain reeosn1-
ton for the reOrganized union. The otnciai
sentiment of the Associated Building Trades
was voiced yesterday by Roswell ID. Tompkins'
it's secretary, who emphatically denied the state
ments which have been made that a secret vote
is being taken by 100000 men in the building
trades on the question of general sympathetic
strike on behalf of the plumbers and the house
smiths. The Consolidated Board OF Business
Agents, which is connected with his Organiza-
ton, he said, has taken no action 20 justify the
reports of contemplated big strikes. He con-
tinued:
The board at its meeting yesterday received
reports of committees which have been looking
after the interests of Plumbers Union NO. =
that they had satisfactorily and amicably ad-
justed number of its grievances. A committee
OF twenty-nine reported having been to see the
tors, and that they confirmed the report that the
company had declared for the open shop for the
irOnworkers and would not recede from that
stand The board appointed ways ana means
committee, which is to report next Tuesday.
Every grievance reported to the board since
it's formation few weeks ago has been settled
in neaceable businesslike manner without
recourse to any decided action on behalf OF
the board.
So far from the unions under the arbitration
agreement showing any inclination to fight it.,
they are, it was stated at the Building Trades
Club yesterday, in favor as a rule Of long trade
agreements under its provisions. The Mosaic
Workers Union. which has just accepted an
agreement under the award of special arbitra-
ton committee. is given as in instance. The
agreement provides that there shall be two
classes in the trade, classes A and B, these
classes having existed before the award. The
wages in class A are now So IS day. They will
be 81 on September / of this year and will be
increased to 81 20 on September 1 of 1907. The
wages in class B, which are So 30 a day.
will be raised to $3 T5 on September 1 OF this
year, and on September 1 Of 1907 will be in
creased TO S4.
An agreement of the same kind has been made
with the House Shorers and Movers Union.
The wages in this trade are S3 a day.
They will be raised TO S3 SO on September l Of
this year, and to S3 so on September 1, 1907
The wages of the helpers have been increased
in the same proportion.