The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-22

The situation became more acute this week when after conference between the builders and the trades unions, the entire building trades in Waterbury and New London were thrown out of endowment because the bosses would not agree to continue under the old schedule pending the disposition of the matter by arbitra- ton or otherwise. Almost similar re- suits occurred 1n New Haven where aside from the painters, decorators, sheet metal workers. plumbers and steamfttrs already out of work, a number of car penter bosses insisted that the men accept rate of 80 cents an hour forth with or quit. The men quit and there are now ol men out, and seven building f1r1nS affected. Other builders have so far agreed to let the matter run along pending. the arbitration decision and 1t is expected today that the lockout has now reached its peak.
 The carpenters were the first oreaniza- ton III the state to vote to continue at work pending the outcome of the arbi- trat1on, meeting the night of the confer ence between the Builders Exchange and the Trades Unions committees and promptly agreeing to go along as usual until the matter was settled. This action will be further ratified at a special meeting of the local district council of carpenters at Hermann's Sons hall on Monday night.
 The attitude of the carpenters was not however agreeable to several of the en- ployers. with tlle result that they in sisted that the men accept the cut pro- posed. This the men refused to do and the men employed by these bosses left their jobs- The firms thus trying to put the reduction into effect and forcing the break are the Sperry Engineering Com Pany, Lark1n X Carey, Thomas & Hobro, (. W. MurdOck, Rather Construction Co.,, Philip Smernoff, and Sullivan & Mckeon. Together there had been 6l men at work and these are now out.
 A peculiar incident occurred in the action on the Murdock firm. This com pany is building the big Kilfeather block on Meadow street, and Mir. Kilfeather. the owner, was entirely willing to have the work go along at the old rate of pay of Sl an hour, even though 1t did cost hlrn more. The MurdOck Company, however, was. Obdurate and insisted on the decrease being put into effect and hnally brought other pressure to bear on MT. kllfeather, who manufactures the Hyperion and other cigars and has been fair and friendly to organized labor, and he was finally compelled to agree to the decrease.
 When the union carpenters then left the job Murdock attempted to fill their places with non-union help and has sue ceeded in getting four or five of such workers to go on the job. The force Is so woefully small, however. that con- struction on the big job is practically at a standstill. Murdock is the only con- tractor so far attempting to go ahead with nOn-union help, the other who in- sisted on putting the cut into effect sim ply allowing things to run along pending a settlement.
 The situation III the other trades locked out here Is considerably better than even the leaders expected. The painters and decorators, first to be locked individual jobs or on work being done by contractors who have renewed agree mentS with them.
 Out of 1S0 plumbers and steamhtters locked out because they wouldn't take 20 per CCnt. reduction which was never even put up to them for consideration until the day before 1t was to go into effect when the men were told of 1t in d1Vldually, 65 are now at work with hrnS which have renewed agreements at the old rates. These firms have al. ways been fair to union labor. and read fly renewed their relations with the men. asking only in return that If any adjust ment Tn the wage scale IS made through the proposed arbitration that they be considered included ID 1t. This the
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