New-York tribune., 1919-12-05
Building Trade
w ar Looms as
Peace Is w on
Iron Workers Re-
fuse to Concede Closed
Shop, Bringing Threat of
Sympathetic Union Strike

Shortly after the last signature was
affixed yesterday to the peace agree
ment between employers and employees
of the building trades, the Iron League
Erectors' Association, said to control
work on &c per cent of the steel struc-
ment and announced that it would not
abandon its right to open-shop opera
tion. AS the closed shop was the most
important concession won by the union
leaders, it is feared the trades are
facing a new fight, in which employers,
who will live up to the agreement, and
the employees will take sides against
the defiant iron erectors.
Under the agreement, which becomes
effective January 1, to run until the
end Of 1921, the unions cannot order a
strike against any members of the
Building Trades Employers Associa-
tion, but its members can refuse to
work with non-union men without vio-
latlng the agreement. AS the Iron
League Erectors, who are members of
the employers association, are deter
mined to continue the employment of
non-union men, it is believed the union
men Of the building industries will call
sympathetic strikes to force the en-
ployment of only union iron workers.
Long Peace Hoped For
The agreement signed yesterday
after nearly year of negotiation was
looked forward to as the most i'm
ing about amicable working arrange
ments between employers and EN-.
ployees of the building industry in
this city. 1t was expected that the
industry would soon be booming. More
than $1000O0,000 worth of construction
has been planned for next spring. ac-
cording to one builder But all these
operations may be seriously interfe re- d
with by the new trouble which
threatens.
'1nstead of peace which is promised
reads statement issued bv Walter
Drew, counsel for the Iron League
prospect of bitter warfare.
"The Building Trades Council has
been insisting for some time that the
open shop be abandoned in structural
iron work and that the iron contractors
make an agreement with the Iron
Workers Union.
"The board of governors of the
Building Trade Employers Association
has elected not to protect iron con-
tractors who are members of the as
sociatlon in maintaining the long
established custom in the iron trade
but to bring pressure to bear upon
%lnyv m f>oV.
War Is Threatened
"The Iron League Erectors' Associ-
alton does not intend to abandon the
right of open-shop operation. 1t has
increased its membership and repre-
sents practically 100 per cent of the
important iron firms doing building
work in the city.
at will be clear from this that if
the unions proceed with their pro-
gram of sympathetic strikes and persist
IN the efforts to take advantage OF
the present demand for building to
compel change in conditions that
have operated satisfactorily for four
teen years, there will be not peace. but
war, in the building industry"
When S. B. Donnelly, secretary of
the Building Trades Employers Asso-
ciation, was shown this statement ne
said:
"The members of the Iron League
the Building Trades Employers Asso-
citation and have, therefore, subscribe
to the new agreement. They have given
bond to live up to it. and it is ex-
pected that they will"
Mr.. Donnelly refused to give any de-
tails about the bond or discuss the
matter further.