The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-11

While the new Exchange in its Dro- paganda issued through the daily press IS claiming to have enrolled practically
 all the building contractors in the state. informat1on coming to the officers of the building trades unions IS to the effect that, while admittedly they have en- rolled large number of the contract ors, they have by no means got them all but that there are still a number of large builders who have not signed uD with the Exchange and are 1oath to do so. hose active i'll the organization have been right along known as anti un1onlSts and therefore many firms Who nave believed Ill collective bargain ing with thelr men do not care to join III until they see just how far the new exchange intends to carry on foht aga1nst the unions.
 That the Exchange intends to leave no support unSought was evidenced this week when attempts were made to nr1 ganlze and enroll the structural steel manutacturers hereabouts and enlist them III the fight against the unions. In thls they were somewhat successful. About Io firms who twist and turn building iron III Connecticut were re- ported at the meeting and Julius T. N1pp ot the Waterbury Iron Works was chosen chairman to perfect the organ 1zat1on and endeavor to enroll ofher such firms who did not respond to the invitation. The organization is to be perfected at another meeting here at the quarters of the Builders Exchange on Wednesday next.
 Most ot the working agreements. with wage scales, between the uni6ns and the contractors expire next month. In the notices sent out of the wage Cut to he installed the date of 1t going into effect was generally omitted but it is believed by the organizations that the contractors Will simply refuse to enter into new agreements with them and will simn1v try to force the men to go to work at their own (the contractors) terms.
 Meantime the workers have not been idle. As soon as the determination of the bosses became known the State Building Trades Council, of which Frank A. Fitzgerald of New Haven is president met and called for the state convention here tomorrow. The re- sponse from unions all over the state was more than gratifying and when the convention meets here tomorrow 1t IS sate to say that not an organization in the state will be missing. Some have even named four and five delegates and 1t IS possible that Trades Council hall may be too small to accommodate the meeting.
 Meantime also, the New Haven Car penters, through Local 7o, have taken steps to provide work for their mem bers 1t lockout is declared and at the same time take care of any and all work III their line that is needed A con- tracing organization has been perfected and III announcements published Tn the local press this week, invitations are ex- tended to prospective builders to consult with the carpenters contracting organ 1zat1on and get figures on work they desire to have done. Expert estinators will figure on the jobs and the carpen- ters agree to give hrst-class results at prices that will compare more than favorably with those that are fixed" by the individual contractors. They point out that this will be possible because of the lack of need of the big overhead" usually tackled on by the boss contract orS, to ensure a continuance of the high prohtS they have been taking off build ing here.
 The local plumbers union has also taken steps to take 'on contracts in that line and will be ready to do so in case a break with the bosses comes, as seems more than likely. Other lines of build ing work have already some individual firms whose heads still carry their union faithfully and are competent to do any and all kinds of building work, so that there need be no 1et-up of building hereabouts this spring be- cause of the inability of prospective builders to get men to do 1t. Also 1t is luite possible that at the convention an organization will be start 'd whereby work will be taken any, where III the state no matter what the size or kind of the job
 The bosses profess not be worried y the action of the workers, in intend ng to enter into contracting against hem If a break comes. ]. A Mckay secretary of the local Building Ex- ;hange, in a statement this week said hat if the workers thought they could get away with sI1ch Contracts a1.,l,,, 1a4