The Washington times., 1906-03-09
Masters Make Dire
Prophecy in Official
Statement.
ALLEGE UNFAIR METHODS
Journeymen Charged With
Having Persuaded Help
erS 10 Go Out.

The master plumbers who locked out
the iourneymen last Saturday after
several meetings 10 discuss the situa-
tion and arrange for the emergency
which must follow a prolonged struggle
with the Journeymen Plumbers Union,
have issued an official statement set
ting forth the details which led up 10
the lockout
The statement is as follows:
As has been fully expected. the jour
neymen plumbers have succeeded in
stamDeding the helpers and appren, ces
TO desert their employers and cast their
lot with them.
That the public may have some un-
derstanding Of the conditions upon
which plumbing work is carried out by
the plumbers in Washington. it is only
necessary 10 cite the following:
The Washington season for building
extends usually from March 1 TO Janu-
ary During this period all OF the
sober and competent plumbers invari-
ably have employment Necessarily
there are the months of January and
February when the building trades are
slack. and perhaps 50 Der cent of the
men VINO work through the other months
are idle.
Conditions of Work.
The conditions under which the work
is carried on are the following:
The lourneymen handle the tools ex-
Clusively. the helpers ACCOMMODATING
them solely as assistants in bringing
materials to their hands. Under no cir
cumstances are helpers permitted to use
any KIND of tools. A drastic law Of the
lourneymen's union is to the effect that
In the threading Of pipe. even If the
rtrl- -1s
man must do nothing while the bow Is
thus employed. the object being to give
Just as little work as possible TO the
employer and, through him. TO the Dub-
lie Two apprentices are allowed each
shoD. ana such apprentices are allowed
10 handle tools and are what is termed
Junior plumbers - Whether an er,
ployer has on his rolls I0O men or only
one man. the two apprentices are al
lotted lust the same
Az agreement between the Master
Piumoers' Association and the Journey
men Ch'on' signed four years ago and
"hlch expires II 1893, stipulates that
two helpers viii be allowed for every
three plumbers employed. This irnnIiss
That two Of these plumbers can have
assistants and the third must work
alone.
AAASA AGAuS OEU1zlQeQ.
Last year, in July or August. when
building was very active in Washington
and the master plumbers had an the
contracts they could handle, the jo4.r-
heymeh came 10 them as individuals.
they stated. and demanded that the
helpers and apprentices should bava
union cards or they would strike The
master plumbers were helpless. and
while they did not accede TO this de-
mand as an association, they did so
where absolutely compelled 10, soIeI,, as
Individuals, but they signed no agree
ment TO this effect, and strongly pro-
tested against the technical violation
or the signed agreement between the
Two associations
The journeymen having failed 10
eliminate the helper during their strike
or four years ago sought BY embracing
the entire body OF boys who were at
that time employed, in the union and
then closing the books, shutting out
other boys VINO were not fortunate
enough TO be employed at that time and
denying TO every BOY in Washington IN
the future his constitutional right TO
learn a trade.
Since this union Of the boys was
formed many plumbers have received
applications from strong, sturdy, intel
ligent boys who had a commenda bIe
ambition 10 learn The plumbing trade.
but they have been turned down. Fur
thermore, the master plumbers have
been compelled by the journeymen re-
fusing 10 work with boys not belong
ing TO this union TO do with less than
one-thrd of the quota of helpers al
lowed them by the signed agreement.
II is the expressed intention of the jour
neymen 10 get rid OF the helpers by
va, 4u hot
Lrn,,ti,,,ad ON slacnnd T,anoA