New-York tribune., 1922-11-26
$4,000 Out
Il O-lllCDrrOW lin
Building 9 ar
Employers Lockout of
Bricklayers Is Expected
TO Close Construction
Worth $lOO, 600, 600
Each Side Lays
Blame ON Other
No Move Toward Peace i'm
Controversy Dating Back
to the Brindell System

y
All was ready last night for the
opening of hostilities tomorrow in one
of the most important disputes in the
history of New York building construc-
tiona lockout by the employers of
the 5000 members Of tho Bricklayers'
Union.
Actually, the controversy between
the two sides concerns only about
10000 building trades workers-the
bricklayers and two rival unions of
laborers-but in reality the lockout
will throw nearly all of the 1875 1000
wage-earners in the building trades
out of employment, since virtually all
the construction jobs now under way
in the city cannot proceed without the
bricklayers.
This means there is to be an almost
complete cessation of building con-
struction throughout greater New
York, the value of which is estimated
at between $75,000,000 and 100000 900.
1t was declared last night by repre-
sentatives Of both sides that only a
most unexpected turn in events could
prevent the lockout, and nothing by
way of peace move was mado yes
terday.
Each Side Blames the Other
"The bricklayers have taken no ac-
tion which would warrant the employ
ers to alter their plans in any particu-
lar" said Christian G. Norman, chair
man OF the board of governors of the
Building Trades Employers Assoca-
tion.
"The bricklayers will not deviate in
the slightest from the stand they have
taken with regard to the employers"
declared an official of the Briclllayers'
Union.
Representatives of both sides con-
tinued to issue statements blaming the
other side for the lockout, the en-
ployers holding that an internal dis
pute among the unions forced them to
declare tor a shutdown, and the union
leaders placing the responsibility on
the employers on. the, contention that
the latter's object is to forge the build
ing trades laborers into one OF the
rival unions declared TO be favored by
the employers.
The underlying causes Of the con-
troyersy date back for a considerable
period, with ramifcations extending
into situations shown through expos
ures of the Lockwood committee and
the system created by Robert T. Brin-
dell in the building trades unions. AS
the result Of these exposures the
American Federation of Labor decided
that the organized labor part of the
situation needed speedy and thor
ough house cleaning.
For this OurDoSp IohD DppIip rraxi
dent of the federation's building trades
department., was sent to New York.
He found such a state of affairs as to
cause him to recommend revocation of
the charter Of the Building Trades
Council, with which the federation
complied, on the ground that the coun-
cil was in control of group of busi-
ness agents-the Brindell system-and
not in the hands of officials closely
representing the rank and file, as pro-
vlded in the federation's rules.
New Union Then Formed
Then Mr.. Donlin began a reorganiza-
tion movement of the building trades
unions, succeeding in winning over sew
eral of the largest and most powerful
from the council, among them the
bricklayers. A part of the move was
the formation of new union of labor
Hod Carriers, Building and Common
Laborers' Union of America, with r.
Paul A. Vaccarelli at the head. Mean
while, the council gave it's support to q
dual laborers' organization known as
the Independent Bricklayers' Helpers
Union, headed by G. B. Dioguardi.
A fight for membership ensued be-
twen the two, with the employers, it
was charged, aiding the "independ-
ents. Vaccarelli proved an able organ
izer. Out OF about $4,000 building
trades laborers in New York, he sue
ceeded in getting more than 5000 into
his organization, with prospects Of
further inroads into the rival union's
membership. This was accomplished in
the face Of constant friction with the
employers.
Just what precipitated the move has
not been made definitely clear, but re-
Gently the Bricklayers' Union, acting
in support of Naccarelli's organization,
sent an ultimatum to the Mason Build
ers' Association, which is unit of the
Building Trades Employers Associa-
tion, declaring that the bricklayers
would, after November 16, refuse to
work with any materials handled by
members of the independent" union.