The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-21
talk Terms
Or We WILL
BEGIN WORK
suilders' Exchange Fixes
Monday for Move in
Labor Tieup.

A,v a q time limit FOR the allied
.,.aes unions to indicate attitude
m building cost reductions was de-
s,ded BY Quad-City Builders ex-
change contractors last night.
The alternative is to be employ
r.nt Of men, regardless Of union
.mli,tions at the reduced scale Of
wages, rs per cent below the old
union scale.
The builders do not say that
there must be an agreement
reached by next Monday, but that
there must be signs of an agree
ment soon.
z ]. Burns, secretary Of the ex-
change, said this morning that the
ultimatum is not one calling for
the establishment Of the open shop,
IS II is outlined as the policy to be
pursued to employ non-union and
union men without discrimination.
The builders came to this deci-
sion in session at the headQuar-
tiers Of the Quad-City Builders ex-
change. 229A Eighteenth street.
The contractors state that the sign
ins OF new agreements with the
various unions has failed because
Of the unions emphatic stand
against any wage reductio nor
changing working condition clauses,
which are held to be restrictive.
Unions Renew Their Claims.
Leaders of the labor unions an
nounced this morning that there
hW been no change of their stand
against reduction in wages, and
that they are not worrying over the
announcement Of the contractors
that all men obtainable will be
placed at work Monday at the re-
duced wage scale in case an agree
nent does not seem nearer by that
lime.
Charles Reagan, editor of the
Labor Review, speaking for the
unions, did not take the contractors
announcement seriously. "The con-
tractors will be three days nearer
10 an agreement by Monday" Mr..
Reagan said, but that does not
mean that there will be any nego-
uations under way, but that the
Unions will hold firm until there is
n agreement"
Contractors Statement.
I The formal statement given out
BY the>contractors follows:
1 "A meeting Of the Tri-City Build
ing Construction Employers asso.
cation was held at exchange head.
quarters last night. Contractors
representing every branch Of the
oullding industry were present.
Among the more important mat.
'efs taken up for consideration
was the matter of the proposed
pnt working agreement with the
various labor unions. In view ol
me iact that negotiations were
started some time ago to enter into
satisfactory joint working agree.
ments between the contractors anG
@e unions, meetings we're helt
WIN the following trades: Car.
penters. bricklayers, plasterers
meet metal workers, electrical
workers and painters. Up to tn,
present time no agreements have
oeen contaminated for the follow
ms reasons: All of the abov,
Ameo Unions have absolutely re
FUSED to accept a cut in wages OF
NY change in the working rules
.ae contractors, on the other hand
lslst that in conformity with tn,
uecllne in the living costs and ,
Nlceptlble decline in building ma
SiIas, that labor costs should ais,
~ reduced; also that certain re
sulcuVe working rules which hav,
ea responsible for increased cos
ue investor should be eliminat
nom all agreements.
Aler . thorough discussion O
:. subject the following motion
unanimously adopted:
oy next Monday, April Is, W
,s's not come any nearer to al
,sement ~ than We are at presen,
We nlre VIVA: men We can re
N., me new scale Of wages estab
cos ssa oy the Tri-City Buildin,
ta'tfacton toa Employers associa
tioa ~ accordance with a resolu
on u.oopted at prior meeting he'll
w 16fch IN 1907 %