The Connecticut labor press., 1919-06-21
By CHESTER M. WRIGHT.


 Atlantic City, June 16.-An agree ment that it is expected will end prac- tically all strikes in the building indus try has been reached between the build ing trades unions and the great organ lzatlon of employers in the building in dustry. The agreement has just been ratified by the building trades depart ment of the American Federation of Labor in this city.
 Disputes which have i'll the past led to jurisdiction disputes and stoppage of work will hereafter be referred to a board constituted for that purpose In view of the fact that the building trades look for a brisk increase i'll building operations the significance of the new agreement becomes of vastly greater importance than 1t would be at any other time.
 The new board, which will have its headquarters in Washington, will be made up of eight members, three se- lected by the building trades depart ment of the American Federation of Labor, one each by the American In- stitute of Architects, the Engineering Council, the Associated General Con- tractors of America, the National Asso- ciation of Builders Exchanges and the National Building Trades Employers Association
 The plan, which had its inception with William c. Luce, a contractor of the Middle West, who was chairman of the housing bureau of the United States Shipping Board, was worked out by E. J. Russell and Walter Kilham, repre- senting the architects A. R. McCreary, for the contractors; w. E. Reaugh, for the builders exchanges; A. N. Talbot for the engineering council, and John H. Donlin, John B. lennon, represent ing the Department of Labor William Hynes, and William L. Hutcheson for the unions.
 The new tribunal, which will be known as the National Board of Juris- dictiona1 Awards i'll the Building In dustry, has adopted preamble and constitution, which reads:
 ''The close of the war opens an era in which the, people are determined te decide for themselves all matters of common interest. A league of. nations is proposing to bring about unity of action to settle differences between na- tions by cancellation and arbitration in stead of war The building industry recognizes the equity of this principle and agrees to unite its efforts for the purpose of adjusting in a conciliatory and cooperative spirit such differences of opinion that now exist or may arise i'll the future The immediate object is to settle disputes as to jurisdiction over work that is claimed by more than one building trade. This plan IS intend ed to operate between union worknen and the employers thereof.
 Article 1-There is hereby created for this purpose a board which hsa1l be known as the National Board of Jurisdictional Awards in the Building Industry.
 Article 2-The board shall have the make awards with its findings.
 Article 3-All complaints must be submitted to the board in writing by the party or parties ir interest through the officials of an organization which IS a party to this agreement, stating clear 1y the exact nature of the work in con- tention, and they shall have the right to submit, through such persons as they may select, all evidence or arguments they may consider p-. -+nent, m which case a hearing shall be given at the next meeting and ar award shall be made after the hearing of the evidence.
 Article 4HWhen a dispute arises the employer to whom the work has been given shall proceed with such workmen as in his judgment he may seem fit to employ, pending decision by the board, but the right of any contestant to the dispute shall not be prejudiced III its claim for final award.
 Article 5-Each signatory to this agreement hereby agrees that the mem bership of that organization shall not take part in sympathetic strikes in any case of jurisdictional dispute: Local organizations signatory to this agree ment shall secure the enforcement and compliance of their organizations with the provisions of this agreement and the awards of the board. Local or ganizations refusing compliance with the provisions of this agreement and the awards of this board shall be suS- pended from their international organ izatior, and the international organlZa- tion shall proceed at once to man the job and the employer shall cooperate with the international organization in so doing.
 Any architect, engineer or employ CT represented on this board through an organization signatory to this agree ment shall be suspended from his or garization or organizations %lpon failure to comply with the provisions of this agreement and the awards of this board
 Article 5-The board shall consist of eight members, three to be selected by the building trades department of the American Federation of Labor they to be international officials, and one each by the American Institute of Architects, the Engineering Council, the Assoc lated General Contractors of America, the National Association of Builders Exchanges and the National Building Trades Employers Association.
 Article Zach member, if unable to serve, shall select substitute in his stead
 Article 8-Not more than one mem Der shall be elected by the building trades department of the A. F. of L. from the same trade.
 Article 9-The duties of the board shall be to hear claims for jurisdiction over work performed by building trades. and to determine by which trade the work in contention shall be perform ed and to make an award in conform Li. 4-I 1,1k