The New York herald., 1921-12-14
Lockwood PrObers Hear Of
Fines and Blackjacking
by Plasterers' Union.
$115 FOR OBEYING LAW
Widow Testifies She Could
Not Get Death Benefit
From Electricians.


Lockwood Legislative Committee on
Housing, at the end Of yesterdays ses-
sion put forward a suggestion en-
bracing a drastic innovation in the
characters Of agreements between the
employers and the building trades
unions. 1t is for the establishment
of flexible wage scale, based on the
efficiency of labor in each union, the
standard to be set by an arbiter rep
resenting the union concerned, an
other representing the employers and
an umpire to be selected by the two
first mentioned.
Unless some such agreement is
reached strike impends about Janu-
airy involving 100000 workers in the
building trades and 900 employers, and
which will tie up effectually all build
ing for an indefinite time, Mr.. INTER
myer believes. The existing agree
ments between the Building Trades
Employers Association and the Build
ing Trades Council with the inde-
pendent unions like the bricklayers
and painters expire about that time.
Christian G.. Norman, chairman of
the board of governors of the Build
ing Trades Employers Association,
promised to lay Mr.. Untermyer's pro-
posal before his organization when It
meets this. afternoon at 80 West
Thirty-third street to draft a pro-
posed new agreement with the Build
ing Trades Council. Mr.. Norman re-
fused last night to express an opinion
on Mr.. Untermyers suggestion in ad-
vance cf the employers meeting. He
said, however. that he would be glad
10 put the proposal before the meet
ing. and there is basis for the expec-
tation that the suggestion will be sup
ported in several of it's major features.
would Continue 81 a Day Bonus.
The suggestion, In brief. is that the
present wage scales be. continued with
the additional 81 a day. allowed to the
workers last April owing to the high
cost of living, for sixty or ninety days.
during which time the arbitration COM
mittee agreed upon shall determine a.
standard of efficiency In each organiza-
ton of the Building Trades Council, ad-
herence to which by the unions shall
assure the continuance OF the extra 81
day for two years. and departure from
which shall mean an immediate Topping
off of the extra pay. Although he
would not discuss this concrete sugges-
ton, Mr. Norman told the committee
yesterday that the building trades en-
ployers would welcome increased eff
cheney on the part of the labor unions
far more heartily than they would an
arrangement for a reduction of wage
scales. 1t is possible, however, he
added, that the employers at their meet
Ing to-day might demand both.
The impasse that impends between
the employers and the unions is prin-
cpally over the continuance of the extra
81 day. The employers are deter
mined, largely because of the let down
in efficiency and the restrictive regula-
tons imposed by the labor unions to
discontinue it at the expiration of the
existing agreements. They sought to
do so last August, but the union OFF,
cials refused to consider the proposal
during the life of the agreement and
are equally adamant now in their stand
that new agreements must be made on
that wage basis. Mr.. Untermyers sug-
gestion. therefore, was put forward in
the interests of adjustment and TO pre-
vent "the cataclysm" that he said was
bound to follow and retard all building
plans for next spring and summer II
each side maintained its present atti-
tude. 1t Is the intention, of course, in
the event of a favorable reception to
extend the proposed plan to the inde-
pendent building trades unions not
members OF the Building Trades
Council.
Restrictive Tactics Exposed.
The greater part OF yesterdays ses-
sion of the committee was devoted to a
further exposure of the restrictive tao
tics employed by the plasterers' organi-
zation in New York city by which build
ers and owners were dictated to and
regulations imposed that invariably
meant more work for the union and ad-
dltional expense for the builder. There
were frequent cases where the builder
was summarily disciplined-fined be-
cause members of the organization did
bad work on his job--while the workmen
themselves I'm most cases went scot free.
So-oe of the cases. a long record of
which was read from the minute book
or the organization were not without
humorous side. Nine Italians and a
German named Schultz were fined $19
although Micnaei Gallagher, recording
secretary of he unior. could point to
nothing in the constitution or bylaws
that provided for such a penalty A
plasterer on an uptown Job heard Il
10 80 whistle blow. thought 1t was /
o'clock and went to work The walking
delegate caught HIM, and although he
made amends by quitting at 4 80 he
was fined one days pay.
contractor named OConnor, OF the
firm of O'Connor & Hanrahan 1O5 West
Fortieth street. not member or the
union. was fined s115 for violating the
unions constitution by making an affi-
oavit and thus being a party to OBJ
tanning an Injunction against this as
sociation," as the minute book recorded
the fact.
Il hope the committee realizes the
humorous Significance OF this per-
formance,' Mr.. Urtermyer said. Here
Is labor union that fines n man for
doing his bounden cuty as "A citizen
making affidavits 10 facts within his
knowledge 1t IL not suggested that Mr..
O'Connor swore to anything that was
not true. Mr.. O'Cornor being a mem
bcr OF contracting firm, and called
upon by the law. end required either
to make an affidavit or a deposition.
obeys as . citizen. and Ia fined Sis