Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-06
INCREASES EyERYwHEnE
ENCT:Tr IN RICHMOND

There have been wage increases in
the building trades in every other city
in tho country except Richmond. To-
day the wage scale in tho building
trades of Richmond is lower than in
any city under the jurisdiction of the
American Federation Of Labor"
\ decision 10 unite in general de-
inand for new wage agreements pro
vidiny for increases averaging from
10 to IL per cent. was reached at a
special meeting of the Building Trades
Council. held last Friday night. Every
binding craft in tho city was rcpr.-
had not until then co-operated with
tho other trades. The trades thRt
united in demanding new wage agree
men,s To hcrom. effective April l.
were tho bricklayers. carpenters. paint
crS. paper hangers. plumbers, steam
htters. electrical workers and timers,
in all about l.50o men
HAVE SANCTION FROM
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
several OF tho unions applied 10 their
national organizations for permission
10 resort TO a strike to enforce their
demands and promptly received tho
necessary sanction Negotiations were
At once begun with tho contractors in
tho several building lines, with the
result that some agreed at once TO put
the new wage scale into effect on
April l. while others declined 10 COM
nit themselves. Stll others refused
TO confer at all with delegates repre-
scntinE tho unions
II is these refusals to enter into
negotiations with the unions. labor
leaders said yesterday. tina, have pre-
cipitated the crisis. Upon learning OF
tho state of affairs. the national or
Eanizations detailed organizers to deal
with tho local situation These were.
in consultation yesterday with officers
Of tho Building Trades Council and
tomorrow night n definite plan OF ac-
tion will be decided upon.
SAYS LABOR MEN
DESIRE CONFERENCE
The labor men desire earnestly to
meet the employers in conference, in
order that the differences may he
amicab,y adjusted" said Howard r.
Colvin. organizer for the American
Federation OF Labor. yesterday. "A
strike Is the last thing they want. The
men feel that they are making rca-
sonablc demand-one which is at least
entitled to the careful considcra ton of
their employers.
1T is unqucstionably true that build
ing trade wages in Richmond are
lower than in any other city in the
country. The men could leave Rich
mond and find employment in nearby
cities at rates from % ncr cent to 30
per cent higher than the wages that OBJ
tain here. With the high cost of liv-
ing mounting constantly higher. tho
\ grave possibility. In the event
there Is continued refusal to treat
with the union representatives, il was
stated by prominent labor leaders, Ia
the calling of a general strike Of all
the building trades in sympathy with
Such strike would all but paralyzc
the most ambitious building movement
that the city has known since the
prodigal days of 1918 and 1914. and
would halt new construction valued at
more than s1.o00.0o0
Among the national organizers who
will address the meeting at the Labor
Temple are: George w. Crosby, Wash
ington. of the United brotherhood OF
Carpenters and Joners; w. j. Gal
lagher, Philadelphia. OF the Brother
hood of Painters. Decorators and Pa
Association of Plumbers and Steam
filters. and Mr., Hughes. Springfield.
ILL.,, OF the Amalgamatcd Sheet Metal