The New York herald., 1922-03-16
BUILDING WAGES
SCALE CONTINUED
Employers Have Alternative
Proposal for Trades
Council.
TO MEET PUBLIC GROUP
Permanent Settlement Is
Hoped For From Confer
ence Monday.
TO MEET PUBLIC GROUP

Walter stabler. Comptroller OF the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
and chairman OF the group representing
the public in the negotiations between
the Building Trades Employers Asso-
citation and the Building Trades Council
looking toward a new wage agreement.
received letter yesterday from the
Building Trades Council reiterating It's
suggestion that If the public is to con-
tinue to be represented in the negotia-
tions. It be represented by sub-conl-
mite of the Lockwood committee. with
Samuel Untermyer as counsel.
This suggestion does not meet with
the approval OF ths BOARD OF governors
OF the Building Trades Employers Asso-
ciation. who charge Mr.. Untermyer and
members OF the Lockwood committee
with seeking to establish as tho wage
scale for 1922 ana probably 1923. In the
event Of two year agreement being
reached. the high peak OF wartime
wages. The Lockwood committees sug-
gestion has been sliding scale, with
EFFICIENCY as standard. but the Build
Ing Trades Employers are insistent in
their demand there shall be an out and
out reduction in the price OF unsldlled
labor, at least
Meantime. the situation last night was
about as 1t has been. with both sides
optimistic that general strike in the
building trades would not ensue.
The agreement between the Building
Trades Employers and the Building
Trades Council that was in effect in
1921 has been continued by mutual con-
sent until to-day. The board Of gov
ernors of the Building Trades Employ
ers met yesterday and voted to continue
the scale until the next meeting OF the
board. Regular meetings are held on
the third Wednesday of each month, but
Christian G. Norman. chairman of the
board. Is empowered to call a special
meeting at the request of q specific num-
Der or constituent associations at any
time. Accordingly, the agreement may
continue into next month or be abro-
gated within forty-eight hours. although
the latter development was hardly re-
garded yesterday as probable.
II Hope for a permanent settlement CEN
tered last night in q meeting of the So
called public group called by Mr.. Stab
Ter for 4 o'clock next Monday afternoon
in room 252 OF the Metropolitan Tower.
at which members of the employers as
sociation and representatives OF the
unions will be present. Chairman Nor
man said yesterday his organization was
waiting an opportunity to put certain
alternative proposals. that do not include
members or counsel of the Lockwood
housing committee as representatives of
the public, before the Stabler committee.
which consists of architects, bankers,
insurance and realty men
II am very hopeful things win work
out" was the way Mr.. Norman described
the situation. repeating the employers
declaration they will have no negotia-
tions with the unions unless the public
is represented
Mr.. Stabler said last night that next
Mondays meeting was not called In re-
sponse to a request by the Building
Trades Employers for an opportunity 10
present its alternative proposals, but
that it would have been called in any
event. I'VE cannot say what will come
up at the meeting. but are willing to
hear both Sides" he said.