The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-08
LABOR SITUATION IN
PROCESS Of CLEARING
Leaders Believe Only Threatening
situation Is That In Electrical
Trades.
EMPLOYERS WONT TREAT.
Reported That They Insist On Deal
ing With Each EppIoyc Individu-
ally--Largc Attendance Last Night.

Declaring that the Building Trades
council did not want to call a strike
OF It's members and that an amicable
settlement of the differences between
the employees and employers could 30
reached II the latter would agree to
give their men a hearing, speakers
at the mass-meeting OF the Building
Trades council formed of all the
building trades unions in the city,
| held last night in Labor temple, call
ed upon the contractors in the city
to treat with their men. Practically
all of the building trades unions in
the city have asked their employers
TO sign agreement for increased
wages. and meet with them to talk
the matter over, bat this has only
been met with slight success as yet
Electrical Situation Acute.
Labor leaders regard the existing
situation between electrical wor|ers
and employers as acute. 1t is de-
clared by them that the electrical
union has on two occasions requested
the contractors to give them hear
ing, but 1t has been denied. Unless
the employers agree to meet with the
union and Thoroughly discuss the in
crease in wages and the reduction OF
hours. 1t is regarded as certain that
strike will take place within two
weeks. A second meeting o. the
Building Trades council has been set
for March 81. on which date y VIII
he decided whether a s5rike Of build
ing workers in the city will he called.
Large Meeting Last Night.
Last night the meeting at the La
Dor temple filled the capacity OF the
hall. All of the building trades in
the city were represented, many adj
Il 1hrtG
read by the various unions telling OF
the progress SO far made in having
the agreements. which have been sub
mitted to their employers, signed.
Some of the unions appear to nave
their differences in a state o. adjust
ment, but in others the situation APP
pears serious.
1t was reported by the Bricklayers'
union that practically all of the con-
tractors in the city have agreed to
the arrangement decided ON by The
union. Some tim this week a con-
ference will be held between the Car
penters' union and the general build
ing contractors, at which II is believed
that an agreement will he reached be-
tween these. The Master Painters
association will hold a meeting this
afternoon and the Painters union ex-
pect to hear something definite with
IN the next rev DAYS.
At meeting to be held tonight the
Master Paperhangers' association will
consider the paperhangers, demands.
1t is not believed that the Plumbers
union will have any trouble in hay
ing their employers sign an agre5-
ment for higher wages 1t Is felt that
b. the next meeting Of the council on
March 81. that greater progress will
be shown in having the agreements
signed by employers and 1t is be-
lieved that If a strike.is 20 be called,
the results of this meeting will de-
eide it.
No Collective Bargaining.
The refusal OF the electrical work
ers to treat with the unions they
feared, will likely tring the situation
to a crisis, 1t appears that the con-
tractors absolutely refused to treat
with the employees as a collective
body, and notified them that II they
would call on them individually they
would discuss the matter. Then the
unions decided to have a man in
each shop, representing the workers
in that shop. approach the employer.
but this also met with refusal on
the part of the contractor. The coun-
Gil is demanding that the contractors
treat with the workers as a body
Among the speakers at the meeting
last night were: Wilbur Grggs. OF
the Retail Clerks union; II. II. Stew
art, general organizer. Amalgamated
Sheet Metal Workers: G. L. Wilcox.
local organizer, American Federation
of Labor; j. c. Duke, president of
the Office Workers union: +. f.
Maxey. secretary Building Trades
Council: Charles. Marion. Painters
union; w. r. Neblett. Electrical Work
ers' union: W. A. Moran. Carpenters
union: J. Fl. Gardner. of the Central
Trades and Labor Council, and H. T.
olvin. organizer for Virginia of the
American Federation OF Labor. J L.
Butcher. president OF the building
trades council, presided at the NEE
ing.
There Will be a convention of the
American Federation of Labor in
Washington next week. and on ac-
count Of the labor situation in Rich
mond, 1t is understood that several
other organizers will reach the city
shortly
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