The New York herald., 1922-04-24
Clash Between Plumbers
and Stcamfitters Is Over
Which Is to Do Work.
CASE CITED TO GoMPERs
Sample Of Strikes He Admits
|. Are Wrong, but Bans Any
Appeal to Courts.

How $4,000 900 public utility
project has been held up for six months
by twelve striking plumbers because
Df jurisdictional row with the steam
fltters-a row of the sort that Samuel
Gompers says should never be carried
to the courts for adjudication-was re-
realed at last Fridays session of the
lockwood committee. THE New York
HERALD herewith presents further par
ticulars OF this amazing situation.
The job involved is TIE construction
of power house for the United Elec-
trio Light and Power Company, a sub
sidiary Of the New York Edison Com
pany, at t34th street and the East
River. The plant is to be for the dis
tribution OF light and power and to be
component part Of the Edison Com
pany's system.
In the course of the construction
work a dispute arose between the jour-
ncymcn plumbers and the journeymen
steamfitters concerning work which the
mechanics OF both crafts claimed the
right to do. The plumbers and steam
filters belong to the same international
organiza tion--the International Union
Of Plumbers and SteamHtters-and when
the dispute was submitted to that or
gaiiizaton its president, Mr.. Caulfeld.
after conference with representatives
Of both unions, the contractors and the
Building Trades Employers Association.
awarded the work in question to the
plumbers.
The firm OF Almirall & Co., / Domi-
nick street, had the contract for INSTALL
ing the work. and representative OF
the firm was present when Mr.. Caul-
field awarded jurisdiction over it to the
plumbers. The Almirall frm continued.
however, to do the work with steam
filters.
Possible Profts I'm Dispute.
In explanation OF this fact Mr.. Com
pers before the Lockwood committee.
basing his information on a report made
to him by Patrick Crowley, president
Of tho Building Trades Council. said
1t is natural to conclude that the
reason for this action was because
there was more profit in employing
steamhttcrs than in employing
plumbers to do the work, because
the stoan,htters have ono helper to
each journcynlan, While the plumbers
have one helper to every two jour-
neymen.
The Arm of Almirall e Co. is mem
Der OF tho Heating and Piping Associa-
ton, a constituent organization of the
Building Trades Employers Association.
Christian G. Norman, chairman of the
board OF governors Of the latter. was
present when 1t was made and agreed
to the award OF Mr.. Caulheld.
When the Almirall firm continued to
do tho work in question with steam
filters instead of plumbers complaint
was made to the Building Trades EN-
ployers Association. which. according to
Mr.. Crowley of the Building Trades
Council, refused to act.
r. II. Kenny. a plumbing contractor
OF 33 Old Broadway. had the contract
for the plumbing work in the building.
He was formerly a member OF the
Building Trades Employers Association.
When the Almirall firm persisted in
the employment Of steamnttcrs, and
after Il had been learned that Kenny
was no longer member in good stand
ing of the Building Trades Employers
Association, and thus entitled first 20
arbitration, the plumbers union last
October called strike and withdrew
the men employed by Kenny. innicting
upon him substantial financial loss as
we'll as ticing UP UP the power. project.
Council Rules Violated.
The Building Trades Council there
upon investigated In an attempt to cf-
feet an amicable adjustment. Ono OF
its rules is that any organization
affiliated with Il that goes on strike on
a question of jurisdiction shall bo sus-
pended unless 1t takes the matter be-
fore the council for adjustment. before
striking. Accordingly the plumbers
were suspended by the Building Trades
Council, but no other settlement was
reached
tcrnyer. counsel to the Lockwood Lcgis-
latvc Committee. work on the power
plant has been held up pending the in
stallation of the plumbing. Tho job is
one of the biggest public utility en-
tcrprises that has been undertaken in
New York State In recent years. and
tho loss to the contractors because OF
tIlt TOW iihSiy w ut tVhStuStdbi@.
After he had reported the circum-
stances of tho dispute Mr.. Gompers,
however. stuck to his position that tho
courts should not possecss the right to
review the case. He admitted that the
international organization TO which
both the plumbers and steamfltters be-
long had been unable to enforce its de-
cision and that the American Fedora
uon OF Labor had no power or
authority.
And that being So" Mr.. Untcrmyer
asked OF Mr.. Gompers. do you not
think there, should he an authority out
side tho labor unions TO protect that
contractor from being ruined by a dis
pute between two labor unions and 10
protect the public in the matter of a
ereat public 'utility?"
~ cannot answer that yes or no
replied Mr. Gonpcrs. but I hold that
the courts could not compel these men
to work"
RARE hooks TO DE SOLD.