New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-06
LABOR BODY DEFEATED
Court Decides old Union Can't En-
join Electrical Contractors.

The New York Electrical Workers Union suffered
a reverse yesterday In the dispute with the Elec-
trfcaI Contractors Association and Benjamin q.
Traitel president Of the Allied Building Trades
Justice Greenbaum dismissed the complaint in a
suit in which the plaintiff sought injunction re-
straining the defendants from employing other men
than members of the union There Is still another
action pending In which the union asks damages
from the employers which probably Will be anected
by Justice Greenbaum's decision
The suit was the outgrowth of the formation OF
the Inside Electrical Workers Union. whose mem
hers are employed by the contractors After sew
eral meetings between the contractors anu ule
plaintiff union in 1906 and 1907 TO enter into trade
agreement negotiations failed The contractors and
many members OF the New York Electrical work
ers Union favored the formation Of new union
which would be affiliated with the international
brotherhood of Electrical Workers to prevent
trouble out OF town Jobs. where there mad oeeh
many strikes because the workers who were not
members of the international organization were
regarded as nOn-union men.
In January 1907. negotiations began between the
officers of the International brotherhood the CON
tractors and the members of the union, ~hicn
were carried on before a Cancellation committee
Of the General Board OF Arbitration OF the con-
tractors and employees. The committee many
agreed on terms. under which the members OF the
old union should become members Of the one 10
be formed. and a special meeting OF The plaintin
union these terms approved
The Inside Electrical Workers Union was then
formed and the General Arbitration Board received
the representatives Of the new union In place OF
the members from the New York Electrical Work
ers' Union Then fifteen hundred members OF the
old union Joined the new one. leaving only about
forty members remaining In the New York Elec-
tricaI Workers Union. The latter were not en-
ployed by the contractors.
They alleged in their petition for injunction
that as the old union had signed the arbitration
plan It's members should be employed. and not be
auDe aded by although IL
practically the old union. and affiliated with the
International body The defendants. through their
counsel made the point that II the provisions
contract between the individual members which
Injunction requiring the contractors recognize
union composed Of forty members In place OF one
made up OF more than fifteen hundred
IL also cont-nded that the PLAINTIFF union had
consented to it's amalgamation with the Inside
the latter on the General Arbitration Board II
held further that the arbitration board had full
power admit the union a party tosthe
plan.
In his decision Justice Greenbaunn said the facts
showed that the plantr union approved Of the
action OF the defendants in recognizing the
union which followed by tire action OF fifteen
hundred members In joining the new union the lat
ter working IN harmonious relations with the
defendants The court finds the controversy Is IN
large measure internal one between rival labor
unions. Justice Greenbaum the plaintiffs long
claims Is further reason why court OF equity
would not be justified in granting the injunction.