New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-03
5000 Painters |
Strike; Metal
Men May Quit
Van Workers and Plumbers
Still Deadlocked With
Employers; Latter Say
Demands Cannot Be Met
Walk Outs May Spread
Decorators Throughout the
Country Ordered to Hold
Up New York Contractors

The housing situation was further
complicated yesterday, wnen more than
5000 painters. employed by members
OF the Building Trades Association, de-
serted thei jobs.
No agreements were reached in the
deadlock between striking van men
and plumbers and their employers.
The Plumbers Association said 565 of
its shops in the metropolitan district
We're still closed.
w. j. Kelly, secretary of the Anal
gamated Metal Workers, announced
last night that $4,000 members of this
union would strike this afternoon I'M
less demands for increased pay were
met.
Charles Morris, president Of the
Van Owners Association, said the
owners would not accede to the new
demands of the men.
aggregating $12 week, in the last
year." he said. "On April of this
year we voluntarily gave the men IS
a week raise and signed contract 20
hold good for at least year."
James McKenna, chairman Of the
Transfers Union Local No. 273. said
the van owners were awaiting the out
come Of the hearing which the Boa,d
of Aldermen will hold September Z
relative 10 requests 1OE INCREASED BUT
age and van rates.
Say Employers Signed Contracts
After special meeting of the board
of governors of the Building Trades
Association yesterday afternoon an
nouncement was ulade that painters
and decorators would continue to be
hired by the employers commrtce at
the rate of SO day with 44-hour
week. A statement issued by the
board said:
CAS- far as the American Federation
of Labor is concerned, there is no sym.
pathetic strike on at the present time
to benefit the Brotherhood of Painters,
Decorators and Paper Hangers. Inves-
tigation has shown that strike agita-
ton among electricians and carpenters
is going on only among the smaller I'M
affiliated unions of the city. The Build
ing Trades Association is not taking
their threats seriously"
Reports from the District Council Of
the Brotherhood of Painters, Deco
rators and Paper Hangers said 140
more contractors have signed the
unions contracts. About 600 firms are
said to have met the demands for a
S10-day. 1t is the intention of the cr-
ganization to continue the fight against
contractors still holding out. A strike
assessment was authorized at a mass
meeting of the membership Tuesday
night, with the result that $4,000 has
been raised to finance the walk-out
In statement issued by Philip
Zausner, secretary of the district coun-
Gil, these facts are set forth:
"Painters received So day last Sep
tember. Prior to the present strike
they were getting 50. All that we are
asking is that we shall be as we'll off
now as we were year ago. A Is per
cent increase in wages over last year
to meet the 24.2 increase in prices
That is the issue in this strike, and no
amount of false propaganda on the
part of the employers can blur it,"
The International Broth orhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers
has ordered al! locals throughout the
country to call out their members who
are working on contracts controlled by
New York employers, against whom the
battle is being waged.
The Assoc ation of Master Painters
and Decorators, Il subsidiary of the
Building Trades Association. said i'm
provements to buildings will be held
up because the association refuses to
consider the demands Of the striking
painters.
"The limit has been reached" said
Russell &. Herts, Il members of the
labor committee. Ten dollars day is
absolutely prepostcrous as reimburse
ment for merely slapping on paint on
interior walls for eight hours a day"