The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-09
Obstinate Little Group of
Caulkers Keeps Ships on
Ways in Puget Yards.
HUTCHINSON Is OBDURATE
600 Workmcn Needed. but He
Won't Act to Speed Up
Building Programme.
Spscid, Despafch TO THE SuS.

WAsIIlHaToN. March S.--With high
States iinpressing more and more the
absolute need of ships TO make possible
the American military offensive in
Europe. the shipbuilding programme has
encountered another serious delay
through the unwillingness Of small
group OF organized laboring men to give
a full measure of cooperation in speed
ing UP production.
1t was disclosed to-day that a number
Of wooden ships OH the Pacific coast are
ready for launching and are being held
on the ways because they cannot be
caulked for tho water. In the Seattle or
Puget Sound district a union OF 1s5
caulkers has refused to permit ap-
prentices to work with the men and
have paid no heed to insistence that the
union be increased to meet the situa-
tion, which demands at least 500 caulk-
erS.
Appeals to William l.. Hutcheson,
leader OF the United brotherhood of
Carpenters, by the Shipping Board for
aid have brought the response that while
the carpenters union has greatly needed
men listed and ready for this work
the organization feels it must reach an
understanding on demands made for
representation on the Labor Adjustment
Board of the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton before it will be free to act.
These caulkers are getting base pay
now Of s. n day for eight hours and
time and a half for overtime. Their av-
erage is said to be $40 a day. and they
are insisting on overtime as a condition
Of employment. and in addition have
asked a base pay Of SO day for an
eight hour day.
Trying to Avoid Open Rupture.
The Shipping Board and Emergency
Fleet Corporation have appealed to the
Puget Sound caulkers in vain. and off,
cials are preparing to advertise for pa
triotic union men TO go to the yards.
This procedure has been held mp Tor
days in an effort to avoid an open rup-
ture with the caulkers' organization in
this district There. however. seems no
other solution.
Samuel Gompers. president Of th,
American Feaeration Of Labor. and q
large majority OF other high officials OF
the Fed 1ratiou and the big international
unions are doing all in their power to
speed shipbu!lding, but number OF
groups are obJurate. The caulkers are
affiliated with the Urited Brotherhood OF
Carpenters and Joiners.
There are ooJ wooden ships building
on the Pacific coast. it was said by Ship
ping Board officials to-day, and there is
sufficient timber and other materials now
available to increase the number to 400
II labor were available, Instead of max
ing this increase. however. it seems the
number now under construction may
hay ~ l.a hp
question can he settled.
Fifty Of the coast vessels could be
put in the water In March. 1t is said, il
caulkers we're available to finish the
seams on time.
Officials here, however. are despairinG
Of getting them in the water for at leas,
another month.
Appeal Made to Union.
In an endeavor 70 enlist the aid Of the
Puget Sound district union. William Pig.
gott district manager Of the Seattle
district for the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration, sent this letter to o. ii. Brown
president of the union:
DEAR SIR: We beg to call yo i
earnest and patriotic attention to tn.
very serious conditions which have pre-
vailed in this district for the last siNt'
day. which conditions are now becom
ing more serious than ever because o!
the fact there is not q sufficient number
OF caulkers in the Northwest to finish thC
wood ships now under construction art
these that must be completed later II
| order to win the war.
''The wood shipbuilding programme
o. the Emergency Fleet Corporation
call. for at least 162 ships to be launched
between now and the end OF December
! 1918, and at least 100 more as rapid!
aS they can he built. This extensive
programme during this time when th
, need for ships is imperative is progress
ing as satisfactorily aS can he CXpettc,
except for the cau,klng
at is estimated that it will take ap
proximately 1000 man-days to caulk on
vessel. or a total Of 10000 man-day
to caulk all the vessels which must b'
| put into the water before January
1919. Figuring approximately 37O work
ing days left in this year and dividing
i this into tho total OF 10000 means tina
approximately 900 caulkers will b.
needed to do this work. and this doe
not take into consideration necessary re
pair work.
situation Growing Worse.
There have pecn man! dlscuSsion
, between shipbuilders and the caulkers
organization in regard to the absolut
necessity for more caulkers. Little, how
ever. up to the present time has beel
accomplished, and the result is that "
have many ships now ready to launc
which are being held on the ways to b
caulked and the situation daily is grow
ing worse.
.Nyhile we have had plenty OF evi
dence of the fact that the shipbuld
ing programme is being delayed 70
want Of caulkers. action has been de
ferred in the hope that yourself ant
the wood ehipbuilders would be able Il
work out q satisfactory solution.
"In the meantime overtime work ha
/ been not only necessary but a condt
Coutiuncc nm Second Pu0r