Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-12
STRIKE IS AVERTED
IN ELECTRICAL TRADE
On Patriotic Grounds, Men and I'm.
ploycrs Agree to Avoid Strike
at This Time.
HEAR FEDERAL COMMISSIONER
Speaks Earnestly OF Duty Owed 10
Country in Present Crisis and TO
Stand Taken by American Fedora
ton OF Labor.

Urged on patriotic grounds to avoid
Internal strife at the present time.
electrical contractors and workers
| yesterday afternoon agreed on terms
which will prevent Il general strike in
the building trades OF the city. The
/ strike WAS scheduled to start this
| morning. and until yesterday there
seemed TO be no chance for Il settle
mcnt Of tho controversy without a re-
/ sort to extreme measures.
/ II took the good offices OF Frederick
q. Davis. commissioner of Cancellation.
/ United states Department of Labor to
| bring the conflicting parties together.
/ Mr.. Davis arrived early yesterday
morning and Immediately held q con
/ ference with the contractors. with the
7 result that they named terms agree
able TO them. Going before Local No.
! 666. international brotherhood of Flee
! trical Workers. Mr.. Davis urged the
men TO accept the proposition from
! the employers. basinE his plea upon
patriotic grounds. Without disscn,
the men agreed to continue work. and
the matter will come up for formal
ratification gu Monday night at the
regular meeting.
The electrical workers have been
demanding an increase ia wages and
shorter hours for several months. but
the contractors had refused to treat
with the committees y strike WAS
called TO go into effect this morning,
and the men met yesterday afternoon
at $50 o'clock tor the purpose Of APP
pointing committees and TO devise ways
and means Of making their strike eff
feCtivc.
POINTS 10 STAND TAKEN
BT AMERICAN FEDERATION
Mr.. Davis spoke earnestly 10 tho men
on the duties they owed their country
i'll the present crisis. pointing out the
stand taken by the American Fedora
ton of Labor. He announced that the
UV In NAV
Of 80 cents an hour for AN eight-hour
day, with time and 81 half for over
time and double time for holidays and
Sundays. While this did not meet the
fun demands of the workers. they
agreed to the settlement in View Of
the circumstances
John J. Purcell. general organizer
Of the international brotherhood of
Electrical Workers. has been here for
several days in consultation with the
local officers. He attended the meet
ing yesterday afternoon. and was high
~ pleased With the attitude OF tho
workers in accepting the compromise
and with the contractors for reccding
from their oblurate position. The
celebrity with which both parties ac-
cepted the good offices OF the con-
cillator is an indication of tho patriotic
spirit of the Richmond people gem
orally.
While the workers will continue az
mcnt VIII not become effective until
May ! The local must ratify the ac-
ton taken by the men AS individuals
yesterday. The meeting Will be held
on Monday night. Mr. Purcell will
remain here TO take part in the de-
alterations.
With the settlement, OF the clec,ri-
cal controversy. the building trades
situation in Richmond has become
clearer. Within tho last few months
the carpenters ana plumbers have sue
cecdcd TO reaching an agreement with
their employers. The painters and pa
rerhanScrs. however, recently struck
and are still out. Thirteen contractors
however, have agreed TO the terms pro-
posed by tho men, and the situation
is looking brighter. Many OF the men
nave left the city, but those employed
by tho contractors meeting the de-
mandS have returned TO their work
More than 100 electrical workers
would have gone out on strike this
morning if the agreement had not been
reached The strike. IL is believed
would have spread 10 the other lines
of building aud would have resulted
III serious situation hcrc.