The Washington herald., 1907-03-24
BUILDERS STAND PAT.
Decide to Uphold Contention
Of Master Plumbers.
BIG STRIKE MAY BE RESULT
Both Associations Vote 90 Oppose
Fight for Closed shOp-Two Big
Concerns Register Dissenting
Eotes-Tte-up of Operations VIII
BE Disastrous 10 Many Interests.

In view Of the action taken by the two
local master buildepf associations at a
meeting in the Small Building last night,
a big strike of all the seventeen all ID
building trades is again threatened. Upon
a majority vote 1t was decided that the
master builders would uphold the
master plumbers In their inslstence
that the dispute between the mas
ter and journeyman plumbers over
Article VI Of the recent award of the
plumbers arbitration board be sent back
to the board for an opinion.
This action has been fought steadily
and consistently by the journeyman
plumbers and the trades alliance, and II
is thought improbable that they viii SUBJ
nit 20 Il. They make the claim that
they guaranteed that the journeymen
would live up 70 the arbitration award
that they have done so. and are prepared
70 do so, and, further. that the disputed
clause is perfectly plain, and but one in
teTpretation can be put upon it. In this
they are supported by a few of the master
builders and master plumbers.
When the trouble over the award first
became apparent the building trades
formed q new and strong organization and
anticipated settling this dispute as they
did the lockout dispute, by treating with
the master builders.
Lines Clearly Drawn.
meeting was arranged. and it was
thought the trouble would be amicably
settled II is nov a case of showdown.
however. as all the masters are arrayed
on the one side and the trades unions on
the other. Although the alliance is going
slow on the strike proposition. and on
trouble Of any character. and has made
every effort 10 reach a settlement without
drastic action 1t is improbable that they
will reeede now from their position and
fail to support the journeyman plumbers,
who have declared emphaticany that
under no circumstances viii they let the
dispute go back to the arbitration board
for settlement
Nothing concerning the meeting last
night would be given out, aside from
the fact that a conclusion had been
reached by the smaster builders as to
what stand they would take. and that
1t would be forwarded to the Trades
Alliance.
1t is positively known that there
were two dissenting voices from the
oAtAA AAAANt " AilN thtANkNf UWAA1Ft .
both Of whom have a large amount OF
work at present on their hands.
Cause of Trouble.
The two articles OF award upon
which the whole dispute hinges are as
follows:
The contracts> Of June 9. 1902. and q ArTn a.
1893, with the shop rules adopted Hereunder dated
November g. 1863, held 20 be in f0ree. notWith-
standing the DEPARTURES therefrom By either of ae
parties thereto.
Under said contracts and shop rules. as shown By
the Interpretation put upon them by the parties al
the time the individual mem5ers OF the Master
Plumbers Association not compelled u employ
union men 70 the exclusion ut uorunion aud iae
members Of Local Union No 5 are not required 70
work for mGmbcs Of the Master Plumbers Asso-
eiston te the exclusion Of noameubefs q such ss-
s1catlun or for members Of said association who
employ nonurion men in the District Of Columbia
The Journeymen Plumbers and the
Trades Alliance hold that these two arti~
cles re-establish in force the old contract
and shop rules and Interpretation put
upon them at the time, and that condi-
tions should revert to those prevail
ing at that time. and that local union
No. has perfect right to withdraw
any OF its men from a shop employing
nonunion men.
On the other hand, the Master Plumbers
maintain that they have the right 10
work nOnuniOn men in any of the shops
If they see fit, and that local union No. S
has no right to pull out its men in con
sequence.
A building trades strike just at this time
would prove most disastrous There are
many big buildings in the downtown dis
trict in course of construction at present.
aside from the great number of houses
scattered all over the city. and the rush
season is about to open. 1t is said that
within a few week a score or more of
new buildings will be started Most OF
the contractors have a strike clause in
their contracts. but the complete tying
up of all building would hurt many Of
the business interests.