New-York tribune., 1918-03-09
Carpenters President Re-
fuses Aid to Obtain
Caul!kers
Ship Board May
Take Over Yards
Wooden Vessel Programme
Menaced by New
Labor Trouble


structon of wooden ships in the Puget
Sound district, vital to the tonnage pro-
eramme of the Allies, is being held up
by the refusal of two unions to CO.
operate with the government, Shipping
Board officials asserted to-day.
In reply to an appeal from General
Manager Piez for aid in securing caulk-
ers to meet the demands of Pacific
Coast yards William L. Hutcheson,
president of the Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners. to-day notified the
Shipping Board that it could expect no
assistance from him in speeding up
ship construction until his "closed
shop" demands had been granted At
the same time the caulkers' union, of
Seattle, is said to have refused to CO.
operate to the extent of taking in ap-
prentices.
As result of these developments
drastic action by the Shipping Board
is being contemplated in order to pre-
vent serious tie-up of Pacific Coast
shipbuildng.
Cancellation flan Given Up
officials Of the Shipping Board to-
dsy completely forsook the concilia-
tory attitude maintained toward Mr..
= Hutcheson. They did not spare adjec-
tives in their characterization of his
efforts to compel the Shipping Board
to meet his demands.
Shipping Board officials declared
49,. 1ol, rs hot of
Hutcheson's organization would not
follow him in his threatened course.
In this connection, General Manager
Piez is considering an appeal to the
members of the Brotherhood of Car
penters to volunteer for work in the
Pacific Coast yards, where the short
age OF caulkers is seriously interfer-
ing with progress on the wooden ship
programme.
, Four hundred caulkers are required
at once in the Seattle district~alone.
The same difficulty is expected in
other wooden ship yards.
Not only is the chief of the Car
Denters and Joners' Brotherhood at
tempting to force the Shipping Board
into line with his views on the closed
shop, it is asserted, but he has under
taken negotiations with several private
yards in an effort to effect separate
agreements recognizing his demands.
This attempt to ignore the govern
ment and deal with the shipbuilders
has been thus far unsuccessful, it is
reported. and there is little prospect of
Hutcheson negotiating such agree
nents.
Yards Under Shipping Board
All shipbuldng yards in the country
nnn i,
vision Of the Shipping Board. Any
agreement with the Carpenters Union
not approved by the Shipping Board, it
Is said, undoubtedly would result in its
reputation by General Manager Piez
and might be followed by government
operation of the yards.
The Caulkers' Union Of Seattle, which
controls caulkers in the Puget Sound
district, is said to have refused appren-
uees PERMISSION to work with them in
order to learn the trade, although the
union has only 185 members, and at
eass eoo are necessary to put in the
water the ships planned for completion
ms year An effort to train fifty men
lor cautking provoked strike Of the
experienced men, who have been re-
living wages and overtime, said to be
causing unrest among other employees.
Means for remedying the situation
gnich the Shipping Board has in mind /
nave not been disclosed. Orders al
.saoy nave been issued, however, to /
Al snipyards that the Arrangements are
Hsia responsible for completion Of the !
sl'Ps on time, and that they must use
ssh4.sVer men and machinery that can
se on'alhed TO put them out. One sug-
ses''oh advanced has been that 500 |
.Pehters, willing to volunteer for
ya'io'lc WORK under conditions, which
n@se ns tae approval Of the American
.edefaeion d Labor, should be re-
-ised IN the East and rushed by (
spsciai tram 70 Washington. A ma
sa'ne Tor caulking now is in process
si Development.
Shortage Of CauIkers
1!nse&use VI the decline OF wooden
.n'pouiiding in this couxry, until Ger
aays undersea boats rendered fast
obstruction imperative, relatively few
~ ssh u nave followed the caulkinc trade +
s,. 's.e years. Consequently, the pres- /
H.. building programme is believed en- .
% handle. '''''
i. approximately 1862 ships are ached-
si.,r,or d. ior delivery in the Puget Sound /
rhn, ~ january i, and 100 more as
''yn a. possible thereafter.
san a.snc sa coast builders, in Washing
beer .,hx additional contracts, have /
a. - s,'u of tne situation arising from (
|s |s snortage Of cauIkers. There are
30 ships under construction nn the
ss ss'he Coast, il was learned today. I
11a orders for $50 more can be placcd
tn. she "orkrnen TO build them can bc
lo,-. me zhortage Of cauikcrs were al
g .a I" continue, it nigh. be neccs-
az. :" cancel orders for perhaps ffty !
..Y, instead Of extending the nrn.